Gateway Cup 2015

For most local and regional crit racers, this is no doubt the biggest race series of the year and since this is the second year that The Gateway Cup has been part of USA Cycling's (USAC) National Criterium Calendar (NCC) the national appeal is much greater. The turnout was one of the greatest in years past, partly due to the fact that these were the final NCC races for 2015. Up next #crossiscoming.

The Spoked Bikes team was amped to reunite in their hometown from places like Chicago and Denver. George Jordan, back from Denver, has been training in the mountains for the past year. That thin clean air and thousands of feet of climbing opened up a spiritual gate allowing him to harness the Merckx power straight from his frame. Zach Slavens has been spending most of his season trying to stay upright in the fixed crit circuit. His showings at the Brooklyn Red Hook Crit, Fyxation Fixed Crit and LA's Civic Center Crit have removed any sense of nerves he once possessed - mental or physical. Last but not least is Joe Proszowski. Joe's a former collegiate football player turned cyclist. He's the hardest working domestique we've got. All three of these guys are regularly standing on the top of podiums at their local tracks. 

Although no one made it to the podium, they all crushed it. The temperature was never below 95 degrees at race starts and the heat indexes were well over 100 degrees all weekend long. The most difficult part for every Gateway Cup racer was to stay hydrated. The spectators had no issues there.

The theme for this weekend was family no matter if its by blood, bicycle or beer. It important to forget the everyday responsibilities and stresses of life. High fives and cold brews forever. 

Here are the weekend's results.

Cheers,

-Matt

Rad photos by Chis Green at A Greener Film