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US Pro Criterium Championships

Downers Grove, Illinois, USA

International Warm up race and Women's Pro Championships  19h and 

USA Cycling rules dictate that only American riders could compete in the USA Pro Championships in Downers Grove. This was not the case for the international women's race in the Chicago suburb on Friday, the day before the professional Championships.

It looked like a small group of riders from the major teams might have formed the race-winning move after about 20 minutes of the 40 minutes-plus 2 laps race. The group did not work effectively together, though and they were brought back by the bunch, leading to a mass sprint for the win.

Mackenzie Dickie (Aarons) took the win from team-mate Shannon Hutchinson-Krupat and Kori Seehafer (TEAm Lipton).

Saturday's pro race will be famous for the fact that defending Champion, Tina Pic (Colavita-Cooking Light) did not win her fifth title in a row as well as for the final result.  Just 200 metres from the finishing line, Pic was sprinting next to Laura van Gilder when the pair came together and van Gilder's foot got caught in Pic's front wheel. Amazingly, van Gilder stayed upright, whilst Pic inevitably flew over her handlebars and landed on her shoulder. She was not seriously hurt.

The 2006 USA Pro criterium Champion is Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Verducci Breakaway), ahead of van Gilder and then Friday's winner, Mackenzie Dickey (Aarons).

Results - USA Pro Criterium Championships Top 10