This weekend Greenville will host Pro Cycling Championships yet again! The US Professional Cycling criterium and team time trial championship races are the newest feather in the cap of Greenville. What does this mean? Our town has been selected as the venue for a race featuring the fastest cyclists in the country. This pro cycling championships weekend will determine a winner who will wear the stars and stripes jersey for the 2015-2016 race season.
Greenville and Cycling
Greenville has hosted pro cycling championships in the road race event in years past (2006-2012) before the road race moved to it’s new home in Chattanooga TN., but criterium racing is arguably a much more spectator friendly event. The race will take place exclusively in the beautiful downtown of Greenville SC. “Our award-winning downtown is an ideal venue for the USA Cycling Professional Criterium National Championships and we are honored to be the host city for this prestigious competition,” said Greenville mayor Knox White in a news release. “We look forward to welcoming the field of elite athletes and making the 2015-2016 championships the most exciting yet.”
NASCAR in Downtown Greenville?
To those readers who have never watched a criterium, comparisons to NASCAR racing come to mind. Speeds are very fast from start to the finish, and drafting along with team tactics come into play. At times, like NASCAR, crashes are inevitable. The race course will feature the beautiful “west end” of Main Street, with the start/finish at the intersection of Augusta Street and Main. The feature event for Pro racers begins at 4:00pm, but cyclists from many different age groups and categories will compete from 8:00am till the time of the main event.
Look for the Hincapie Racing Team
Greenville’s very own Hincapie Racing Team will feature a strong lineup to compete for the criterium championship. Watch for Ty Magner to contest any sprint finishes as he comes off a season opening win in the Anniston Alabama Sunny King Criterium. He will be joined by teammates Mac Brennan, Oscar Clark and Charlie Hough, each who can contest for the win as well. Defending champion John Murphy from near Hendersonville NC along with his teammate Brad White of UHC Cycling will attempt to reclaim the jersey for yet another year.
The team time trial championship features an out and back course on the “Southern Connector” (I-185) beginning near Neely Ferry Road in Simpsonville. Team time trialing features a group of 6 riders who attempt to complete the course in the fastest overall time. Team Hincapie will feature Mac Brennan, Oscar Clark and Ty Magner along with international riders Dion Smith, Toms Skujins and Andzs Flakis. Look for some very unique aerodynamic equipment to assist the teams in their quest against the clock.
Chiropractic and Cycling
As the chiropractic physician for Hincapie Racing, it is my responsibility to help team members perform at optimum levels. The rigors of racing and travel take their toll on all athletes, and the unique methods of chiropractic allow recovery to occur at a much faster pace. Dion Smith, Toms Skujins, Andz Flakis and Mac Brennan stopped by the office this morning for a checkup after returning from the Redlands Cycling Classic in California. Look for all of these professional cyclists to figure prominently in this weekend’s events.
An additional highlight for me at Saturday’s criterium race will be the participation of the current US Pro Cycling Road Race champion, and practicing chiropractor Dr. Eric Marcotte. Dr. Marcotte is an amazing athlete who maintains a private chiropractic practice in Arizona while racing professionally for Team SmartStop. Look for Dr Marcotte during the “call up” at the beginning of the race on Saturday. Best wishes Dr. Marcotte!
Interested in our office? I’m Dr. David Mruz at Eastside Chiropractic PA 3014 Wade Hampton Blvd. Taylors SC (Greenville) 29687 Call us at 864-292-6777.
