It will be a big weekend of racing in the Washington D.C. area with the Air Force Cycling Classic on June 1st and 2nd. Pro and amateur cyclists will take to the streets of Crystal City on day one, a change from past years. Day two sees racing head to Clarendon, with its five turn course that features an almost 180 degree left hand turn at the beginning of each lap.
Saturday’s events starts with the Challenge Ride, allowing enthusiasts a chance to ride part of the course and test themselves in a on a loop that passes the Pentagon, heads up to Rosslyn, and then back to Crystal City. Riders have the chance to complete as many laps as they can, but must be off the course by 10AM. Afterwards, amateur racing begins the competitive part of the day, followed by the Women’s Pro race and then the Men’s Pro race. Last year, Cory Williams (Elevate/KHS) took the win in the men’s race, and Kendall Ryan (Tibco-SVB) was the women’s winner.
Sunday also starts with amateur racing before the women and then then men take to the course for the 22nd Clarendon Cup. The rectangular course features 6 turns with a kink on the back stretch that makes riders navigate through a quick right/left combo. Eric Marcotte (UnitedHealthcare Cycling Team) won the 2018 Men’s and Allison Jackson (Tibco-SVB) took the women’s event.
The Clarendon Cup will decide the the winner of the Air Force Cycling Classic Omnium. In each race, riders will earn points based on their finish (1st place – 1 point, 2nd place – 2 points, etc), and the rider with the lowest point total after the two races takes the Omnium title. Last years winners were John Murphy (Holowesko Citadel Racing Team) with a fourth place at Clarendon and a second place in Crystal City, and Ryan with a second place in Clarendon behind her Tibco teammate, and the win in Crystal City.
The 2019 women’s field will be lead by a strong Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank team, including Ryan.
“This is my 7th year racing the Armed Forces Cycling Classic with Team TIBCO – Silicon Valley Bank, and I’m looking forward to being back again in 2019,” said Kendall Ryan. “As a team, we have enjoyed a lot of success at this event, with 18 podiums and 7 victories. Our team has great depth and experience, and we’re excited to be returning to the race and will be motivated to add some more results to our record here!”
Other riders, including fan favorite and 2017 Crystal City winner Laura Van Gilder (Fast Chance p/b The Happy Tooth) will be looking to challenge Ryan for top results. Van Gilder has a dozen top 3 finishes to her name from the many years she had raced the event. Hagens-Berman Supermint will be looking to give Lindsay Goldman a shot to win her home race, and a strong Fearless Femme Racing p/b Altamira team will line up with current Australian National Champion Rebecca Wiasak and guest rider Katie Compton, a 15-time U.S. National Cyclocross Champion.
Williams will return to defend his win last year, and will be bringing his brother as part of the new Legion of Los Angeles squad.
“Legion of Los Angeles is a team dedicated to increasing diversity in cycling. Representation is important and we want to give people of every demographic a positive look at a sport that has changed so many lives,” says Justin Williams. “We are true to where we came from and focused in building a platform for the future of American cycling”.
Elevate-KHS, William’s former team, will be led by Eric Young, a two time US Pro Crit Champion, and will look to add more Air Force Cycling Classic wins to the team. Team Skyline will also be looking to continue to build off of a successful stint in Europe with David Dawson and Ryan DeWald, who are veterans of the Clarendon and Crystal City races.
Women’s Teams
ButcherBox Cycling
Cogeas Mettler Look
CWA Racing p/b TREK
Fast Chance p/b The Happy Tooth
Fearless Femme p/b Altamira
Gray Goat Bullseye Total Media
Hagens Berman Supermint
Pennsylvania Cycling Association
Pickle Juice Pro Cycling
Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank
Total Civil Construction p/b Battley Harley Davidson
US Military Endurance Sports
Men’s Teams
CS Velo Racing p/b Cannondale
District Taco Racing
District Velocity Racing p/b Bicycle Pro Shop
Elevate-KHS Pro Cycling
Foundation CCB Racing
Gateway Harley Davidson
Jamison Capital-Cannondale
Kelly Benefit Strategies Elite
Legion of Los Angeles
NGCA Elite Team p/b Tyler Perry Studios and Pharmaco
Support Clean Sport / BSCG / Guttenplan Coaching
Team Beyer Auto
Team CLIF Bar Cycling
Team Novo Nordisk
Team Skyline
Total Civil Construction p/b Battley H-D
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