May 2, 2008 (Spartanburg SC) – Despite being new to U.S. professional racing, Black Sheep Cartel rider Aldo Ilesic took the next installment of the USA Crits Speed Week Series, by edging out U23 National Criterium Champion Keith Norris (TOSHIBA-Santo) and Adam Myerson (TIME Pro Cycling) at the 4th Annual Steadman Hawkins Cycling Classic in Spartanburg, SC., Friday night.

The young Slovenian told the Spartanburg Herald Journal that he was thrilled with his first victory on American soil. “This means a lot because I’m racing for the first time in America, and I’ve already won. So this is great. I’d really like to come back.” Ilesic and his fellow countryman Vladimir Kerkez are new additions to the Black Sheep Cartel squad, which is based out of Charlotte, NC.

The men’s overall lead is still comfortably held by CRCA/Sakonnet Technology rider Jake Keough who is 181 points ahead of 2007 Athens Twilight Criterium champion Mark Hekman of the TOSHIBA-Santo squad which holds 1st place in the team classification. Oscar Henao of Clinica Union sits in third with 938 points.

In the women’s event, Tina Pic continues her outright domination of Speed Week by adding another victory to her long stretch of career wins. This time it was Erica Allar and Kelly Benjamin who fell 2nd and 3rd place respectively to the Olympic hopeful.

With her win in Spartanburg, Pic’s series lead over Cheerwine rival Kelly Benjamin increased to 89 points. Rebecca Larson (Aaron’s), the 2008 Athens Twilight Criterium champion, is in third place with 1120 points.

The series now leaves South Carolina to head across the border for tonight’s Dilworth Criterium in Charlotte, North Carolina before wrapping up in the Atlanta suburb of Sandy Springs on Sunday.

Results

Women Pro 1/2

1. Tina Pic (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 1:00:33.5
2. Erica Allar (USA) Aaron’s Professional Women’s Cycling 00.2
3. Kelly Benjamin (USA) Cheerwine Cycling
4. Anna Lang (USA) Aaron’s Professional Women’s Cycling 00.4
5. Shontell Gauthier (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 00.7
6. Rebecca Larson (USA) Aaron’s Professional Women’s Cycling 00.8
7. Catherine Cheatley (USA) Cheerwine Cycling 00.9
8. Jenny Trew (Can) Vanderkitten Racing 01.0

35. Kirsten Robbins (Can) Advil/ChapStick 15.3

Men Pro 1/2

1. Aldo Ilesic (Aus) Black Sheep Cartel 1:16:41.9
2. Keith Norris (USA) Toshiba-Santo Pro Cycling Team p/b Herbalife 00.2
3. Adam Myerson (USA) Time Pro Cycling 00.2
4. Juan Forero (Col) Colombian National Team 00.4
5. Jeff Hopkins (USA) Team Inferno Pro Cycling 00.5
6. Mark Hekman (USA) Toshiba-Santo Pro Cycling Team p/b Herbalife 00.7
7. Peter Dawson (USA) Rock Racing 00.8
8. Chad Burdzilauskas (USA) Texas Roadhouse 00.9
9. Justin Williams (USA) Rock Racing 03.4
10. David Guttenplan (USA) Time Pro Cycling 05.9

11. Alex Bhogal (Can) Jet Fuel 06.2
15. Mathieu Roy (Can) Caylon Pro Cycling Team 07.0
11.8
49. Daniele Defranceschi (Can) Jet Fuel Coffee 23.7
52. Enrico Traini (Can) Jet Fuel Coffee 38.7
39.7
60. Mark Hinnen (Can) Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifa 44.1
63. Kevin Hazzard (Can) JetFuel Coffee 44.7
74. Matt Guse (Can) Caylon Pro Cycling Team 49.2
75. Maxime Vives (Can) Caylon Pro Cycling Team 49.4
81. Eric Boily (Can) Myogenesis.com 1:08.4

Overall after 4 Races

Men

1. Jake Keough (US) CRCA/Sakonnet Technology 1,137
2. Mark Hekman (US) TOSHIBA-Santo 956
3. Oscar Henao (Col) Clinica Union 938
4. David Guttenplan (US) TIME 904
5. Rahsaan Bahati Rock Racing 5304. 891
6. Jeff Hopkins (Aus) Team Inferno 876
6. Kyle Gritters (US) Health Net 829
7. Mike Stoop (US) TIME 829
8. Alex Candelario (US) Kelly Benefit Strategies 794
9. Eric Boily (US) Myogenesis.com 781
10. Maxim Vives (Can) Calyon Pro Cycling Team 728

Women

1. Tina Pic (US) Colavita/Sutter Home 1237
2. Kelly Benjamin (US) Cheerwine 1148
3. Rebecca Larson (US) Aaron’s 1120
4. Laura Van Gilder (US) Cheerwine 1114
5. Anna Lang (US) Aaron’s 1102
6. Shontelle Gauthier (US) Colavita/Sutter Home 1097
7. Tiffany Cromwell (US) Colavita/Sutter Home 1081
8. Catherine Cheatley (NZ) Cheerwine 1015
9. Erica Allar (US) Vanderkitten 986
10. Holli Steelman (US) Juice Plus 970