CHICAGO, IL – Chicago’s vitaminwater-Trek Cycling Team surged to a pair of championship wins on Sunday, July 6, at the 2008 American Bicycle Racing Illinois State Criterium Championships, held as part of the Wood Dale Criterium in Wood Dale, Ill. In the Masters 30+ Championship, vitaminwater-Trek’s Cory Hickman emerged victorious in a dramatic photo finish, while Matthew Smith powered away to a decisive victory in the Category 3 Championship, marking Smith’s second state criterium title in as many weeks.

Hickman’s victory in the Masters 30+ race was especially fulfilling for the 31-year-old Orland Park resident, whose grandmother was admitted to the hospital with serious illness over the weekend. After visiting her bedside on Sunday morning, Hickman arrived at the Wood Dale venue determined to lift her spirits with a victory. Teammates Patrick Loney, Andy Daley and Jason Knauff were on the offensive during the race and worked to move Hickman into a breakaway with ABD/Gear Grinder’s Jeff Schroetlin in the event’s final laps. Although that break was eventually captured, Hickman and Schroetlin clung to the front of the pack and found enough power to explode out of the penultimate turn of the bell lap. Hickman matched Schroetlin around the final corner at 37 miles per hour and the duo rocketed down the finishing straightaway in a dead heat. Hickman pounded his bars in satisfaction after crossing the line and the photo revealed that he had indeed nipped his adversary by inches. Loney crossed right behind the duo and notched a fourth-place showing. Hickman's victory marks his third ABR 30+ win of the season.

My fitness was just okay at best,” said Hickman after the finish, “but I was racing and thinking of my very sick grandmother. She is an inspiration to me for her strength, perseverance and great attitude on life. I wasn’t going to come here today and not win this race for her.”

The men’s Category 3 field featured vitaminwater-Trek’s Smith, Knauff and Eric Goodwin, as well as Joel Feinberg from the team’s parent club, Burnham Racing. Smith bolted off the front of the main field on the second lap, contributing to a panic atmosphere in the pack that would last for the opening 20 minutes. Although Smith was pulled back to the peleton, a half-dozen consecutive counter attacks streaked ahead of the field, testing the limits of the small vitaminwater-Trek crew. Eventually the race enveloped the breakaways and calm was restored for the second half. With fewer than two laps remaining, Athletes By Design’s David Reyes braved a solo effort that was nearly successful, as he rounded the last corner of the bell lap still clutching a slight margin over the field. However, Smith uncorked a monstrous sprint that not only captured Reyes, but rapidly put 20 meters between his rear wheel and his pursuers, allowing him to cross the line uncontested. With the victory at Wood Dale, Smith now holds the current USA Cycling and American Bicycle Racing state criterium titles in Category 3. After knocking on the door of the podium all season, Smith’s arrival in top form came at an opportune time for the high-profile state title events, as well as the upcoming Superweek races.

“This win felt amazing, but I couldn't have planned it,” said Smith.  “I'm on good form right now and I hope it doesn't disappear next week! I have a score to settle with Evanston Grand Prix during Superweek.  I got second there last year as a category four and it's a course that suits me well. In general though, I want to help showcase the depth of talent in our team and help some other guys get some well-deserved wins.”

The vitaminwater-Trek Cycling Team will next take part in Superweek, a series of daily races spanning across Illinois and Wisconsin form Friday, July 11 to Sunday, July 27. Superweek gets rolling on Friday with the Beverly Hills Classic in the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago.