Athens, GA - The Presybterian Hospital Invitational Criterium hits the streets of Charlotte, North Carolina Saturday, August 8 as the USA CRITS National Series rolls into town. The 3rd stop of the Series will see the top men's and women's criterium racers take on the 1.2 mile course in hopes of moving up in the Series Overall and cashing in on the $75,000 prize list.Team Mountain Khakis has dominated the races in the Series this year, slotting three riders in the top five of the Overall Competition and leading the Team Competition by 508 points over Kelly Benefit Strategies and Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light. Tom Soladay is in the VeloNews Red, White, and Blue Leader's Jersey and plans to not give it up, saying, "I'm going to be at all the remaining races. The team is going to be at all the races. Last year, the team competition was so close, we missed it by 3 points, and Adam placed second. We are not going to let that happen again."
The Winston-Salem-based team will certainly have its hands full Saturday night with a full Colavita squad looking to defend its 2008 win in Charlotte in Alejandro Borrajo. Borrajo and his hit squad will be in full force looking to make up lost time and points in the Team Competition, as well as another win in the USA CRITS Series. Luca Damiani already took top honors at Iron Hill Twilight Criterium in July.
Look for Kelly Benefit Strategies to be in the mix to protect Jake Keough's second place standing in the Series. Keogh will be racing in the Champion System Best Young Rider Jesey.
On the women's front, the Team and Individual Overall competitions are much closer. Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) is in the Overall lead, while teammate Kristen Lasasso is 99 points back in 2nd. Team Vanderkitten is leading the Team Competition with Team Kenda only 64 points behind. Fireworks will be flying on Saturday night as Tina Pic and her Colavita squad will be in the mix, as well as 2008 Presybterian Hospital Invitational winner Katherine Carroll and 2009 National Criterium Champion Brooke Miller and their TIBCO squad. Watch for 2008 Overall USA CRITS Champion Jennifer Wilson and the 2008 Team winner Vanderkitten fight for position as they seek a second Overall title.
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
Men's Lap Leader Standings
1. Russ Langley (Battley-Harley Davidson) - 37 laps
2. Kyle Wamsley (Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light) - 22 laps
3. John Murphy (OUCH presented by Maxxis) - 16 laps
Men's Best Young Rider Standings
1. Jake Keough (Kelly Benefit Strategies) - 396 pts
2. David Guttenplan (Team Mountain Khakis) - 245 pts
3. Isaac Howe (Team Mountain Khakis) - 222 pts
Men's Team Standings
1. Team Mountain Khakis - 1538 pts
2. Kelly Benefit Strategies - 1030 pts
3. Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light - 763 pts
Women's Overall Standings
1. Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) - 483 pts
2. Kristen Lasasso (Mellow Mushroom) - 384 pts
3. Jennifer Wilson (Team Vanderkitten) - 376 pts
Women's Lap Leader
1. Cath Cheatley (Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light) - 19 laps
2. Lauren Tamayo (Team TIBCO) - 10 laps
3. Jacquelyn Crowell (Team Type 1) - 9 laps
Women's Best Young Rider
1. Jessie Maclean (Verducci/Breakaway) - 217 pts
2. Jacquelyn Crowell (Team Type 1) - 206 pts
3. Samantha Schneider (Team Type 1) - 205 pts
Women's Team Standings
1. Team Vanderkitten - 1262 pts
2. Team Kenda - 1218 pts
3. Altarum Women's Cycling Team - 988 pts
USA CRITS Remaining Schedule
Presbyterian Hospital Invitational, Charlotte, NC - August 8
Chris Thater Memorial, Binghamton, NY - August 30
TX TOUGH GRAND PRIX, Dallas, TX - September 17 (men only)
USA CRITS Finals, Las Vegas, NV - September 24
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