Defending champion Laura Van Gilder will lead a long list of the USA's strongest female sprinters at the 9th Annual CSC Invitational Pro/Am bike race on Saturday, June 3, 2006. The women's race will cover 50 laps on the 5-turn, 1 km course.
Van Gilder of TEAm Lipton is a two-time winner in Arlington. She will have to contend with top crit specialists like current US National Criterium Champion Tina Pic (Colavita Cooking Lite), Laura Yoisten (Victory Brewing), Shannon Hutchison-Krupat (Aaron's Corporate Furnishings) and Charm Breon (Diet Cheerwine). All of these women have had consistent podium finishes at the top criteriums around the USA this year, and have also placed in the top three in Arlington in previous years.
"I love this race!" said Van Gilder. "There is no doubt it may be the hardest crit on the calendar, but good team tactics will be rewarded. Both times I've won here my team controlled the field while I was able to stay away up front."
Teams: TEAm Lipton, Victory Brewing, Diet Cheerwine, Colavita Cooking Light, Aaron's Corporate Furnishings, Travel Girl, Team Tamarack, Charlottesville Racing, Team BBC, NCVC/INOVA Health System, Hub Racing, US Armed Forces, Gear Works/Spin Arts Cycling, Verducci Racing/Break Away bikes, McGuire Cycling, Tripower, Team FUJI/Bolt Brothers
Racing begins at 8:00am with two amateur men's races, followed by the women's race. The kids' race (free to all children 9 and under) begins at 11:35 am. Then the CSC Invitational men's pro race will begin at high noon, and will feature 100 laps on the tight course.
