USA CRITS: Lucas Bourgoyne back in the winner's circle while Elizabeth Castaño makes a statement at High Line Criterium in Georgia

Lucas Bourgoyne returned to winning form at the High Line Criterium in Suwanee, Georgia, securing his second victory in the USA CRITS series on May 2. The USPro criterium champion, who had previously triumphed at the Athens Twilight Criterium, outpaced a strong field in a tactical race dominated by Foundation New York, a team that had controlled much of the season. Bourgoyne’s decisive sprint finish saw him edge past key rivals, including Preston Eye and Bryan Gomez, to claim the top step once again. In the women’s race, Elizabeth Castaño of One Hart Racing made a significant impact by winning a tightly contested sprint finish. The race culminated in a dramatic drag race among three track specialists, with Castaño emerging victorious on the inside line. Her performance propelled her from fifth to third in the overall USA CRITS women’s standings, highlighting her growing consistency after a recent podium at the LaGrange Cycling Classic. Meanwhile, Kingdom Elite riders Liza Ray and Elizabeth Harden maintained their stronghold on the top two positions in the series rankings. The High Line Criterium marked the sixth round of the eight-race USA CRITS series, which has seen intense competition across both the men’s and women’s fields. Foundation New York had dominated the men’s races early on, with Marcos Mendez and Jordan Parra securing multiple wins, but Bourgoyne’s victory disrupted their streak. Despite this, the men’s overall standings remained largely unchanged, with Leonel Rodriguez still leading the series, followed closely by Mendez and Eye. Looking ahead, the USA CRITS series will conclude with two final races in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on May 22 and 23. These events are set to be decisive in determining the ultimate series champions, with riders poised to battle for crucial points. Bourgoyne and Castaño’s recent performances have set the stage for an exciting finale, as both athletes seek to consolidate their positions and claim overall victory in this highly competitive criterium series.