Easton Crit: Mejias Garcia and Brown Win
Field sprints highlight speed and tactics in both women’s and men’s races.
In its sixth year, the Easton Crit pb LVHN, part of Jefferson Health, once again welcomed one of its deepest and most internationally accomplished fields to date for both the Pro Women and Pro Men. Featuring National Champions, Olympians, and some of the strongest criterium teams in North America, both races were animated from the opening laps with aggressive attacks, primes, and constant pressure from teams looking to shape the outcome.
In the women’s race, repeated moves from Automatic Racing, HigherDOSE | Renova, and Caldera Medical x AuREA RACING kept the pace high throughout, but Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28 remained committed to a sprint finish and ultimately delivered Marlies Mejias to a commanding victory. The men’s race followed a similarly aggressive pattern, with Whoosh – NZ Cycling Project driving much of the early action as breakaway attempts repeatedly formed and came back together. After a fast and attritional race, a late crash and tactical positioning battle set up a field sprint where Jim Brown (L3GION of LOS ANGELES) came around Lucas Bourgouyne (Cadence Cyclery pb Waldo Racing) in the final meters for the win.
Women’s Race
Automatic Racing took control early, keeping the race animated and aggressive from the opening laps. Multiple attacks and breakaway attempts formed throughout the race with riders from HigherDOSE | Renova, Automatic, Caldera Medical x AuREA RACING, Twenty28 Pro Cycling, and 1K Flips Racing all represented, but none were able to gain enough separation as Twenty28 remained committed to keeping the race together for a sprint.
One of the strongest rides of the day came from Farah-Dale Morris of Automatic, who aggressively attacked throughout the race, collected multiple primes, and opened a significant solo gap while repeatedly forcing the field to respond. She stayed away for several laps, but with six laps remaining, the field finally committed to bringing Morris back.
Once Morris was brought back, a final late move formed with four riders, but with two riders from Automatic, the field had none of it and moved to shut it down. One final shakeup came with a late gambler’s prime taken by Justine Thomas of HigherDOSE | Renova, stretching the field once again before Laurel Rathburn of Caldera Medical led through the final turn. But in the finishing straight, Mejias finished off the work of Twenty28 with a commanding sprint victory. Jenna Nestman rewarded her Automatic teammate’s aggressive racing with second place, while Paola Muñoz secured the final podium spot for Fearless Femme Racing.
Results: https://my.raceresult.com/340397/results#6_2DD4FF
- Marlies Mejias Garcia (Team Twenty28)
- Jenna Nestman (Automatic)
- Paola Munoz (Fearless Femme)
Men’s Race
The men’s race opened at a relentless pace with Whoosh – NZ Cycling Project driving much of the early aggression. Kelly Benefits Cycling and The Parks Law Firm All-Stars p/b Velostar firm jumped into the mix to add to the attacks and counterattacks that stretched the field and steadily reduced the group size, but despite the high speed, no meaningful breakaway was able to establish itself through the opening half of the race.
As the race entered its final third, several combinations began to show promise. A series of moves involving Good Guys Racing, Kelly Benefits Cycling, Cadence Cyclery, Foundation, and NZ Cycling project briefly looked dangerous, with a seven-rider move gaining traction with 17 laps remaining. However, the field remained attentive and brought everything back together with 11 laps to go, setting up what increasingly looked destined to be a field sprint.
A crash in Turn 1 with 10 laps remaining split the field and sent multiple riders into the pit area, while late-race primes continued to fuel aggressive racing. Positioning became increasingly important in the final laps as Foundation, NZ Cycling Project, L39ION OF LOS ANGELES, and Cadence all battled for prime position heading into the finish. Coming into the final lap, Foundation took the gambler’s prime, but the shuffle saw some of their riders out of position, which allowed Cadence Cyclery to take command going into the final corner, delivering 2024 winner, Lucas Bourgouyne, into perfect position. Unfortunately for him, Jim Brown of L39ION was waiting on his wheel to strike. Brown was able to come around Bourgouyne in the closing meters to take the win, while a bike throw for third saw NZ Cycling Project’s James Wilson edge Foundation’s Jordan Parra for the final podium position.
Results: https://my.raceresult.com/340397/results#7_9C7CB5
- Jim Brown (L39ION of Los Angeles)
- Lucas Bourgoyne (Team Cadence pb Waldo Racing)
- James Watson (Whoosh-NZ Cycling Project)