Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Riders ready to light up the night
All eyes of U.S. cycling world on West Chester this weekend
For the 13th straight year, West Chester will be the epicenter of national cycle racing during this weekend’s Benchmark Twilight Cycling Classic.
Free to the public, Saturday’s itinerary includes three races on the eight-tenths of a mile circuit around downtown streets, starting with the Rothman Institute Amateur Criterium, then the Brumbaugh Wealth Management Pro Women’s Criterium, and concluding with the Iron Hill Twilight Pro Men’s Criterium.
As the ninth of the 10-city U.S.A. CRITS Championship Series, the West Chester races occupy an important position in the calendar and promises to be a major build-up to the finals that will take place in Atlantic City on Sept. 15.
A total of 125 riders will be competing in the amateur race, which is scheduled to begin at 5:45 p.m. The 40 kilometer women’s race will follow at 6:45 p.m., and the top two riders on the circuit -- Samantha Schneider (ISCorp Pro Cycling) and Tina Pic (Colavita/Bailetti Pro Cycling Team) – have already committed.
USA CRITS Series leader David Guttenplan (Support Clean SportGuttenplan Coaching) will have to defend his position against Zack Allison (Team Clif Bar) who holds second, and third-place Johnny Mitchell (Palmetto State Medical Cycling Team) during the 65 kilometer Iron Hill Pro Men’s Criterium, which begins at 8 P.M
In addition, there are also family-focused festivities like the West Chester Dental Arts Kids’ Race (3:30 p.m.), the Tolsdorf Trike Challenge and the Community Festival and Kids’ Zone.
This is the second year of a fiveyear commitment for Benchmark Federal Credit Union as the title sponsor.
“We were just getting out feet wet last year,” said Benchmrk President David LaSala. “We think it went reasonably well. We learned a few lessons.
“Our staff supports this. They are excited about getting involved this year. Last year they really didn’t know what to expect and, maybe, were a little hesitant.”
The Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce actually owns the event, and president Mark Yoder says the viability of the summer tradition since 2005 is strong. It draws an average of 10,000-15,000 spectators per year.
“As long as we have sponsors, people attending and support from the community, it’s an event that we see continuing,” he said.
Attendees may notice that participation in the Brumbaugh Wealth Management Pro Women’s Criterium is getting larger every year. And there is a very important reason for it.
“We have a record numbers of women participating in the race thanks to Brumbaugh Management,” Yoder explained. “The prize levels are now equal for both men and women, and that is paying off.”
For 2018, the purse is $7,500 for both the men’s and women’s pro races.
“Not so long ago pro women’s racing was treated as an afterthought,” Yoder said. “Thankfully those days are over, and it is now taking on the greater importance that it deserves.”
Brumbaugh Wealth Management signed on as sponsor of the pro women’s race in 2016 and signaled a commitment to prize parity between the men’s and women’s professional completion.
“We would not have considered being involved otherwise,” said Kimberly Brumbaugh, the company’s CEO. “Our corporate philosophy has always demanded equal treatment regardless of one’s ethnicity or sex.”
Brumbaugh sees their sponsorship of the pro women’s race as a chance to inspire more female riders of all ages.
“We are pleased to support this inspiring women’s sports event, especially since it brings longoverdue parity between the pro men’s and pro women’s races,” she said. “The women involved in the race are committed. They are leaders. They are racing with their peers and developing relationships.”