September 2010 News Articles

Published: Thursday, September 30, 2010, 6:30 PM

Kelly Hill | The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS -- Daniel Holloway of the Bissell Pro Cycling Team rode off with the prestigious Professional Criterium National Championship title in Glencoe, Ill., this year.

If he repeats as champ, he'll do it on the streets of his sponsor's hometown next year.

USA Cycling on Thursday announced Grand Rapids was selected to host the 2011 and 2012 Professional Criterium National Championships in conjunction with the annual Grand Cycling Classic. The other finalists bidding to serve as the host location for the event were Austin, Texas, and Elk Grove, Ill., in suburban Chicago.

The 2011 event tentatively is set for Saturday, July 30.

It might change, however, if required by Union Cycliste Internationale, the governing body of international competitive cycling. A firm date will be announced later.

The success of the Grand Cycling Classic contributed to Grand Rapids landing the national championship.

"We have a proven event to layer this on," West Michigan Sports Commission executive director Mike Guswiler said. "We have proven with the many events that we have hosted that we have close relationships with the community, volunteers, the media and sponsors. We work to bring in state, regional, national and even international events, and this will help to build our resume.

"Events like this will help Grand Rapids catch the eye of other tournament directors. The impact the national championship will have goes beyond this event. It will have an impact on us being able to bring even more events to West Michigan."

The Professional Criterium National Championship is taking on a new look here.

In previous years, it had been open to any rider from a UCI-sanctioned team, while the national championship was presented to the first American finisher.

Beginning next year, following a precedent set by USA Cycling's Professional Road and Time Trial National Championships, the national criterium championship will be open only to American riders.

"Changing the format of this event to a stand-alone national championship limited to American riders is a great step," USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson said in a news release. "It will eliminate the current and sometimes confusing disconnect between winning the race and winning the stars and stripes jersey.

"Now is the right time for this change. Grand Rapids will provide the perfect venue to showcase our top American riders."

Former Grand Rapids resident Rob Laybourn, president of Arlington Sports, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of professional and amateur bike racing, has served as race director of the Grand Cycling Classic. He'll handle the same role for the national criterium championship.

"Grand Rapids was my childhood home, so I am doubly honored," Laybourn said. "Not only to be selected to run the national championship, but to also be able to bring an event to Grand Rapids and support the mission of the sports commission."

Bissell president and CEO Mark Bissell is delighted the national criterium championship is coming to Grand Rapids.

"It would be an understatement to say that the Bissell Pro Cycling Team is excited by USA Cycling's announcement," Bissell said. "Clearly, this is a great opportunity for the city of Grand Rapids. Because this is Bissell's hometown, the team has a dual interest in defending our 2010 victories at the Grand Cycling Classic and criterium national championship."

Robert Hughes, president of Advantage benefits, sponsor of the Grand Cycling Classic and Bissell team, was instrumental in bringing the event here.

"Grand Rapids' selection as home for the U.S. Pro Crit for the next two years is a perfect complement to hometown team Bissell. We are excited to be able to race for the championship in 2011 in our hometown," he said.

http://www.mlive.com/sports/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/09/grand_rapids_lands_usa_cycling.html

Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sept. 30, 2010) — USA Cycling has announced Grand Rapids, Michigan, as the host site for the 2011/2012 USA Cycling Professional Criterium National Championships. The professional men's national championship race will operate in tandem with the Grand Cycling Classic, though a specific date is still being determined.

The 2011 edition will also mark a new era in American bike racing with only U.S. citizens allowed to participate in the pro criterium national championships. In previous editions, any rider who was a part of a UCI trade team could enter the race, with the first American crossing the line crowned the national champion. Following in the footsteps of the USA Cycling Professional Road and Time Trial National Championships, the professional criterium national championship event will permit only American cyclists to start.

"Criterium-style bike racing is extremely popular in North America and the United States has many very talented criterium cyclists," said USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson. "Changing the format of this event to a stand-alone national championship limited to American riders is a great step that will eliminate the current and sometimes confusing disconnect between winning the race and winning the Stars-and-Stripes jersey. Now is the right time for this change, and Grand Rapids will provide the perfect venue to showcase our top American riders."

