USA Crits Finale: Mejias and Fetzer Win WSCC Gears & Guitars Criterium

Marlies Mejias Garcia and Luke Fetzer secured elite victories at the WSCC Gears & Guitars Criterium on Saturday. The event served as the eighth and final competition of the seven-week USA Crits series.

Dominance in Winston-Salem

The North Carolina race took place on a 1.4km figure-8-shaped course looping around Bailey Park. Marlies Mejias Garcia, representing Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28, achieved back-to-back victories in Winston-Salem.

The Cuban-born athlete launched an attack on the second lap and maintained her lead over the peloton for two hours. She crossed the finish line solo, finishing with a time of 57:41.

Rylee McMullen of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty28 claimed second place following a bike throw. Chloe Patrick of Caldera Medical x Aurea Racing finished third, trailing McMullen by a fraction of a second.

Did You Know? The USA CRITS points system rewards aggressive riding by awarding 50 start points, finish points based on rank, sprint points at three specific moments, and one point for every lap led.

Rain and Resilience in the Men’s Field

The men’s competition faced challenging weather, with rain hitting the course during the final laps. Luke Fetzer of Team Cadence Cyclery pb Waldo Racing utilized a blistering final-lap attack to secure the win.

Fetzer, the U23 criterium champion, broke away with Bryan Gomez before successfully holding off the peloton. This victory marked Fetzer’s first win of the season in the USA Crits series.

Foundation Cycling New York saw a strong showing in the chaotic finale. Marcos Mendez took second place, finishing just ahead of his teammate, Bryan Gomez.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter notes that the contrast between the race winners and the series champions highlights the tension between peak performance and consistency. While Fetzer and Mejias Garcia dominated the finale, the overall titles were decided by the ability to accumulate points across multiple diverse courses.

Overall Series Champions

Liza Ray of Kingdom Elite Racing claimed the women’s individual title. Ray established her leaderboard dominance earlier in the series following a victory at the LaGrange Cycling Classic in Georgia.

USA Crits | Gears & Guitars Criterium | LIVE STREAM

The final podium spots for the women remained contested until the end. Elizabeth Castaño of One Hart Racing-Nashville Local Cycling moved into second overall with 1,591 points, while Elizabeth Harden of Kingdom Elite Racing finished third with 1,537 points.

In the men’s standings, Leonel Rodriguez of MC Cycling Team took the overall title despite not winning an individual event. His consistency earned him 1,864 points, a slim 25-point lead over Bryan Gomez.

Marcos Mendez finished third overall with 1,836 points. This narrow margin suggests that the aggressive points system kept the title race competitive until the final moments.

Future Outlook

Given the narrow point gaps in the men’s standings, future series may see more aggressive tactical shifts to secure overall leads. Riders who prioritize consistency, like Rodriguez, could continue to challenge those who focus on individual event wins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the overall individual titles for the USA Crits series?
Liza Ray (Kingdom Elite Racing) won the women’s title, and Leonel Rodriguez (MC Cycling Team) won the men’s title.

What was the layout of the WSCC Gears & Guitars Criterium?
The race was held on a 1.4km figure-8-shaped course that loops up and around Bailey Park in North Carolina.

How does the USA CRITS points system work?
Riders earn 50 points for starting, points based on their final placing, sprint points at three designated moments, and one point for each lap they lead.

Which aspect of the USA CRITS points system do you think most rewards the riders’ skill: the lap-lead points or the sprint points?