We have arrived, both in the metaphysical and real sense. This is the first edition of the U.S. criterium power rankings in the CXHAIRS Bulletin, and we are also one month into the 2021 season. The schedule simplified this weekend down from three simultaneous events to one -- the Alabama Cycling Classic which consists of the Sunny King and Piedmont Criteriums. Normally, this event is held earlier in the year with milder weather; but it’s 2021, so why not just heat things up while we are at it.
This marks the first Kendall Ryan-less (L39ion of LA) power rankings of the year, the Crit Queen is on a break since winning the national title; and while we cannot fault her for the decision to get some R&R, the algorithm needs fresh grist for its mill. Hopefully, we will see her this weekend at the Bailey & Glasser Twilight Criterium in Boise. This, however, remains Skylar Schneider’s (L39ion of LA) world and we are just living in it.
On the men’s side, we saw a race weekend without a full L39ion of LA squad and the breakaway riders were in heaven. It reminded us that first weekend in June, in what must feel like another lifetime ago when unpredictability was the only thing you could count on.
WOMEN:
1. Skylar Schneider (L39ion of LA): Even though she remained in Milwaukee this weekend, you cannot take the top spot away from her. After an absolutely jaw-droppingly dominating performance at the Tour of America’s Dairyland where she went 5-for-5, that’s 5 wins in 5 days, with a third-place as an opener, she keeps the top bill. But don’t crown her the champ of the year quite yet, the number 2 rider is a sleeping dragon that has been roused and we’ve got an ever-looming Kiwi threat who is just coming back after injury.
2. Harriet Owen (InstaFund Pro Cycling): Coming back from a devastating concussion a couple of months back has been no easy feat; but Auntie Harriet has started her climb. With solid performances at Tusla Tough followed up by a campaign at TOAD with 7, count them, 7 podium finishes, she was poised for a breakout win. And, she got it on Saturday night at Sunny King sprinting to a win in a chaotic sprint after her partner-in-crime, and number 4 on this list tag-teamed an entire field in a southern street brawl.
3. Emily Ehrlich (CWA Racing): When you cannot beat them . . . just leave them behind and ride by yourself to a solo win. That’s been Emily’s motto this year, but she added some sprinting prowess to it this weekend with a second-place at Sunny King followed up by a solo breakaway victory at the Piedmont Crit on Sunday
4. Rachel Langdon (InstaFund Pro Cycling): If Harriet isn’t doing it, then her teammate and our number 4 rider is. This duo has been driving around the country winning races, that’s it, just winning whenever and wherever they can. The thing that makes this truly impressive is that they are riding like more than just a pair and controlling races with the same talent as an entire squad.
5. Olivia Ray (Rally Cycling): You knew she was going to pop up here sooner-rather-than-later. An early-season European injury took her down, but couldn’t keep this fighting Kiwi out for long. In her first real race back she was a force to be dealt with. She claimed almost every single prime at Sunny King, in one instance launching from the back of the field like an artillery shell landing on the line. The sprint wasn’t for her getting boxed out, but she made up for that on Sunday finishing second at Piedmont without any teammates.
MEN:
1. Clever Martinez (Rocklands Racing): He’s there, he’s always there. He had a great run at TOAD winning the overall and then just kept on going in Alabama finishing fifth at Sunny King and winning at Piedmont.
2. Michael Hernandez (Best Buddies Racing): After helping his teammate Danny Estevez to the amateur national title and finishing third himself, he’s back on the podium again this weekend with second in a hard breakaway at Sunny King.
3. Tanner Ward (First Internet Bank): It’s been a quiet year up until this point for Tanner and the guys of First Internet Bank, so why not make some noise. The win on Saturday night at Sunny King in a two-up sprint is just the kind of noise that will get the algorithm’s attention. Now that people remember how good this team is, let’s see how they ride going forward.
4. Tom Gibbons (Automatic Racing): These are not the “powerless-rankings” this week because Gibbons has returned. Is he “back?” That remains to be seen. With 5 podiums at TOAD, followed up with a third-place finish from the field sprint at Sunny King, we can definitely say that the 2019-USACRITS individual champ is making a statement about being back.
5. Dany Estevez (Best Buddies Racing): A double national champ, road & crit, in one weekend will keep you in the power rankings if you take the next one-off. But if he wants to stick around the algorithm is going to need more. It’s demanding like that.
[Editor’s note: Check out Criterium Nation on the Wide Angle Podcast for all of the best crit news and interviews. Follow on Twitter at @criteriumnation.]