The Criterium built by WEBCOR to offer day of exciting cycling for riders and spectators alike
Downtown San Jose to become urban race track

SAN JOSE, CALIF., —The San Jose Cycling Classic presents The Criterium built by WEBCOR, 8 a.m., Saturday, February 14, with the start located at Park Avenue/Market Street/South Almaden Blvd. Packet pick-up begins at 7 a.m., San Jose City Hall Wing, Rooms 118-120, 200 East Santa Clara Street.

To be staged in downtown San Jose with the Plaza de Cesar Chavez as the event’s main backdrop, The Criterium built by WEBCOR, a first to be produced by the City, will provide a day of thrilling racing for both amateur and professional riders who will test their abilities to corner rapidly and sharply—and ride to win within a large group on a short circuit.

“The Criterium will be an exciting addition to our Downtown, offering both athletes and fans a great opportunity to be a part of an intense, action-filled event,” said Mayor Chuck Reed. “We are pleased that WEBCOR has joined with the City to help bring both professional and amateur cycling in San Jose.”

Marked by high speeds, short courses, multiple laps, tight turns, and side-by-side racing, a criterium, or “crit,” is one of the most exciting of all cycling’s competitive sports. The .86 mile urban downtown “track” will feature these elements as well as cash and prizes, including $5,000 for top male professionals and $5,000 for top female professionals.

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Multi-day cycling and community events target diverse roster of amateur and professional riders in conjunction with returning Amgen Tour of California and LIVESTRONG® Challenge San Jose kick-off

“Season of cycling” to promote San Jose Green Vision green mobility

SAN JOSE, CALIF.—The San Jose Cycling Classic will be held February 14, 2009 throughout San Jose. The multi-pronged event will encompass professional, amateur and community cycling activities, including a competitive time trial race, a criterium, a recreational ride and a CEO Challenge. It is expected to attract more than 1,000 cycling athletes, 20,000 spectators and cycling-related exhibitors.

“Cycling is an important form of alternative transportation, and San Jose’s Green Vision puts San Jose on the path to being a cycling-friendly city,” San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed said. “The San Jose Cycling Classic lets the cyclists everywhere know that San Jose and the greater SouthBay region is a one of the best places in the world to cycle whether you’re an amateur or a professional.”

The San Jose Cycling Classic will kick off with the The King of the Mountain Time Trial and Ride sponsored by Mattson Technology, and a CEO Challenge powered by SunPower, where riders will leave San Jose City Hall and reach the base of Sierra Road for a mass start time trial race. This challenging hill was featured in several Amgen Tour of California races and exploded the peloton. The climb is 3.7 miles long with an average gradient of 10 percent; however, some pitches reach 17-18 percent. It will include police motorcycles leading a rolling closure north and east of Downtown San Jose to the base of the Sierra Road climb. The San Jose Cycling Classic will also feature a 30-mile recreational ride which will start along the same route but will not include the challenging Sierra Road climb.

All rides will start with police motorcycles leading a rolling closure north and east of Downtown San Jose to the base of the Sierra Road climb. Cyclists on the King of the Mountain and CEO Challenge ride will then cross a timing pad to activate timing chips and begin their ascent up Sierra Road—a stunning 3.7-mile, 1,830-foot climb. After summiting Sierra Road, riders may complete the Sierra/Calaveras/Piedmont loop and ride west to City Hall. Even though the ride officially ends at the Sierra Hill summit, riders are invited to return back to City Hall for a post ride celebration.

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When the start gun fired at the inaugural San Francisco Twilight Criterium on September 13th, the pro women’s race posted an incredible lineup that included Olympians and national champions.

Photo by Ken Conley

Two-time Olympian and 2004 National U.S. Time Trial Champion Christine Thorburn (Webcor) who placed 5th in this summer’s Olympic Time Trial, made the San Francisco Twilight one of her last races before she retires at the end of September to concentrate on her “other” full-time career as a rheumatologist. Also riding for Webcor was Gina Grain, a member of the Canadian Olympic Team, 2007 Canadian National Road Champion and 2008 U.S. Open Track Omnium Champion.

Included in the lineup with Webcor were Kat Carroll (Aaron’s), Shelley Olds (Proman), Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine), and Kelly Benjamin (Cheerwine).

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There was no telling who would hold onto the yellow jersey as the professional women cyclists approached the starting line of the 2008 Redlands Bicycle Classic famous Sunset Road Race starting line. Pure determination was present on every face as the riders started the selective 68-mile course, with circuits in the Sunset Drive hills.

For most of the race, two were in front of the field of 20 riders. As they hammered it out through the downtown Redlands finish, Alex Wrubleski of Webcor Builders charged, drilling across the line first, and not only winning today’s stage race, but narrowly beating Mara Abbott of High Road for the overall 2008 Redlands Bicycle Classic win, by a slim one second margin. Leigh Hobson of Cheerwine and Kim Anderson of High Road were second and third for today’s stage race, respectively.

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After battling it out with her breakaway companions, Katherine Carroll, from Aaron’s sprinted to a big win in Stage One. Former Canadian national champion, Alex Wrubleski, from Webcor Builders followed with second; and Leigh Hobson, from Cheerwine grabbed third. Mara Abbott, from High Road, just a few seconds behind in a group that bridged to the breakaway kept the yellow jersey, coming off of her win at Thursday’s Prologue race.

The pro women cyclists lined up to complete 4 laps of 17.5 miles in the 2008 Redlands Bicycle Classic Stage One Circuit race in Beaumont, Calif.
This year’s course required a different strategy from the former Oak Glen Stage One race. The 17.5 mile course took the riders through Beaumont’s rolling hills, bordered by open fields. Bogart Park provided a grueling hill that threw some of the hardest obstacles. After the steep climb, the wind to be difficult for the riders.

Some found the challenging course inviting. “I thought the course was fantastic,” said Hobson. “It was definitely a challenge with the climb, but it wasn’t as selective as a mountain top finish. Teams could race more aggressively.”

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