Retiring Carney wins in farwell season to Cycling -2nd Career win of USPRO Championship

CHICAGO--August 22, 2004-- Jonas Carney from Wisconsin was the winner of the prestigious U.S. Professional Racing Organization (USPRO) National Criterium Championship, a men's professional cycling championship presented by the U.S. Postal Service. The USPS/USPRO championship was held on Sunday afternoon, August 22, in Downers Grove, Ill. Carney raced as a member of Team Jelly Belly-Aramark and won $4,000.00 in prize money.

Carney, who is retiring from professional cycling, was the first cyclist and American to cross the finish line and was named U.S. National Criterium Champion. Tyler Farrar and Gord Fraser, the Canadian Olympian returning from Greece to participate in Downers Grove, both of Team Health Net/Maxxis, were second and third to cross the line respectively. David McCook, previous National Champion, of the McGuire Pro Cycling team was fourth and Alex Candelario from Jelly Belly-Aramark finished fifth.

"I am retiring at the end of the year and I can't think of a better way to end my career, this is my favorite race of the year", said Carney. "This is the one I always looked forward to, I will miss it."

More than 100 cyclists from 15 countries participated in the National Championship Criterium Race that was held as part of the August 21-22 National Criterium Championships of Cycling & Inline Skating in suburban Chicago. The distance of the criterium championship race is 100 kilometers (62.5 miles). The average speed from the championship was more than 27 mph.

More than 20,000 spectators viewed more than 500 participants racing in nearly 20 competitive cycling and inline skating events for both amateur and professional athletes held during the two-day National Championships. In addition to the Men's U.S. Pro Cycling Championship, other events held included: National Criterium Championships for men and women sanctioned by the U.S. Cycling Federation (USCF); national inline skating championships for both men and women; inline skating vs. cyclist challenge; and a big wheel race for the kids attending the event.

For a comprehensive listing of the results from the weekend's events visit www.dgnationalchampionships.com.