August 9/09 10:18 am - Presbyterian Hospital Invitational: Veilleux wins in Charlotte, NC

Posted by Editoress on 08/9/09
 

Presbyterian Hospital Invitational, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

 No doubt about it: Kelly Benefit Strategies’ David Veilleux is back. Soloing from three laps out at the Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium in Charlotte this weekend, he took one of the most competitive fields in domestic pro cycling by surprise and won the top ranked NRC race with a decisive ten second lead.

"Veilleux is like caged animal always looking for a chance to escape on his own,” says Ken Mills, General/Performance Manager. “We saw that in action last night, which was an amazing event and a textbook tactical play for our program.

“We came into Charlotte a little short handed with just five guys against other six man rosters and when David got into the break I wasn’t absolutely positive it would stick. But we didn’t want a bunch sprint to the line so we had David pick a point in the race where he could use his time trial skills to open a lead and go for the win. It worked.”

Veilleux, who broke his collarbone and missed six weeks of the 2009 season earlier this year, has been working hard on his form. The intensive program of training paid off this weekend. Three laps from the line, Veilleux was the sole KBS rider to represent the team in a ten-man break that stayed away until the finish. With two and a half laps remaining, David attacked the break and soloed to the finish, gaining time on each consecutive lap and eaving behind Team Type 1 and Cola Vita Sutter Home, both of which had two riders in the group.

“It is great to have David back to one hundred percent form and doing what he does best – winning races,” says performance director, Jonas Carney. “We knew the Charlotte criterium would suit our team well because each team can only start six riders. That makes for real racing and it favors teams like ours who can execute a defined strategy and make best use of teamwork. This win shows again that our program can win any type of event from road to time trial to Criterium.”

 Veilleux crossed the line in front of more than 30,000 spectators and picks up a first place prize of $12,000 in the biggest-prize money Criterium in North America. Now in its sixth year, the NRC Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium attracts more than 200 pro athletes from around the country and is the only NRC race in the United States to have a 1.1 ranking. It’s his third win in the last month, after taking the U23 Canadian Time Trial Champion and the Great Downer Avenue stage of Superweek just weeks ago.

“This is a terrific, emphatic win,” says Dale Henn, President, Contour Technology, sponsor and leader in pro cycling electronic stimulation technology. “It’s great to see David back so quickly and so dramatically. We put that down to his gifts as an incredible athlete and his commitment to recovery using some of the most advanced technology and equipment available to pro cyclists today.”

Kelly Benefits Press release