U.S. National Criterium Championships - NE

Downer's Grove Village, Illinois, USA, August 18-19, 2007

Photography

Stage 5 - August 19: USPRO National Criterium Championships,

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Images by Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us

• It was anyone's guess on the line but Martin Gilbert (Kelly Benefit Strategies) ended up taking it over Kirk O'Bee (HealthNet-Maxxis).
• Focusing on what lies ahead.
• Good crowds at the start of the pro mens race.
• Things getting scary because of the rain.
• Chris Wherry (Toyota United) sitting in the middle of the bunch.
• Toyota United cruising along.
• Tim Johnson (Healthnet) leads a group.
• Speeding through Downers Grove.
• BMC leads the group up the climb.
• Adam Bergman (Colavita-Sutter Home) tried hard to get away today.
• Tight quarteres getting through the turns.
• Things start to get a little strung out after the climb.
• Dan Schmatz BMC Racing leans over through a turn.
• Mike Sayers BMC Racing makes the chase.
• Anthony Jesse (Kodak/Sierra Nevada) moving fast.
• Dominique Rollin (Kodak/Sierra Nevada) goes solo.
• Slipstream/Chipotle did lots of work to keep things under control.
• Riders decend after the hill on the back side.
• Dominique Rollin (Kodak/Sierra Nevada) still off the front.
• Kelly Benefits comes to the front to control the pace.
• Kelly Benefits on the front.
• The pace picks up closer to the end.
• Another group tried to get up the road.
• The front of the race with 1 lap to go.
• Kirk O'Bee, (Healthnet) , looks over as Martin Gilbert (Kelly Benefits), gets the win.
• Emile Abraham (AEG/Toshiba) was determined to cross the finish line no matter what.
• The mens final podium.

Images by Kurt Jambretz/Action Images

• The Men’s Pro peloton lined up for the start
• Mike Friedman (Slipstream/Chipotle) heads into the first turn
• Scott Szizanski (Priority Health pb Bissell) chooses an outside line through the turn
• Kayle Leo Grand’s (Rock Racing) face shows the signs of intense effort
• Chris Wherry (Toyota-United) coasts safely through the first turn
• Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United) rolls carefully into turn one on wet pavement
• The peloton snakes out of turn four and bunches up on the descent
• Karl Menzies (Health Net) crests the small hill on the back side of the course
• Stefano Barberi (Toyota-United) and Burke Swindlehurst (Toyota-United) protect Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United) in the early going
• Ryan Miller (Toyota-United) picks his line carefully on the wet pavement
• The peloton bunches up on the downhill while the teams execute their strategy
• Phil Zajicek (Navigators) doesn’t seem to mind the wet conditions
• Kodak Gallery-Sierra Brewing rode aggressively at the front for most of the race
• Tim Johnson (Health Net) powers through turn four
• Darren Lill (Navigators) attempts a breakaway with a couple of riders in tow
• Martin Gilbert (Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast) tests the field with a small attack
• Dominique Rollin (Kodak Gallery/Sierra Brewing) attempts a solo move midway through the race
• A Kodak Gallery/Sierra Brewing rider goes to the front to control the pace for his teammate off the front
• Ivan Dominguez (Toyota- United) removes his ear piece as his day comes to an early end
• Jackson Stewart (BMC Pro Cycling) is pelted with rain from all sides
• Martin Gilbert (Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast) takes off with great intensity after the solo rider up the road
• The Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast team slowly began to assemble at the front of the peloton
• There were a few more Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast at the front a lap later
• The Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast team went to the front with twelve laps to go and stayed there
• Yes, count them..... seven Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast riders create a train on the front
• Soon Dominique Rollin (Kodak Gallery-Sierra Brewing) was absorbed by the field
• Jordan Schware (Chief mechanic- Rock Racing) prepares to reinsert Kayle Leo Grand after a mechanical
• Martin Gilbert (Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast) sprints home for the win over Kirk O’Bee (Health Net) with a massive pile-up in the background
• The Men’s podium (left to right) Kirk O’Bee (Health Net), Martin Gilbert (Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast), and Shawn Milne (Health Net)

Stage 4 - August 19: USCF Men’s National Criterium Championship,

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Images by Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us

• Daniel Holloway (VMG Racing) out powers the field to become the new National Elite Criterium Champion.
• A pack come through in the elite mens race as the rains begin to fall.
• A little water color painting perhaps?
• Kirk Albers (Texas Roadhouse) ended up fifth at the end of the day.
• The rain really starts to come down half way through.
• Riders pile up in the last turn.
• Daniel Holloway (VMG) celebrates his win.
• The top five podium.

