USA Criterium Championships - Women's
Tina Pic of Colavita/Sutter Home takes the USA Criterium Championships. A photo journal of the race in Downers Grove.  Photo journal and results. Photo Gallery Part One

Race Starts under sunny skies, but not for long... Photo © Kurt Jambretz/Action Images

The theme of rain, slick roads and more rain continued this weekend at the USA Critierium Championships in Downers Grove. The riders arrived at the start with with wet roads from the off and on rain over Saturday night and unseasonably chilled temperatures for August.

Kristin Sanders (Aaron's Pro Cycling) climbs the small hill on the back side of the course - Cheerwine's  sprinter Laura Van Gilder one of the race favorites, enjoying the sunny conditions at the start. Photo © Kurt Jambretz/Action Images

As the women's race hit the midpoint in the 50 km contest the skies darkened above and the first light rain started. It wasn't long after that the race became one of attrition due to crashes while the survivors did what they could to stay upright through the rain drenched corners.

The rain began to fall and so did the riders! The wheel pit was teaming with riders eager to return to the race after a crash in the early laps. Photo © Kurt Jambretz/Action Images

With 2/3rds of the race done the sky opened up and all hell broke loose with the race becoming a nightmare of crashes reducing the field again to less than 40 finishers.

Race favorite Brooke Miller crashed in the late laps chasing to regain the peloton. Photo © Kurt Jambretz/Action Images

Entering the final lap in the middle of the deluge  into the final lap Anna Lang (Karl Strauss/SDBC) launched an attack followed by counter attacks by Advil/Chapstick's Jen McRae and followed by Tina Pic. By the finish it was Tina pic and Jen McRae catching and passing Lang with Pic the fastest legs to capture the red, white and blue jersey of Champion with McRae second and Lang hanging on for third.

Vittoria Tina Pic!!! Photo © Kurt Jambretz/Action Images

Tina Celebrates the win. Photo © Kurt Jambretz/Action Images

Podium: Jen McRae, USA Criterium Champion Tina Pic, Anna Lang.
Photo © Kurt Jambretz/Action Images

USCF Elite Women National Criterium Results
50 km - 1:18:24
1 . 0:00:00 64 Pic Tina Colavita Sutter Home 1:18:24
2 56 McRae Jen Advil-Chapstick
3 26 Lang Anna Karl Strauss/SDBC

The Champagne Celebration as Jen McRae and Anna Lang win the sprint to open the champagne first as Tina pics struggles with cold fingers to join in. Photo © Kurt Jambretz/Action Images

4 70 Schneider Samantha Mesa Cycles Racing Team
5 1 Cliff-Ryan Theresa Verducci Breakaway Racing
6 45 Van Gilder Laura Cheerwine
7 20 Gauthier Shontele Austin Flyers
8 25 Kroepsch Lara Team Lipton
9 34 Olds Shelley PROMAN/Paradigm
10 11 Brandt Allyson Williams Cycling
11 4 Bamberger Sarah Cheerwine
12 29 Manderfield Kacey Verducci Breakaway Racing
13 69 Powers Alison Colavita Sutter Home
14 40 Sato Taitt ValueAct Capital Cycling
15 8 Borowski Holly US Armed Forces
16 36 Powers Catherine Aaron's Professional Women's
17 46 Voci Gina Kenda Tire
18 7 Bodine Jennifer ABRT/Latitude
19 39 Sanders Kristin Aaron's Corporate Furnishings
20 13 Caravella Sarah Aarons Pro cycling
21 38 Ruiter Chrissy Cheerwine
22 33 Miller Brooke team TIBCO
23 35 Patella Martina ValueAct Capital
24 54 Bowles Laura Advil-Chapstick
25 27 Larson Rebecca Aaron's/L5Flyer
26 71 Much Rebecca Cafeteros
27 52 Woodring Mackenzie Priority Health Bissell
28 3 Allpress Sharon ValueAct Capital Cycling
29 23 Hutchison-Krupat Aaron's Corporate
30 30 Marple stacy Team TIBCO
31 50 Wentworth Kristin Team Kenda Tire
32 48 Weber Katie XPLANE Team Revolution
33 65 Tillotson Sarah Colavita Sutter Home
34 5 Bell Trish Morgan Stanley/Specialized/24
35 47 Walberg Catherine Mesa Cycles Racing Team
36 55 Labance Heather Advil-Chapstick
37 14 Carnila Tricia Verducci Breakaway Racing
38 21 Harker Marni Team Kenda Tire