Cykelcity takes Univest Grand Prix sweep with Lindgren's criterium victory

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The powerhouse teams took control early on the wet roads of the Univest Criterium of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, splintering the field with a non-stop series of breaks that quickly reduced the peloton by half and left the door open for a final time trial effort and solo win by Cykelcity's Johan Lindgren.

Lindgren, 24, who finished second in Doylestown last year, jumped to a lead with six laps left, taking advantage of a field worn thin by the aggressive pace on the second day of racing in what turned out to be a flip-flop weather weekend for the North American Pro-Am classic.

Karl Menzies of United Healthcare presented by Maxxis took second place, eking out a field sprint over a hard-charging Yuriy Metlushenko of Amore Vita, the two-time defending race champion.

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Unlike previous years, when rain and storms had a major impact on the Souderton road race and the sun shined in Doylestown, this year's road race ended in a large field sprint under sunny skies, but the criterium began just as the rain was ending. It left the roads slick and technically challenging throughout the one hour and 54-minute race.

Lindgren's win sealed the overall team victory for Cykelcity and teammate Jonas Ahlstrand, who won the Univest Grand Prix road race Saturday in Souderton, claimed the omnium and the yellow jersey.

"We went out to ride hard and make it a hard race today," said Lindgren, looking more like he had finished a cyclo-cross than a suburban criterium. "We were trying to break up the field. It's a lot easier to beat 20 riders than it is to beat 40."

Cykelcity, Kelly Benefits Strategies, United Healthcare and Bissell Pro Cycling took control of the race early, setting a blistering pace on the slick roads. The race didn't settle down until halfway through the 35-lap, 50-mile course, but even that relief was short-lived because Cykelcity, Kelly Benefits and United Healthcare kept sending guys off the front.

"Our goal was to go to the front and smash the field," said Kelly Benefits team director Jonas Carney. "We did, but there were guys who didn't want to work. We had guys in every break but there was always an Amore Vita guy sitting in. They wanted to set things up for Metlushenko but in the end they couldn't pull him back."

Menzies said teammates Tim Johnson and Johnny Clark worked hard to set him up for the field sprint. "It was full-on," he said of the pace. "The problem was we lost guys in crashes, but I credit Tim and Johnny - they got me in there."

Metlushenko congratulated Lindgren and called it a well-deserved win.

"This was a race," he said. "It was always different. Today was very different in the rain, the roads were risky and the last climb for me was very difficult."

In addition to the top three places and Ahlstrand's overall omnium win, other awards on Sunday included Alex Candalore (Kelly Benefits) as First American; Tim Johnson (United Healthcare) as Best Sprinter; and Logan Hutchings (Team Hotel San Jose / Juwi Solar) as Most Agressive Rider.

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