|
|
USA Cycling Professional Criterium Championship
|
Bicycle racing in America is defined by the Criterium. On almost any Sunday, from coast to coast, you can find a Criterium race. High speeds, short courses, multiple laps, a tinge of danger and heart pounding sprints are the hallmark features of the "Crit".
Every year, USA Cycling professional bicycle racers compete for their national Criterium title in Downers Grove. Along with speed and skill it also takes teamwork to produce a Champion. Often times the teams will choose one rider to support and carry team pride into the final sprint. The USA Cycling Professional Criterium Championship features not only America's best racers but also those from around the world.
TEAMS: Team Enrollment Form
Please review for all race information.
|
2008 Champion Rahsaan Bahati of Rock Racing
|
PRO CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION:
General Information:
- Field limit 200 (field subject to change by USA Cycling)
- Race distance 100K, a total of 62 laps
- Free Lap (USA Cycling rules apply). Free Lap ends with 5 laps to go.
- No Feeding (USA Cycling Criterium rules apply).
- Drug testing will be conducted by USADA
- Awards ceremony will follow immediately after the finish of the race. Top 5 finishers must report to the awards stage in race clothing.
General Guidelines - Participation:
The event is open to the following:
- Professional individual licensed riders
- USA Pro Cycling Teams
- UCI Pro Teams
- UCI professional Continental Teams
Teams shall be composed of a maximum of 10 riders and no less than 4 riders in order to be recognized as a participating team.
Note: All USA Cycling CF rules apply; entry fee is $80 (pre-register by mail or online is suggested).
Rider Confirmation/Managers Meeting:
Rider confirmation and number distribution will be conducted on Saturday after the conclusion of the Pro AM Race. Location will be announced during the week of August 11th. All procedures and special regulations for the event will be reviewed at this meeting. No changes will be made after confirmation.
Rider Sign-In/Staging:
Rider sign-in will be located behind the announcer stage at the Start/Finish line. Sign-in will open at 2:30pm and closes at 2:45pm. Riders must be at sign-in and be available for staging and introductions by 2:45pm. The Start/Finish line will be located at the street intersection of Main & Grove.
Prizes:
- The prize list is a total of $21,000
- Top 25 finishers, a half race winner, sprint competition and 7 primes are included in the prize list.
Course Description:
The championship course is challenging, one mile course with eight turns with a slight upgrade to the finish line and a small hill on the backside. The course is on residential and business streets of downtown Downers Grove. Please be aware and courteous of public and private property. The start and finish line is located at the intersection of Main St. and Grove. Feeding will be determined by the Chief Commissaire.
Riders Out of Contention/Lapped:
Riders out of contention or in danger of being lapped will be withdrawn by the commissaries. Riders refusing to withdraw with be disqualified and fined per the regulations.
Repair Pit/Free Laps:
There will be one repair pit at the intersection of Main and Maple, where all free laps and mechanical repairs must be taken. Riders must report to the official at the neutral pit in order to obtain their free lap. One free lap is allowed for each stop for a legitimate mishap (breakage, puncture or crash) until 5 laps to go. Rider delays from course conditions, other riders or stoppages behind crashes are not eligible for free laps.
THERE ARE NO FREE LAPS AFTER 5 LAPS TO GO. Riders requiring service after this time must continue to complete the distance without free laps and may be withdrawn as deemed necessary by the commissaires for a safe and fair final sprint. Riders eligible for mid-Race awards that are withdrawn under these conditions shall be deemed to have finished the race, maintaining their standings to that point.
Half Race Leader Award:
The racer leading the race at the conclusion of lap 33 at the bell, leading into the beginning of lap 32 to go, will be recognized as the "half-race" winner. The winner of the half race sprint MUST complete the entire race in order to qualify for the prize. If the initial rider fails to finish the race, then the award passes on to the next placed rider who completes the event.
Sprint Challenge:
The sprint prize will be based upon point accumulation. Sprint points will be awarded at the Start/Finish line. Points will be awarded to the first 5 racers to cross the line and will be awarded at laps 45, 40 and 35 only.
If there is a tie in the placing by points, the tie will be broken by final placing at the end of the race in favor of the higher placing rider. Riders must finish the race in order to keep your points and place in the final overall standings for the challenge. If the rider does not finish the race, the next rider in order with total points and finishes will receive the award.
Medical Control:
Mecical Control selections (if any) will be posted behind the Main Stage at the start/finish line. All riders are responsible to verify their selection for medial control regardless of what time they finish, withdraw or are removed from the race. Testing will be performed as announced at the Manager's Meeting. Selected riders must bring their license and photo ID to Medical Control. Medical Control location will be announced at the event.
Results:
Final results will be posted as quickly as possible after the finish of the race in the Results/Awards Tent behind the main stage at the Start/Finish line.
Awards Ceremony:
The top five riders and Special Prize winners must be present for the awards ceremony. Riders must wear racing clothing for the awards ceremony. The awards podium will be on the main stage and riders must report to the main stage shortly after the conclusion of the race. There will be a brief press conference located at the main stage after the ceremony for these three riders and any others designated by the organizers. The awards podium will be on the main stage and riders must report to the main stage shortly after the conclusion of the race.
