USA Crits Speed Week Recap

The Jittery Joe’s crew had a mix of positive and negative outcomes after more than a week of competition across SC, NC and Georgia. Ultimately, the positives outweighed the negatives, as the team emerged with the best young rider prize, 7th and 17th overall, as well as emerging as the 8th best team overall. This was the team’s first big challenge against national level competition, so the going was tough. Joey opened the team accounts on Friday night (4/24) while competing in the Grid Qualifications for the Twilight Criterium. Qualifying for the finals against all of the top professionals, he rose to the challenge for the final round, charging back from an early deficit to take 2nd place behind Team Ouch’s John Murphy. The ensuing days featured a blur of laps and sprints with the clear highlights being Joey’s 10th place finish in Beaufort, SC; 8th place in Spartanburg, SC; and a gritty 4th place in a rainy showdown in Dilworth, NC. . Thomas proved impressively consistent and tough as well, finishing in the top 20 of nearly all of the events. Jafer earned a place in Dilworth and provided steadfast support. Anthony made his first return back to competition with his freshly healing broken wrist. Unfortunatley, Anthony’s return was short lived, as in the closing laps of the final race, he fell victim to a high speed crash that launched him through the air to land with a shattered collarbone. Additionally, Mike Niemi, who had been absent from competition for illness had just begun to train again when he suffered a broken collarbone during the week totaling the team’s third collarbone for the season!

Back on the positive side, Rebecca continued her solo crusade on behalf of the Jittery Joe’s crew in the women’s events. She singlehandedly faced off against several full women’s teams, and after finishing top 10 in all of the events, including a win in the Dilworth Criterium, earned 4th place in the series overall. Thanks to her consistent performances in the events, Rebecca moved up into the top spot of the USACycling criterium rankings.