Images by Mark Zalewski/Cyclingnews.com

• National road champion Paul Martin (Texas Roadhouse) leads the field in the final laps.
• Kirk Albers (Texas Roadhouse) leads in the final turn with Daniel Holloway (VMG Racing) taking the inside line.
• The race for fifth place is about to get ugly.
• Kirk Carleson (Team Rubicon) overcooks the final turn.
• Kirk Carleson (Team Rubicon) slides underneath this unsuspecting rider's wheel.
• Bracing for impact.
• It was a blur for them too.
• The aftermath of the final turn.
• Luckily, all the riders walked away on their own.

Stage 3 - August 19: USCF Women’s National Criterium Championship,

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Images by Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us

• Tina Pic (Colovita-Sutter Home) knew she had the win before she even got to the line.
• The women head into downtown Downers Grove.
• Erica Allar (Salamander Racing) blazes by.
• Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine) fighting her way at the front.
• A few of the girls line up through a turn.
• Kristin Wentworth (Team Kenda) jumps out of a turn.
• Looking pretty in pink.
• Colavita-Sutter Home did lots of work today to get the win.
• Kristin Sanders Aarons chases.
• The bunch coming through downtown.
• Kelly Benjamin (Cheerwine) does her work on the front.
• Tina Pic (Colavita-Sutter Home) on the way to her win.
• Sarah Bamberger (Cheerwine) closes her eyes from the wheel spray.
• Stacy Marple (Team TIBCO) having a good ride.
• Colavita-Sutter Home comes to the front.
• Stacy Marple (Team TIBCO) tried to get a gap on the field.
• The girls bunch up after a prime.
• Heading into the last lap.
• Tina Pic (Colavita-Sutter Home) easily takes the win.
• Tina Pic (Colavita-Sutter Home) gets congratulated by a teammate.
• The girls take to the podium.

Images by Kurt Jambretz/Action Images

• Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine) was all smiles on the line as the only bit of sunshine penetrated the clouds
• The women’s peloton rolls through the start/finish line
• Kristin Sanders (Aaron’s Pro Cycling) climbs the small hill on the back side of the course
• The rain began to fall and so did the riders.... The wheel pit was teaming with riders after a crash in the early going
• Katie Weber (Xplane/Team Revolution) eyes the first turn as the peloton strings out a bit
• Catherine Powers (Aaron’s Pro Cycling) leads the way up the hill into the first turn
• Beth Galenti (American Dairyland) concentrates on her line in the first turn
• Jishi Reem (Advil/Chapstick) with a teammate on her wheel picks up the tempo
• Brenda Lyons (Tibco) Struck out on her own for a partial lap as the rain began to fall
• Tina Pic (Colavita-Sutter Home) looked calm and relaxed as the rain intensified
• Target Training went to the front and controlled the race for a few laps
• Sarah Caravella (Aaron’s Pro Cycling) corners carefully in the rain
• Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci Breakaway Racing) suffered a mechanical in the early going, but was back in the race quickly
• Marni Harker (Kenda Tire) navigates turn one carefully on the extremely slick pavement
• Heather Labance (Advil/Chapstick) climbs the front stretch in the rain
• Shannon Hutchison (Aaron’s Pro Cycling) doesn’t seem at all affected by the rain
• A disgusted look from Kelly Benjamin (Cheerwine) as she retired from the race
• A ValueAct Capital Cycling Team rider climbs the hill into turn one on slick pavement
• Aaron’s Pro Cycling team director Carmen D’ Aluisio wills her riders safely through the turn
• Brooke Miller (Tibco) went down on the slick pavement late in the race and was forced to chase
• Tina Pic (Colavita-Sutter Home) takes a narrow victory over Jen McRae (Advil-Chapstick)
• Tina Pic (Colavita-Sutter Home) celebrates her victory and her new title
• The Champagne flies on the podium as the women celebrate
• The women’s podium (left to right) Jen McRae (Advil-Chapstick), Tina Pic (Colavita-Sutter Home), and Anna Lang (KARL STRAUSS/SDBC)

Stage 2 - August 18: Men’s Pro-am 1/2 International Challenge,

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Images by Kurt Jambretz/www.actionimages.cc

