Tour of Elk Grove

Five riders from Team Panther raced two criteriums in the Chicago suburb of Elk Grove Village, IL, last weekend.  Both races were held on a flat 2km course with a 180 turn and a long drag race of a sprint.  With $7,500 and $8,500 prize money on offer the team was aggressive, constantly sending riders off the front to create breakaways and ring the prime bell.  Saturday’s race ended in a messy field sprint, won by Andy Crater (Aerocat) with Ryan Knapp 9th, Chris Uberti 12th and Paul 18th.  In spite of late breakaways by Andy Clarke and Greg Christian that forced the Aerocat and Kenda teams to chase full gas, Sunday also came down to a field sprint with Panther putting three riders in the top ten - 6th, 7th and 8th places by Chris, Ryan and Paul.

Garrett Wonders Criteriums

Kirk Albers and Brent Martin raced the Garrett Wonders criteriums in Westerville and Columbus, OH the same weekend, coming up with two big wins.  Brent Martin followed Kirk’s leadout for the win Saturday in Westerville, with Kirk in third and Kirk went two places better to win the Columbus race on Sunday.  Full report to follow.

Next up for the team is the Presbyterian Hospital Criterium in Charlotte, NC this Saturday; a tough NRC and USA Crits event.

-Paul Martin