Race Day, US Pro Cycling Championships

Almost a week ago, Monday May 30, Memorial Day in USA.

The main teams and riders of the actual US Cycling panorama were riding in Greenville, SC fighting for the starts and stripes jersey. Ben King, defending champion, and actually on the Radio Shack team, was there to defend 2010 win. George Hincapie and other raiders, trying to win again, or for the first time the national title.

This year I decided to have a different approach to the race, so instead of being downtown at the very beginning, I directly went to Paris Mountain section, the highest point on the race, and were the riders usually start all "battles" to win the race. I arrived there around 10h30, half hour before race started down town, and almost an hour before the first pass ever the top of Paris Mountain.

Some pictures of the pre-race ambiance, a lot of raiders looking for the best place to see the race.

A fun and old car

Last climb section, people ready looking for the shadow

First lap, some riders on the front, but still a lot to ride

Main group on the last climb section

Last meters of the climb

Second lap, still a small group on the front, main group starting the chase

Police car opening the race, the best is the guy offering the a beer...on top of that, this guy was wearing a shirt saying "dope STRONG"

First group, some will made it till the final lap

It was really hot, Hincapie using some ice on the neck to refresh the body

Third lap, the first raiders almost on the top

Fourth lap, one rider alone, and five people on the chase, they will arrive all together, to the final laps on small circuit in Greenville down town.

Hincapie was in the group, and local supporters and friends were there to climb with him.

Once the race was on the final section, in the laps around down town of Greenville, two riders were fighting for the victory, foto finish end for a nice race, the local hero, George Hincapie was there, and lost for just some millimeters

It was a hot, really hot day...and I finished on the pool with a refreshing bath.

From SC, Xavi Paricio