Second and third in the USA Cycling National Race Calendar standings, Navigators Insurance and Toyota-United Pro, along with Team TIAA-CREF, recent winners of the USPRO National Criterium Championships, will lead a high-quality, 28-team field for the ninth annual Univest Grand Prix (UCI 1.2).
Scheduled for September 9-10, 2006, the Univest Grand Prix is the penultimate race on the 2006 US NRC Calendar. Navigators' Vassili Davidenko will face tough competition from Argentinian sprinter Juan-Jose Haedo and his team-mate Ivan Dominguez. New Jersey based Colavita Olive Oil will also be sending a powerful team featuring former USPRO Champion Mark McCormack and Italian Davide Frattini.
Strong international professional squads from Mexico, Germany, Poland and Canada will look to take advantage of the in-fighting between the U.S. teams and take the win in Souderton on Saturday and the lion's share of the $20,000 prize list. Last year's second-place finisher Amos Brumble, an Elite with CCB-Volkswagon, will return to the roads of Montgomery and Bucks counties to challenge the professional class of riders.
Sunday's Univest Grand Prix of Doylestown Criterium is tailored for the sprinters. Team TIAA-CREF will arrive in Doylestown with the past two winners of the 50-lap circuit race, Chad Hartley (2004) and Mike Friedman (2005), and will be looking to capitalise on their recent strong showing at the USPRO National Criterium Championships.
More information: www.univestgrandprix.com
