The TV program chronicling the 2008 Nature Valley Grand Prix, won by freshly crowned Olympic gold medalist Kristin Armstrong last June, will air this Saturday, August 16 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern U.S. time on Versus and then again at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 19.
Armstrong used the Nature Valley Grand Prix, a part of Minnesota's Great River Energy Bicycle Festival, as a springboard for her victory in the Olympic time trial in Beijing. Her performance was successful at Nature Valley even though, with only one teammate in the race, she was considered to be an underdog.
The men's Nature Valley Grand Prix was an epic struggle between U.S. powerhouse teams HealthNet p/b Maxxis and Bissell. U.S. National Criterium Champion Kirk O'Bee (HealthNet) took an early lead, but then lost it to Bissell's time trial ace Ben Jacques-Maynes. HealthNet reclaimed the jersey when Australian Rory Sutherland, ranked #1 in the U.S., won the Mankato road race and defended it at the Stillwater Criterium despite a narrow loss to Kelly Benefits phenom David Veilleux, winner of the Best Young Rider jersey.
(Additional editorial assistance provided by Susan Westemeyer.)
