This weekend saw the country’s best head to familiar Downers Grove, IL, for the US National Criterium Championships. Racing got underway with the Saturday evening warm-up races. Laura rode a conservative race to prep for Sundays biggie, rolling in just inside the top 20. In the men’s Pro/Am, both Geronimo and Matt Spohn were on hand to loosen the legs and get a feel for the course. Geronimo made the decisive 15 man split, and after helping his team-mate take the sprint for 4th, rolled in 12th himself. Matt rode comfortably in the group, saving the effort for Sunday.
The women were the first to kick off Sunday in the chase for stars and stripes. Laura rode an attentive race, covering dangerous moves late. Ultimately it came to a group sprint, and she finished just off the podium in 6th.
In the amateur men’s race, the rains came hard and made for some serious chaos. In the end, 5 riders slipped clear, including one of Geronimo’s team-mates. Back in the group, after helping nullify any chase attempts, Geronimo led out the sprint and came home 2nd in the bunch, for 7th on the day.
Matt rode awesome all day for his first stab at a National Championship event….stayed out of trouble, and well positioned after the rain came. Unfortunately, he was taken down in a massive pile-up with just 5 laps to go that ended his likely run at a top spot, and saw him roll home in 46th. A tough way to end the day for Matt, but gratifying to know he has the goods to be in there with the big guns.
(Full reports on nationals can be found here for the women and here for the men)
Back at home, Kevin Keane came out for his first race in a bit, looking to begin the ramp-up for cross. In a highly competitive 35+ at the Emerick Blvd Crit, he finished with a solid top 20 ride.
All in all, a big congrats to the gang for representing well, locally, and at Nationals! Everyone is on good form that will bode well for the big races yet to come.
[...] Elite Criterium National report from Elliston Coaching has been posted by Bill. Elliston Coaching clients posted solid results with a 7th by Geronimo and a 46th by Matt Spohn in his first National Champ race. Spohn actually crashed late in the race, but got back on to finish in the field. [...]
[...] Matt also made the trip out for Downer’s Grove and more importantly the Elite Criterium National Championship just outside of Chicago. With the rain pouring down, a crash with 5 laps to go took Matt out of contention for the win. Check out Bill Elliston’s short recap. [...]