Twenty-eight international teams have been announced for the Univest Grand Prix on September 9-10, which is one of only six internationally sanctioned races in the US.
The team for the UCI 1.2 Grand Prix includes Navigators and Toyota-United Pro, which are the teams that are ranked second and third, respectively, in the USA Cycling National Race Calendar standings. Other teams include Team TIAA-CREF (TIA), recent winners of the USPRO National Criterium Championships.
"The field for the 2006 Univest Grand Prix builds on the foundation laid in the eight previous editions of the race and cements its reputation as the top event of its kind in North America," said John Eustice, president of Sparta Cycling, Inc. and promoter of the Univest Grand Prix.
"Over time, we have built this event from the top developmental races in the United States to an event that hosts some of the top teams in the world. Our status this year as the only professional "Classics" style race on the North American calendar is a natural evolution for an event that has deep roots in the cycling community."
Russian Vassili Davidenko (NIC), now a resident of Mt. Arlington in New Jersey, will face tough Challengers' Argentinian sprinter Juan-Jose Haedo (TUP) and his teammate Ivan Dominguez. New Jersey based Colavita Olive Oil Professional Cycling Team 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 Doylestown Criterium will feature 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). They will be looking to capitalise on their recent strong showing at the USPRO National Criterium Championships. As average speeds exceed 30 miles-per-hour spectators can expect Haedo, Oleg Griskine (NIC) and former US Criterium Champion Frank Pipp of TargeTraining to also figure prominently in the flat, fast race.
