CHICAGO, IL – Chicagoan Matthew Smith emerged victorious from the wild drag race marking the final meters of the 2008 Illinois Category 3 State Criterium Championship in Peoria, Ill. on Sunday at the Proctor Cycling Classic. Smith capitalized on a standout performance from his vitaminwater-Trek Cycling Team, which used all seven of its competitors to discourage breakaways from escaping the main pack, thus setting Smith up for the dramatic sprint finish. The Championship is the first state crown for the vitaminwater-Trek Cycling Team since the program recorded two junior state titles in 2006 while competing as Team Clif Bar Midwest.

All signs pointed towards this being a breakout weekend for Smith. He owned top-ten results in ten of his last 12 starts, finishing a close second in the Giro d’Grafton on Saturday, June 21, in Milwaukee, Wis. On Sunday in Peoria, the vitaminwater-Trek team was able to launch a flurry of solo late-race attacks that kept the field occupied and allowed Smith to counter-attack in the final straightaway. When the bell-lap arrived, it was Jeff Wat, the 2007 Cat 4 Illinois criterium champion, who rocketed ahead of the field. Wat’s late-race gamble drew out numerous contenders, but was swallowed by a hard-charging herd on the final corner. Exploding out of the last turn, Smith outlasted Chicago’s John Tomlinson and Peoria’s Brian Zink to grab the State crown.

“I have the best team in Illinois>,” said Smith.  “We had planned to blow the race up at the end and we didn't disappoint.  Attack after attack, we were off-the-front inside of five laps to go.  Jeff attacked with one lap to go and kept the end of the race super-fast, so it was easy for me to stay at the front and not get swarmed. I don't remember in what position I came out of the last turn, but I ended up on Tomlinson’s wheel. I sat there for a few pedal strokes before starting my final sprint.  John was moving very, very fast and I had to inch my way even with him, then inch my way ahead of him. It was a great finish, a true team win.”

“This race captured how cycling can be both raw and complex at same time” said vitaminwater-Trek Managing Director Eric Goodwin. “It took a very disciplined and selfless group of teammates to keep this race together for the finishing scenario that we wanted. However, it was still up to Matt to close out the race – he is a gutsy competitor and will do Illinois proud while wearing the State Champion jersey.”

The fireworks continued with the Men’s Cat 4 State Criterium Championship. Chicago’s Chris Padfield appeared on his way to the latest in a series of dominating solo victories, but a determined main field erased all but a few meters of Padfield’s lead on the final lap. Sensing an opportunity, vitminwater-Trek’s Nick Gierman timed his sprint perfectly and overtook a half-dozen riders in the race’s closing seconds. Padfield narrowly hung on for his victory while Gierman notched a runner-up finish and the silver medal on the State podium. Additionally, he landed in the top five for the sixth time in his last eight starts.

The vitaminwater-Trek Cycling Team will next compete in the International Cycling Classic, also known as “Superweek.” Races will take place in Chicagoland and Southern Wisconsin every day from July 11 to July 27. The squad will also appear at the Chicago Criterium on July 27. The vitaminwater-Trek Cycling Team is an elite development program run by Burnham Racing, Inc. and based in Chicago, Ill.