'Missile' Strikes Uptown Again
May 5, 2006
By DAVID HAYS
Special to the Index-Journal
The “Cuban Missile” has struck in Greenwood again.
Ivan Dominguez won the fourth annual Uptown Greenwood Pro Cycling Challenge for the second year in a row Thursday night, beating a field of more than 100 pro and amateur riders from around the world.
“Kids, don’t try this at home!” Dominguez shouted after blazing to the finish line a split second ahead of a blur of bright colored jerseys to win the 70-lap criterium on the streets of downtown Greenwood.
Dominguez, affectionately known on the tour as the Cuban Missile, also won for the second consecutive night. He won a criterium in Walterboro Wednesday.
“Yesterday was a hard day. I was a little bit tired,” Dominguez said. “Today, I like this race. It is very fast.”
During the last few hectic laps, he and another rider actually bumped handlebars. In the end, everything worked out for the 29-year-old Cuban.
“I put my guys in the front. They keep the speed high for the last two or three laps. Everything went perfect,” said Dominguez, racing for the Toyota United Pro Cycling Team.
Brice Jones of team Jelly Belly finished as the runner-up in Greenwood for the second time. Dominguez teammate Juan Jose Haedo claimed third. Dominguez’s winning time over the approximately 56-mile course was one hour, 41 minutes and 15 seconds. The 29-year-old claimed the first place share of the $10,000 purse. “I won last year when I was riding for HealthNet. I was very close in 2003, but something happened and I wasn’t able to win,” Dominguez said. “It feels great. I feel much better today than yesterday.”
Dominguez, who lives in Los Angeles and is still a Cuban citizen, hung around for autographs and congratulatory messages from the fans.
“I love it. It’s nice to see people coming to you and asking questions. I don’t have any problems staying a little longer,” he said.
The Uptown Greenwood Pro Cycling Challenge is part of the 2006 USA CRITS (Criterium Racing in the States) Cycling Series along with races in Walterboro, Spartanburg, Athens, Ga., Roswell, Ga., and Anniston, Ala. Dominguez finished second in Roswell and eighth in Athens, with the Spartanburg and Anniston races upcoming.
A criterium is a multi-lap race in a closed course typically less than one mile long. This racing discipline has bred a unique type of cyclist who must demonstrate top speed and bike handling skills. The criterium has been referred to as “America’s contribution to bicycle racing” because it provides an up-close and personal glimpse at the fast-paced sport. The riders maintain a speed as high as 25-35 miles per hour on aerodynamic bicycles that cost in the thousands of dollars.
The 1.10-kilometer, four-turn course in Greenwood began at the corner of Court and Main streets, running in a clockwise direction with right turns on to Washington, Monument and Maxwell back to the start/finish line at Court and Main. It look the riders less than two minutes per lap with a pace car leading the way, with the leaders clocking as fast as 1:20.
Merchandise and cash prizes were awarded to the winner of specially designated laps called preems. The total purse for the entire series is $75,000.
Prior to the race, many children participated in a youth bike rodeo, safety clinic and helmet giveaway while a few even competed in races on the same course as the pros.
“We here a lot about kids are not exercising,” Greenwood Mayor Floyd Nicholson said. “It means a lot for them to come out and see these professional cyclists.”
The race was made possible through the efforts of the Greenwood Cycling Club, the City of Greenwood, Greenwood County, Uptown Greenwood Development Corporation, Greenwood Partnership Alliance, McCallum Orthodontics, State Farm Agent Frank Coyle, the Greenwood Safe Kids Coalition, the support of Senator John Drummond, and several additional local sponsors.
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