Major Upset at Harlem Criterium

For Immediate Release

Major Upset at Harlem Criterium

Atlanta, Ga. (June 16, 2008) - Eric Barlevav, a young rider from the TIME pro cycling team, took the third installment of the 2008 USA CRITS Series at the 35th annual Skyscraper Harlem Cycling Classic in New York City on Sunday, June 15th.

In a dramatic finish, Barlevav threw his bike at the line to edge out Rock Racing's Rahsaan Bahati. Barlevav, however, had chosen not to ride with cycling gloves and, in the hot, humid conditions, wound up losing control of his machine as he crossed the line, flying off his bike, Superman-like, onto the pavement.

Under partly sunny skies, and temperatures in the mid-eighties, over 100 of the nation's fastest criterium specialists set out for a 55-lap spin around Mount Morris/Marcus Garvey Park in upper Manhattan.

In the field of exceptional talent were some of the sport's more notable names like Rock Racing's three-time U.S. national champion "Fast" Freddie Rodriguez and former Lance Armstrong teammate Tyler Hamilton. Also appearing were 2007 USA CRITS Series winner Frank Travieso, and fellow countryman Ivan "The Cuban Missile" Dominguez.

The course was a flat, four-corner .8-mile effort that proved to be ideal for the high-speeds associated with the Series. It was however those same high speeds that prevented a breakaway from being established during the race.

Several riders from smaller, regional teams periodically made bids for a getaway, but all such attempts were shut down by the Rock Racing and TOSHIBA-Santo squads, who kept a close watch on the front of the field. With less than 20 laps to go, Ivan Dominguez did managed the leap to the front of the race, but soon found that he could not achieve the escape velocity necessary for a solo flight to victory.

Any doubts that the riders were in New York City were instantly dispelled when a yellow taxicab accidentally found its way onto the course. Luckily the field spotted the vehicle in time and no crashes occurred as a result.

The race then fell under the control of the Rock Racing team who established a lead-out train for their sprinter Rahsaan Bahati. Bahati, eager to capture his second USA CRITS victory of the year after winning the 2008 Athens Twilight Criterium, knew that expectations for himself and his team were high, particularly since Rock Racing had become the event's presenting sponsor.

With less than 10 laps to go, Rock Racing relentlessly held their position at the sharp end of the field, closely watched by TOSHIBA-Santo rider Mark Hekman, Dominguez, and Colavita-Sutter Home's Alejandro Borrajo. Also lurking were TIME riders Jon Hamblen and Adam Myerson. With the laps ticking away, Rock Racing managed to keep control while riders forcibly jostled one another for positions behind them.

Unfortunately for the Rock Racing squad, their efforts made their wheels vulnerable to keen opportunists like Borrajo, who managed to snatch Bahati's preferred position behind Freddie Rodriguez.

"Freddie came out of the last corner first, but I lost his wheel." Bahati said afterwards. "I got bumped pretty hard, and almost went down with Dominguez. People were taking a lot of risks out there."

Waiting to strike was Barlevav, who was tucked in closely behind Adam Myerson with 300 meters to go. Barlevav came around Myerson full-tilt, and just managed to pip Bahati at the line before his dramatic fall.

"I felt that I could have the win, so I threw my bike as hard as I could. My hands were just too slippery."

Almost unbelievably, there were no crashes as a result of Barlevav's spill and the young Californian was soon back on his bike and taking a victory lap alongside his teammates.

Before the race, Rock Racing team owner Michael Ball pledged his commitment to take the longstanding event to help turn it into a world-class cycling race in the future.

"I think of this race as a diamond in the rough, and we're going to help turn it into one of the premier races in the United States." Ball said from the stage.

Bahati's second place on the day was enough to secure the same position in the series overall, just behind Team Inferno's Jeff Hopkins. Third place is in possession of TOSHIBA-Santo's Yosvany Falcon. TOSHIBA-Santo also sits atop the overall team classification for the series, while the Laps Led top slot is currently in the hands of Colavita-Sutter Home's rider Kyle Wamsley.

World Championship Sports Network (WCSN) broadcast the Harlem Skyscraper Classic live, and cycling enthusiasts can view the race, on demand, at www.wcsn.com.

The 2008 USA CRITS Series continues this week with the AT&T Downtown Austin Criterium on Saturday, June 21st.

AT&T Austin Criterium	Austin, TX	Saturday	21-Jun-08
Iron Hill Twilight Criterium	West Chester, PA	Saturday	05-Jul-08
BC Cancer Foundation's Tour de Gastown	Vancouver, BC	Wednesday	16-Jul-08
Wells Fargo Twilight Criterium	Boise, ID	Saturday	19-Jul-08
Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium	Charlotte, NC	Saturday	02-Aug-08
Chris Thater Memorial	Binghamton, NY	Sunday	24-Aug-08
USA CRITS Final	Las Vegas, NV	Thursday	25-Sep-08

Thanks to Mr. Zui Hanafusa for the photos

Complete results http://www.usacrits.com/news.html

About USA CRITS

USA CRITS National Criterium Series has been developed to feature a brand of cycling unique to the United States, the criterium. Criteriums are historically run on short laps through city streets. They offer spectators the opportunity to watch Olympians, world and national champions up-close as they ride at top speed. This has made the criterium format the most spectator-friendly form of cycling entertainment. Events on the USA CRITS series have the ideals that have made criterium racing an American legacy: Challenging courses that showcase arts and entertainment districts; a large and energized base of spectators; broad community support; and strong marketing opportunities for sponsors. For more information, visit www.usacrits.com.