Award & Prize Payment:
Team and individuals, who have won, will receive a check within 30 days after the event. Checks will be mailed to the address that appears on the submitted team or individual application. Premes will be announced throughout the event at the main stage as well as the hill stage. No primes will be issued after 5 laps to go.
Penalties:
The penalties will be in line with the USA Cycling regulations.
Race Radios:
Officials will use Motorola radios that have a radius of 3 miles. The frequency that will be used is a private channel that will be determined by the officials.
|
REGISTRATION:
The USA Cycling Professional Criterium Championship is a Professional event only sanctioned by USA Cycling. The event is open to only the following: Individual Professional Licensed Riders, U.S. and foreign riders on UCI-registered trade team rosters The USA Cycling Professional Criterium Championship will be awarded to the first American citizen to cross the finish line at the end of the race. To be eligible and recognized as a team, teams must field a minimum of 4 riders with a maximum team size is 10.
Team Managers must complete and submit the Team Enrollment Form. The completed enrollment form, with the corresponding USA Cycling standard release forms, should be mailed to:
Steve Hansen
Special Events Management
2221 W. 43rd Street
Chicago, Illinois 60609
773-523-6598 fax
773-868-3010 x 310
All completed forms should be postmarked by Friday, August 7, 2009 or you must sign up on site by Sunday, August 16th by 1:00 p.m. If you are registering as a team, you must register your team by Saturday, August 15th by 2:00 p.m. in order to be recognized as a participating team. If teams are not registered by 2:00 p.m. each rider must sign up individually.
ONLINE REGISTRATION:
Register Now! All online
registrations are subject to a 5.5% registration fee plus $1.00 administration fee. Please note a $3 per day rider
insurance surcharge and ICA fees are included in the entry fee.
|
RULES AND ELIGIBILITY:
All participants must posses a current USA Cycling license. Category 5 entries may purchase at registration a one-day license to participate in the category 5 event(s). Each race will be a mass start. All USA Cycling rules apply. All participants must wear an approved helmet.
- All participants must possess a current USA Cycling license and be in good standing.
- All participants must wear an approved helmet.
- Each race will be a mass start.
- All USA Cycling rules apply.
- Non-competitive participants and racers in danger of being lapped will be asked to withdraw.
- Field limit 200.
HISTORY OF RACE WINNERS & CHAMPIONS:
The title of "USA Cycling Professional Criterium Championship" is awarded to the first U.S. citizen who completes the race. Because of this rule, it is possible that the overall race winner would not be the USA Cycling Professional Criterium Champion. This has happened several times. For example, in 1998 Julian Dean (Mercury) of New Zealand won the race. However, American Chann McRae finished in second place and, as the first U.S. citizen to cross the finish line, was awarded the title of USA Cycling Professional Criterium Champion.
| Year |
USPRO Champion |
Team |
Place |
Race Winner |
Team |
Nationality |
| 1991 |
Greg Oravetz |
Coors Light |
1st |
same |
| 1992 |
Mike McCarthy |
G.S. Mengoni |
2nd |
Stephen Swart |
Coors Light |
New Zealand |
| 1993 |
Mike Engelman |
Coors Light |
2nd |
A. Mierzejewski |
Chev/LA Sheriff |
Poland |
| 1994 |
Dave McCook |
Chev/LA Sheriff |
3rd |
Kris Wiatr |
Guiltless Gourmet |
Poland |
| 1995 |
Frank McCormack |
Saturn |
1st |
same |
| 1996 |
Frank McCormack |
Saturn |
1st |
same |
| 1997 |
Jonas Carney |
Team Shaklee |
1st |
same |
| 1998 |
Chann McRae |
Saturn |
2nd |
Julian Dean |
Mercury |
New Zealand |
| 1999 |
Tony Cruz |
Independent |
2nd |
Gord Frasier |
Mercury |
Canada |
| 2000 |
Derek Bouchard-Hall |
Mercury |
1st |
same |
| 2001 |
Kirk O'Bee |
Navigators |
1st |
Harm Jansen |
Saturn |
Netherlands |
| 2002 |
Kevin Monahan |
7-Up/Nutra Fig |
1st |
Henk Vogels |
Mercury |
Australia |
| 2003 |
Kevin Monahan |
7-Up/Maxxis |
1st |
same |
|
|
| 2004 |
Jonas Carney |
Jelly Belly/Armark |
1st |
same |
|
|
| 2005 |
Tyler Farrar |
Health Net Maxxis |
1st |
same |
|
|
| 2006 |
Brad Huff |
|
1st |
Hilton Clarke |
Toyota United |
Australian |
| 2007 |
Kirk O'Bee |
Health Net Maxxis |
2nd |
same |
|
|
| 2008 |
Rahsaan Bahati |
Rock Racing |
1st |
same |
|
|
|
AWARDS AND PRIZE MONEY:
All prize money will be mailed within 30 days after the event, to the address on the submitted application. A social security number or tax ID number is required for payment. Absolutely no money will be awarded on race day.
|
|
|
