The Gangs’ All Here. Nationals 2018 preview | USA Hand Bike Circuit

Nationals 2018 is going to be hot and sticky in Augusta where the National road race and time trial champions will be crowned. A new twist this year is a team relay where medals will also be awarded. The National Criterium is being held the following week at Tour of America’s Dairyland, USA cycling’s largest event where over 500 racers compete each day for 12 days on 12 different crit courses in 12 different communities. Ya, it’s all that and a box of Hoho’s. Don’t miss out!!

The racing starts off in Augusta with a morning road race that is short for nationals’ standards, but the right distance given that two other events are to follow. A few teams are heavily represented: Paralyzed Veterans Racing, Team Possibilities and Achilles Elite. Team tactics could determine overall winners. MH4 will see newcomer Travis Geartner challenge Jerry Young and Achilles Elite’s Owen Daniels. David Randall of Team Roger C. Peace and Matt Updyke are always favorites in MH3 for both the road race and TT.  Team Possibilities’ Brett Richards and Alfonso Garibay will challenge Randall for the National road race Jersey, but don’t count out Krys Zybowski who is also running fast. PVA Racing’s Craig Cornwall will look to one up last year’s 2^nd place,and new to MH3 this year is PVA Racing’s Ryan Pinney who will push the pace. In MH2 PVA Racing’s Will Groulx remains dominant until he is unseated. MH5 will likely see PVA Racing’s David Berling earn the Jersey. Team Possibilities’ Jenna Rollman and PVA Racing’s Velette Britt are no strangers and will again face each other as well.

The time trial will be a coin toss in many of the classifications. MH5 Oz Sanchez and Achilles Elite’s Freddie De Los Santos will square off. MH4 will give Achilles Elite’s Tom Davis a chance to again show Indiana muscle in the 300+ft. elevation gain 15K TT. MH3 will be a showdown between many. Brandon “Bambino” Lyons, Marc Pro Cycling’s Will Lachenhauer, David Randall, Ryan Pinney, Brett Richards, Alfonso Garibay, Krys Zybowsi, Craig Cornwall, and PVA Racing’s sleeper James Cook will surprise. MH2 Will Groulx will cruise, and on the Woman’s side Alicia Dana will show why she is rated so highly in the world.

If only every handcycle race in the USA drew this much national competition!