Van Gilder, Damiani Victorious - 5th Annual Iron Hill Twilight Criterium

On July 11th, an elite women's and men's field took to the streets of West Chester, PA for the 5th Annual Iron Hill Twilight Criterium. A crowd of approximately 25,000 gathered to watch the USA CRITS Series event, and they were treated to a night of exciting racing.

The attacks started early in the women’s event. On the third lap of the 40 kilometer race, a break of five (5) including, Laura Bowles (Vanderkitten Racing), Cath Cheatley (Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light), Gemma Dudley (BikeNZ), Christina Smith (Veloforma), and Jesse Maclean (Verducci Breakaway Racing) went off the front.

Two laps later, Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) and Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci Breakaway Racing) would bridge up to the leading group of riders to make it seven strong.

After lapping a shattered main field with 22 laps to go, the attacks came fast and furious. Cath Cheatley was the first to go, followed by former Cheerwine teammate, Van Gilder.


The two worked well together to stay away. And on the final lap, Van Gilder would unleash her trademark sprint to easily beat Cheatley to the line. Theresa Cliff-Ryan rounded out the podium. With the win, Van Gilder took the lead in the USA CRITS overall standings.

Women’s Overall Standings
1. Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom), 483 pts
2. Kristin Lasasso (Mellow Mushroom), 385 pts
3. Jennifer Wilson (Vanderkitten Racing), 376 pts

Best Young Rider Leader - Jessie Maclean (Verducci Breakaway Racing)

Lap Leader - Cath Cheatley (Colavita Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light) – 22 laps

In the men’s race, Russ Langley (Battley Harley-Davidson) attacked on the first lap of the 60 kilometer race to take a $250 dollar prime. Langley would build a sizeable gap on the main the field, and remain off the front for the majority of the race.

With 32 laps to go, however, the chase began in earnest. Mike Friedman (Garmin Slipstream) hit the front and pulled six others with him including, Josh England (Subway Avanti Cycling Team), Tom Soladay (Team Mountain Khakis), Luca Damiani and Alejandro Borrajo (Colavita Sutter Home, presented by Cooking Light), Will Hoffarth (Team Mountain Khakis), and David Fuentes (Battley Harley-Davidson).


The finale would end up in a bunch sprint contested by the break of seven. With a lead out provided by teammate Alejandro Borrajo, Damiani would take the sprint by several bike lengths. Soladay finished second, and Langley placed third. With his second placed finish, Tom Soladay (Team Mountain Khakis) would take the lead in the USA CRITS overall standings.

Men’s Overall Standings
1. Tom Soladay (Team Mountain Khakis), 423 pts
2. Jake Keough (Kelly Benefit Strategies), 396 pts
3. Mark Hekman (Team Mountain Khakis), 380 pts

Best Young Rider Leader – Jake Keough (Kelly Benefit Strategies)

Lap Leader – Russ Langley (Battley Harley Davidson) – 37 laps

With six events remaining, the USA CRITS Series now heads to Charlotte, NC for the Presbyterian Hospital Invitational on August 8th, where the USA CRITS pro men’s and women’s field will be competing for more than $75,000 in combined cash prizes.

USA CRITS Series Schedule
Presbyterian Hospital Invitational – Charlotte, NC August 8, 2009
Capital Criterium – Washington, D.C. August 23, 2009
Chris Thater Memorial – Binghamton, NY August 30, 2009
Austin International Downtown Criterium – Austin, TX September 5, 2009
TX TOUGH GRAND PRIX – Dallas, TX September 17, 2009
USA CRITS Finals – Las Vegas, NV September 24, 2009