Top notch cycling returns to the Greenville area this coming weekend with the Greenville Hospital System US Pro time trial and road cycling championships. Last year's time trial champion David Zabriskie is once again on hand to try to take his fourth straight national time trial championship, while he and the rest of his Garmin teammates will hope to take home the Stars & Stripes in the road race as well on Sunday after coming up about a millimeter short in last year's race.
For the time trial, all eyes will be on Zabriskie, as the Utah native looks for an astounding 4th straight time trial championship. The quirky Zabriskie has never been beaten on the Greenvile time trial course, and he'll hope for a top result once again on Saturday. His biggest competition will surely be Tom Zirbel of the Bissell squad. Zirbel was a scant 5 seconds slower than Zabriskie in 2008, and he has had the US Pro time trial championship circled on his calendar since his close second placing last year. Zirbel's teammate Brent Bookwalter could also be a dark horse contender for time trial gold, as could Kelly Benefit Strategy rider Scott Zwizanski.
On the road, the Garmin team will once again be heavy favorites, and will be looked to to dictate the tempo of the race. From Danny Pate to Timmy Duggan to Thomas Peterson, the American juggernaut will have multiple matches to burn out on the roads of Greenville. Rising support will be Steven Cozza, Will Frichkorn and others, giving Jonathan Vaughters' team maximum chance at victory in the tough one day race. Last year it was Tyler Hamilton who spoiled the Garmin party, but with the American veteran retired (and suspended), other challengers will be present to take on the Garmin contingent.
Notable names to watch include the Jacques-Maynes brothers of Bissell, as well as their teammate Burke Swindlehurst. BMC has a strong team present as well, with their contingent of Jeff Louder, Antonio Cruz and Brent Bookwalter, along with several others who will lend support. Kelly Benefit Strategies too have a good amount of riders coming to race, and they'll support Andy Bajadali and Neil Shirley for the top step of the podium. Finally, the OUCH team will have a strong line up, headlined by Chris Baldwin, Tim Johnson, and Bradley White. Expect the Bay Area team to fire all their guns in pursuit of the Stars & Stripes jersey.
Ove the next two days fans in the Greenville area will enjoy top-flight racing American style. Since the even came to Greenville four years ago, the event has been closed to International competition. The lack of International riders creates a distinct tactical dynamic, as the all-American field have only each other to mark in the search for the finish line. In what should be an amazing race, the Garmin team will have the bulls eye on their back as they try to do what they couldn't in 2007 or 2008: take the Stars & Stripes jersey in both disciplines.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Pro is Go: Stars & Stripes Jersey Battle Ahead for 2009 Greenville Hospital System Time Trial and Road Cycling Championships
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2 comments:
well the zman has left us with mediocre timetrial results all season long. in every race he has participated in. notice how i did not say competed in .so hope fully hes been saving his energy and has recharged his batteries all season long. if he doesn't give yours truly a victory then i think its back to the chamois cream drawing board room to figure out another way to fool everybody and have them beleive that hes gonna win some timetrials next year /. well you know hes the most aerodynamic in the world eh? but you gotta have some mean powerreserves in those legs. ala cancellera. this win most certainly would never occur with any europeans in there firing their engines. will he pull it off. ? oh boy.
The better question is whether USA Cycling will bend over backwards and keep the championships in Greenville another year.
It's a great venue but extending the contract an additional year raised eyebrows among city folk last year (taxpayers are footing the bill) and USA Cycling is under pressure to move the race around (and possibly even back to Philadelphia).
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