The City of Grand Rapids was selected as host out of four strong, final candidate cities following a nationwide search and competitive bid process. The combination of proven experience, strong local sports commission support and solid sponsorship commitment helped the Grand Rapids bid stand out.

"We are very excited to have been selected," said Mike Guswiler, executive director of the West Michigan Sports Commission. "The Grand Cycling Classic has continued to grow into a popular event in downtown Grand Rapids and now, to have the USA Cycling Pro Criterium National Championships as part of this event, brings it to another level and answers the mission of the sports commission in promoting our region as a premier venue for hosting major sporting events."

The Grand Cycling Classic has been a strong event on the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar since 2007 and consists of a classic six-turn criterium course in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. The route includes sections of the historic red brick street pavers, a renowned feature of the downtown business district.

"Arlington Sports is honored to be the promoting organization for the pro criterium nationals," said Race Director Rob Laybourn, president of Arlington Sports. "Grand Rapids was my childhood home, so I am doubly honored, not only to be selected to run the national championships, but to also be able to bring an event to Grand Rapids and support the mission of the sports commission."

"Grand Rapids' selection as home for the USPRO Crit for the next two years is a perfect complement to hometown team Bissell," said Robert Hughes, president of Advantage Benefits. "The Bissell Pro Cycling team is one of the top domestic teams in the U.S. — a team that produced the 2010 USPRO Crit champion. We are excited to be able to race for the championship in 2011 in our hometown."

For more information on the Grand Cycling classic, please visit GRCyclingClassic.com.

This Article Published 2010-09-30 08:51:16 For more information contact: jhammond@usacycling.org

BISSELL’s crit squad of Kyle Wamsley, Frank Pipp, Daniel Holloway, and Shane Kline wrapped up the final race of the North American road season in great form with Holloway taking the win at the TD Bank Mayor’s Cup. Twelve riders including Holloway and Wamsley successfully broke away on the 2nd lap of the flat, 4-cornered course in downtown Boston. Halfway through the 90 minute crit the front group splintered with Holloway taking off in the lead group and Wamsley covering the chasers. Holloway went onto win the race and cap of a great season for BISSELL.

BISSELL’s David Williams also fared well at the USA Cycling Collegiate Track Nationals where his team, Marian University, earned top points in Division I to take the team omnium. Additionally, David and his four man team won the team pursuit and David finished 2nd in the time trial.

The BISSELL Pro Cycling Team wrapped up its 2010 season with the USPRO Time Trail and Road Race Championships held this past weekend in Greenville, SC.

The time trial took place on Saturday at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research. The course totaled 20.7 miles and consisted of three 6.9 mile circuits. BISSELL had two riders contesting the time trial out of a total field of only 15. David Williams who placed 3rd at the U23 National TT Championships and Paul Mach represented BISSELL in the small but highly qualified field. Taylor Phinney (Trek Livestrong) went onto win the championship by a .12 second margin over Levi Leipheimer (Radio Shack). BISSELL’s Williams and Mach finished 8th and 9th, respectively.

Sunday’s road race championships greeted 80 starters for the 180k race under hot and sunny conditions. Right from the start, 5 riders attacked the group including BISSELL’s Daniel Holloway. During the three opening laps, two riders were dropped from the lead group leaving Holloway, Ben King (Trek Livestrong), and Scott Zwizanski (Kelly Benefits) to make history. By the half way point of the race, the leaders were able to establish a maximum 17 minutes gap. On the 3rd trip up Paris Mountain, King attacked his breakmates. King opened up nearly a 1 minute gap over Holloway and Zwizanski by the top of Paris Mountain. The serious chase from the peloton resulted in the majority of the field being shelled. King made his final climb over Paris Mountain while maintaining a gap of 8 minutes. By the time King entered the 3 closing laps in downtown Greenville, he still had a lead of 6 minutes with top pro riders like Hincapie (BMC), Horner (Radio Shack), and Leipheimer (Radio Shack) in hot pursuit. In one of the most exciting finishes, King held off the chasers to win the 2010 USPRO Road Championships.

