A pair of repeat victories for Kendall Ryan (Ventura, Calif., L39ion of Los Angeles) and Luke Lamperti (Sebastopol, Calif.; Trinity Racing) were the highlights of the second day of the 2022 USA Cycling Professional Road National Championships, held in downtown Knoxville, Tenn. Olivia Cummins (Fort Collins, Colo.; LUX-CTS p/b Specialized), who placed sixth in the Elite Women's criterium, claimed the U23 Women's Criterium title.
Ryan successfully defended her title through the teamwork of her L39ion of Los Angeles teammates. The team thwarted attack after attack. Riders like Coryn Labecki (Tustin, Calif.; Team Jumbo-Visma), Heidi Franz (Seattle; InstaFund), and Emily Newsome (Fort Worth, Texas; E.F. Education – TIBCO – SVB) all made attacks at the front of the race, but the L39ion Lionesses managed to overcome these riders and push Ryan to the top. In the end, it was a sweep for the team, with Ryan's teammates Skyler Schneider (Milwaukee, Wisc., L39ion of Los Angeles) and Alexis Ryan (Ventura, Calif., L39ion of Los Angeles) taking home the silver and bronze, respectively.
Ryan was ecstatic with the team's performance today and all year. "This year has been pretty victorious for our team. My job was super easy today because of them. I know the sweet spots of this course, and they captured and killed everything. They made it an easy race for me. Honestly, I wish they could win the national championship jersey with me."
1. Kendall Ryan (Ventura, Calif., L39ion of Los Angeles)
2. Skyler Schneider (Milwaukee, Wis., L39ion of Los Angeles)
3. Alexis Ryan (Ventura, Calif., L39ion of Los Angeles)
The U23 Women's podium is recognized as the best Elite Women's field riders aged 19-22 years. This year, Cummins proved to be the top rider under 23 years old, finishing sixth in the field sprint. In addition, silver medallist at the 2021 UCI Junior Road Race World Championships, Kaia Schmid (Marblehead, Mass.; Human Powered Health), sprinted her way to ninth in the field of 51 riders, claiming silver on the U23 podium. Her teammate, Katie Clouse (Park City, Utah), earned the bronze.
1. Olivia Cummins (Fort Collins, Colo.; LUX-CTS p/b Specialized)
2. Kaia Schmid (Marblehead, Mass.; Human Powered Health)
3. Katie Clouse (Park City, Utah; Human Powered Health)
Riding similar tactics as his win at Saint Francis Tulsa Tough, 19-year-old Lamperti doubled up his criterium title count, out sprinting 91 other competitors. With ten laps to go, Will Hardin (Winston Salem, N.C., Project Echelon Racing) and Cooper Johnson (Murfreesboro, Tenn., Aevolo Cycling) broke away from the peloton. Working together, the duo were able to stay away for six laps, but the L39ion of Los Angeles squad drove up the pace of the field and brought it all back together for the end of the race. Lamperti followed the Lions and overcame the black-and-gold train to take home his second Elite Men’s Criterium title. Tokyo 2020 Track Olympian Gavin Hoover (Manhattan Beach, Calif.; L39ion of Los Angeles) launched himself out of the lead out from his team to claim silver. 23-year-old Scott McGill (Fallston, Md., Wildlife Pro Cycling) earned bronze.
Lamperti kept a beat on the race's pulse, ensuring he could react to any move made by the powerhouse teams. "I was a little bit worried about the two guys off the front, so it kind of comes down to the two biggest teams here, Best Buddies and L39ion, to bring it back. There can be benefits to riding by yourself."
1. Luke Lamperti (Sebastopol, Calif.; Trinity Racing)
2. Gavin Hoover (Manhattan Beach, Calif.; L39ion of Los Angeles)
3. Scott McGill (Fallston, Md., Wildlife Pro Cycling)
