6.02.08

ELITE AMATEUR CRITERIUM

June 2, 2008: Before the pro men and women take center stage at the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling, some of the northeast’s best amateur bike racers will get the chance to strut their stuff during a pair of elite criterium races on June 3 and 5.

No less than 15 top regional teams of four to six riders will do battle starting at 10 a.m. on June 3 in downtown Allentown. Center stage is a one-mile, four-turn circuit with a short “sprinter’s hill” on each lap that starts and finishes at the intersection of Hamilton and Ninth streets. The race will cover 30 miles and last approximately one hour.

Two days later, the elite amateur action moves to Reading for round No. 2 again starting at 10 a.m. This time the setting is an eight-corner circuit that starts and finishes at the corner of Penn and Fourth streets. In between, racers will complete 14 laps during the 25-mile, hour-long race.

Expect speeds in excess of 30mph for both events, with each race parceling out $2150 to the top 20 finishers, including $500 to each winner.

Battling for the cash will be teams from New England, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Virginia and at least six Pennsylvania squads, including hometown favorites Gotham Cyclists of Allentown and Dynaflo Racing from Reading.

Both events are in part meant to foster youth cycling development by requiring each team to include at least one under-23 or junior rider. These younger riders will contest a race within the race, with the best placed U23 each day taking home $75.

Following the amateur events, the pros will take over, with the women’s criteriums scheduled for 11:15 a.m. both days, and the pro men’s circuit races slated for 1 p.m. Add it all up, and the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling will deliver two triple headers of exciting bike racing action.

Here’s a list of Elite Amateur teams signed up thus far:

CRCA/Empire Cycling Team – New York
Colavita Amateur Team, NJ
Gotham Cyclists – Allentown, PA
Human Zoom p/b Pabst Blue Ribbon, PA
Kelly Benefit Strategies/Lateral Stress Velo, MD
Liberty Cycle, NJ
Metra/Wendy’s powered by Victor Homes, NJ
PA Lightning, PA
GS Mengoni USA, NY
Fitness Together / IF pb Lionette’s, MA
Team Alliance Environmental, PA
VanDessel Factory Team, NJ
Team Natures Path, Richmond VA
Dynaflo Racing, Reading PA

Source: Pro Cycling Tour