U.S. Scene This Week: Pro Crit dominates weekend
USA Cycling's Professional Criterium National Championship heads up the weekend's action in American cycling, as stage racers ready for next week's Tour of Utah.
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A single event will get much of U.S. racing’s attention this weekend: the USA Cycling Professional Criterium National Championship in Glencoe, Illinois.
Not to be forgotten, though, the stage racers are putting the finishing touches on their fitness for the final National Racing Calendar stage race of the year. The six-day Tour of Utah, which has grown to be arguably the most lauded non-UCI stage race in the country, starts Tuesday in Salt Lake City.
USA Cycling Professional Criterium National Championship
Glencoe, Illinois, August 14
Women: 3:45 p.m. / 60 minutes
Men: 5:00 p.m. / 100km
*U.S. Championship titles awarded in men’s race only
The pro criterium championship moves this year from its long-time home in Downers Grove, Illinois, to the Glencoe Grand Prix in the north Chicago suburb. The men’s race pits top international and domestic crit riders against each other for a $15,000 purse and the national champion’s jersey. The women, whose national champ was decided in Bend, Oregon, in June, will fight it out over a $7,500 purse.
Click here for a full preview of the action from Glencoe.
Tour of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah, August 17-22
The National Racing Calendar and the country’s top stage race units roll into northern Utah next week for the Tour of Utah. The five-stage event kicks off Tuesday with a prologue at the State Capitol and, more than 23,000 vertical feet of climbing later, the race wraps with the finish of the queen stage at Snowbird Ski Resort.
Defending champion Francisco Mancebo (Canyon Bicycles), Levi Leipheimer (Radioshack), George Hincapie and Jeff Louder (BMC Racing), Darren Lill and Phil Zajicek (Fly V Australia) and Marc de Maar (UnitedHealthcare) should all be at the start in Salt Lake City. Check back for a detailed preview of the action in the beehive state.
Prologue: Utah State Capitol
August 17, 6:00 p.m.
2.8 miles
Stage 1: Ogden to Salt Lake City
August 18, 11:00 a.m.
85.2 miles
Stage 2: Thanksgiving Point to Mt. Nebo
August 19, 10:00 a.m.
78.5 miles
Stage 3: Miller Motorsports Park
August 20, 6:30 p.m.
9.2 miles
Stage 4: Downtown Park City Criterium
August 21, 4:30 p.m.
90 minutes
Stage 5: Park City to Snowbird
August 22, 11:00 a.m.
102.5 miles