• Steve Tilford (HRRC Trek Stores) a great competitor in multi disciplines readies himself for the race.
• Brad Huff (Slipstream-Chipotle) has come up with an ingenious place for his radio.
• Ryan Roth (Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast) covers the brakes slightly in a wet turn.
• Ian McKissick (BMC Pro Cycling) leads David McCook (Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast), and Mike Friedman (Slipstream-Chipotle) off the front after a prime.
• Tom Soladay (Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast) holds a great line and surprisingly a great amount of speed through a sloppy turn one.
• A Nerac Pro rider rides with purpose as the peloton strings out.
• Edward King (Priority Health pb Bissell) leads the peloton up the slight incline on the home stretch.
• Dan Holt (Nerac Pro Cycling) elects the outside line in turn four as the peloton accelerates on the downhill.
• Shane Fedon (head mechanic for Toyota/United) waits for the officials signal to push his rider Jose "Chepe" Garcia back into the fray.
• Ryan Miller (Toyota/United) returned to the active Toyota/United roster after missing much of the season while pursuing his education.
• Darren Lill (Navigators) added some much needed horsepower to the break .
• Dominique Rollin (Kodak Gallery-Sierra Brewing) focused on the turn ahead, leads the breakaway .
• Darren Lill (Navigators) climbs the small hill on the back side of the course out of the saddle.
• Darren Lill (Navigators) leads Dominique Rollin (Kodak Gallery-Sierra Brewing) as the break continues to gain time over the peloton.
• At one point it looked like these seven riders would stay away til the end of the race.
• Phil Zajicek (Navigators) manages a bit of a smile on this very wet day.
• A Rite-Aid rider gingerly works his way through the first turn.
• AEG-Toshiba rode an aggressive race, but failed to put a rider in the breakaway.
• Will Frischkorn (Slipstream-Chipotle) leads the break through the downhill section of the course.
• The peloton makes a hard run at the breakaway with two laps remaining in the race.
• IT was Colavita-Sutter Home doing all the work to catch the breakaway in the closing laps.
• Scott Szizanski (Priority Health pb Bissell) rides hard in the final laps as the peloton closes in on the breakaway.
• Ivan Dominguez (Toyota/United) looks on from the spectator area after withdrawing from the race. He is truly focused on winning the National Criterium Championship title tomorrow.
• The break was swallowed by the field with one and a half laps to go.
• Ken Hanson (BMC Pro Cycling) sprints home for the victory just beating Dominique Rollin (Kodak Gallery/Sierra Brewing) to the line.
• Ken Hanson (BMC Pro Cycling) celebrates his hard fought victory.
• The men's podium (left to right) Dominique Rollin (Kodak Gallery/Sierra Brewing), Ken Hanson (BMC Pro Cycling) , and Darren Lill (Navigators).
• Ken Hanson (BMC Pro Cycling) with his Team Director Gavin Chilcott at the finish line .

Stage 1 - August 18: Women’s Pro 1/2/3 International Challenge,

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Images by Kurt Jambretz/www.actionimages.cc

• Tina Pic (Colavita-Sutter Home) wore her game face at the starting line as the rain began to fall.
• Catherine Cheatley (Cheerwine) navigates the turns carefully as the rain began to fall harder.
• Alison Power (Colavita-Sutter Home) and Brooke Miller (Tibco) go up the road early after a prime lap.
• A cautious Anne Felts (Mercy Cycling) gingerly makes her way through turn one.
• Brooke Miller (Tibco) leads the breakaway (now four riders) in the driving rain.
• Shelly Olds (Proman/Paradigm) leads the field through the start/finish area as the break gains over a minute on the peloton.
• A helpless Tina Pic (Colavita-Sutter Home) can only watch as the rain now builds to a deluge .
• Catherine Powers (Aaron's Pro Cycling) leads Tina Pic (Colavita-Sutter Home) through turn one in absolutely miserable conditions.
• Catherine Powers (Aaron's Pro Cycling) picks a safe line in the first turn as the rain intensified.
• Brooke Miller (Tibco) provides fearless horsepower for the group as Alison Power (Colavita-Sutter Home) catches raindrops on her tongue.
• The break gained time steadily as the rain subsides.
• Andrea Dvorak (Colavita-Sutter Home) Concentrates on the turn ahead on a very slick course.
• The look on Alison Power's (Colavita-Sutter Home) face says it all.... I'll bet her knuckles were white as well.
• Seemingly un-phased by the rain Brooke Miller (Tibco) continued to drive the break.
• No time for a victory salute during this close sprint as Brooke Miller (Tibco) pipps Alison Power (Colavita-Sutter Home) on the line with Katharin Carroll (Aaron's Pro Cycling) crossing the line in third.
• The women's podium (left to right) Alison Power (Colavita-Sutter Home), Brooke Miller (Tibco), Katharin Carroll (Aaron's Pro Cycling), and Laura Bowles (Advil Chapstick) .