Last year at Boise's Wells Fargo Twighlight Criterium it was Ivan Dominguez taking advantage of his team’s leadout to hold off second-place finisher Ricardo Escuela (Successful Living) and Jeffery Hopkins (Jittery Joe’s) for the win.

Dominguez’s Toyota-United team will return to Boise along with riders from Toshiba, Successful Living and Time Pro Cycling. The pros will have to contend with a host of strong regional squads including California Giant Berry Farms and other teams fresh off last week’s Cascade Classic. Riders will be gunning for over $15,000 in prize money as well as valuable individual and team NRC points.

This year’s addition offers NRC points only for the men. Saturday’s race is also part of the USA Crits series

Construction in downtown Boise forced a change in course for the 22nd edition of the race. This year’s course will be a flat, wide, 1km four-cornered affair, which has criterium riders licking their chops.

Promoter Mike Cooley believes he has found a successful formula for the race by bringing the event to the people. Much like the Minnesota’s Nature Valley Grand Prix, the Wells Fargo criterium is held in the city’s downtown center where families congregate and the late evening start time ensures plenty of spectators. However, he is quick to shrug off comparisons to another venerable twilight race, one that takes place in Athens, Georgia, noting his event draws far fewer of the “rowdy college kid crowd.” Rather, Cooley describes the event as “much more of a family atmosphere.” Regardless of the type of attendee, last year’s race drew an estimated 15,000 to 18,000 observers.

Boise’s remote location can make attracting top teams a challenge. Rising gas prices and its relatively late spot on the domestic calendar requires Cooley to pull out a few stops to entice top teams. This includes offering complimentary hotels and host housing for teams as well as offering free entries for those bringing multiple riders. Of course a generous purse will always attract top riders but as Cooley notes, the biggest draw is likely the fun of pure, American crit racing downtown and under the lights.

Be sure to check Velonews.com for full results and race report.

Current NRC standings

Men's Individual Standings

1. Rory Sutherland (Australia/Health Net-Maxxis) 1396

2. Ted King (Brentwood, New Hampshire/Bissell) 723

3. Ben Jacques-Maynes (Watsonville, California./Bissell) 643

4. Anthony Colby (Durango, Colorado/Colavita-Sutter Home) 589

5. John Murphy (Athens, Georgia./Healthnet-Maxxis) 524

Men's Team Standings


1. Health Net Pro Cycling Team presented by Maxxis 2682

2. Bissell Pro Cycling Team 2123

3. Colavita/Sutter Home Men's Cycling Team presented by Cooking Light 2123

4. Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 1648

5. Successfulliving.com presented by Parkpre 1320