David Veilleux (Kelly Benefit) takes the win (Image credit: Todd Leister)
David Veilleux (Kelly Benefit Strategies) will return to Chicago to defend his title at the 2009 Tour of Elk Grove set to begin on Friday, July 30. The three-stage event offers the lucrative prize purse of $125,000 and has attracted elite teams from across the country.
The Tour of Elk Grove will kick off with a circular seven-kilometre time trial on Friday afternoon. On Saturday, the race will continue with a 150-kilometre circuit race through the streets of Elk Grove Village. The racing will culminate on Sunday with a lengthy 110-kilometre criterium where the overall race winner is expected to emerge.
Kelly Benefit Strategies will field a squad of recently successful riders to support Veilleux in his bid for a second consecutive victory. Fitchburg Longsjo Classic winner Zach Bell, Tour of Uruguay champion Scott Zwizanski and winner of the Tour of Thailand, Andrew Bajadali, will be on hand in Chicago.
The Tour of Elk Grove is also a valuable event on the National Racing Calendar (NRC) series. Rory Sutherland (OUCH p/b Maxxis) tops the series’ individual ranking and will bring a team of strong contenders that includes Chris Baldwin, Andrew Pinfold and Karl Menzies.
Sutherland's nearest rival, Tom Zirbel (Bissell), will ride along side teammates Ben Jacques-Maynes and Kirk O’Bee. Sebastian Haedo (Colavita-Sutter Home) is currently third on the individual standings and brings with him the highest ranked NRC team that will include Alejandro Borrajo and Kyle Wamsley.
Other heavy hitters to race this year's Tour of Elk Grove will be: US National Criterium Champion, Rashaan Bahati, Ivan Dominguez and Freddy Rodriguez (Rock Racing), Tony Cruz (BMC), Ken Hanson and Mike Creed (Team Type 1), Roman Van Uden (LandRover-Orbea), Emile Abraham (Aerocat), Brad Huff and Bernard Van Ulden (Jelly Belly), Adam Bergman (Texas Roadhouse), Kevin Lacombe (Planet Energy), Haden Godfrey (Subway Avanti), Thomas Soladay (Mountain Khakis) and Chad Gerlach (Amore&Vita).
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.
Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.
She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.
