Toyota-United looking for 10th win at US Open

UCI America Tour squad Toyota United Pro Cycling Team is looking to continue its early season success at this weekend's first US Cycling Open. The squad, which has claimed an impressive nine victories including four National Racing Calendar wins to date this season, will unleash its 'one-day hit squad' for Saturday's 179 kilometre race from Williamsburg to Richmond.

"The promoter of this race (John Eustice) really likes to look out for European-style courses and this one is no exception," Toyota-United team director Harm Jansen said.

Leading Jansen's 'hit squad' will be Tour of California stage winner Ivan Dominguez and Henk Vogels.

"I will probably designate some of our guys to do a job early on - riders who have a lesser chance of making it happen," Jansen said. "They're there to cover breaks. That's one thing we can control: being represented in every break that goes up the road. If we don't like the representation of the break, we will chase it down immediately."

Cuba's Dominguez, who won last weekend's Garrett Lemire Memorial Grand Prix in California, believes this weekend's event will be a tough race, particularly given that he's not yet in his top form.

"Everybody is going there to win," he said. "I've got my fingers crossed."

Teams contesting the first US Cycling Open:
Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team (USA)
Navigators Insurance (USA)
Health Net presented by Maxxis (USA)
Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle (USA)?
Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara (Mex)
Symmetrics (Can)
Colavita-Sutter Home-Cooking Light (USA)
AEG-Toshiba-JetNetwork (USA)
BMC Racing (USA)
Calyon-Litespeed (Can)
Équipe Volkswagen-Trek (Can)
Equipe Vallee de L'Aluminium de Vinci (Can)
Jelly Belly (USA)
Jittery Joe's (USA)
Team Nerac (USA)
Kodak Gallery-Sierra Nevada (USA)
Priority Health-Bissell (USA)
Rite Aid (USA)
Team Successful Living (USA)
Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast (USA)
USA Cycling National Development Team (USA)