The youth of American cycling has truly taken hold with the three USPRO National titles being held by riders under 25 years old.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Sept. 10, 2010 –Despite BISSELL Pro Cycling’s status as a Continental Team, riders are traveling the globe this month to represent their home countries in three prestigious races. After posting outstanding results at the Tour of Utah, Ian Boswell was chosen to race for the USA U23 National Team at the Tour de l’Avenir. Twenty national teams are competing in the race, which opened with a 7k prologue on September 5. The eight-day race concludes September 12 with a time trial in Risoul.

BISSELL's Rob Britton is one of 12 riders on the Canadian National Team racing in the Grand Prix Cyclistes ProTour 2010 in Quebec City and Montreal on September 10 and 12. The national team compete against 18 Pro Tour teams and four Pro-Continental teams in these two Pro Tour events. Britton proved his outstanding climbing ability at the Tour of California, Mt. Hood Classic, and Tour of Gila. His fifth place finish at this year’s Canadian Road Nationals confirmed his standing as one of Canada’s best racers.

New Zealander Jeremy Vennell, a BISSELL rider and 2009 Time Trial National Champion is vying for a spot on at the UCI World Championship in Geelong, Australia. Vennell is one of six riders in contention for a spot on his nation’s road squad and one of three for the time trial. BISSELL Pro Cycling Team manager, Glen Mitchell, will be directing New Zealand’s pro men, pro women, and U23 teams at the World Championships. Following World’s, Glen will be continuing on to direct New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India from October 10-13, 2010.

BISSELL rider Pete Latham, is currently training in France with the New Zealand National Track Team. Pete is preparing for the Commonwealth Games where he will compete in team pursuit.

Two neo-pros, Daniel Holloway (BISSELL) and Lauren Hall (Team VBF) claimed the Gateway Cup after 4 days of racing over different crit courses in St Louis Missouri.

US Crit Champion Holloway took the lead the first day and successfully defended with the help of his lone teammate David Williams. He finished fourth twice in the next two races and placed second in the final crit which kept him on top.

Lauren Hall (Team VBF) at NVGP

By finishing third, second and fifth in the first three races, Hall moved up to a very close second in the omnium standings by the final race. With the support of her teammate Carrie Cash Wootten, she placed third ahead of leader Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) which allowed her to claim the overall.

The final race, the Greenstreet Properties Benton Park Classic Criterium, in the THF Realty Gateway Cup was a new one for its 19th year. A technical 1.77-mile, figure-8 course with 10 corners, some reported to be technical, that races around historic St. Louis architecture, Anheuser-Busch and some of St. Louis Landmark businesses. It was also hot with temperatures hovering in the low 90s and windy with a headwind to the start/finish line.

Schneider breaks Colavita/Baci stranglehold. The field stayed mostly together in the 50 minute (+3 laps) with a few riders getting away but getting quickly re-absorbed. One such attack included the top 3 in the omnium Van Gilder, Hall aand Modesta Vzesniauskaite (Colavita/Baci). With three laps to go, another twosome when Jacquelyn Crowell (Team Type 1) and Rachel Heal (Colavita/Baci) gave it a go but they were quickly reeled with the field prepping for the bunch sprint.

And it was on after the final corner with U23 National Crit Champion Samantha Schneider (TIBCO) besting everyone for the win and producing the first non-Colavita/Baci winner in the series. Shontell Gauthier (Colavita/Baci) was second and Hall third.

Donald wins. About halfway through the 75-minute (+3 laps) race, 7 riders escape the 110+ peloton. The break included the top 3 in the omnium, Holloway, Jonathan Jacobs (NUVO/Cultural Trail) and Rob Bush (Kenda p/b GearGrinder). Also in the move were Jason Donald (Westside Cycling), Scott Moninger (Michelob Ultra-Big Shark Racing), Nick Frey (Jamis/Sutter Home) and Brian Jensen (Tradewind Energy/Trek Stores). With a disorganized chase, the gap was up to 50 seconds with three laps to go.

On the final lap, Donald jumped and was able to hold it for the win. Holloway won the breaksprint for second, and claimed the overall. Bush finished second in the omnium with Jacobs third.

http://www.podiuminsight.com/2010/09/07/hall-holloway-claim-gateway-cup/