USA Crits: Marlies Mejias and Bryan Gomez sprint to victory at Streets of Fire Criterium to open final weekend of racing in Winston-Salem

Marlies Mejias of Virginia's Blue Ridge TWENTY28 and Bryan Gomez from Foundation Cycling New York secured their first USA Crits victories of the season at the Streets of Fire Criterium in Winston-Salem. The event marked the seventh round of the eight-race series and featured a fast, technical six-turn course through downtown Merschel Plaza. Mejias celebrated her win with a confident sprint finish, while Gomez edged out his teammate Marcos Mendez to claim the men’s title. In the women’s race, Laurel Rathburn of Caldera Medical x Aurea Racing and Elizabeth Castaño from One Hart Racing completed the podium behind Mejias. Series leader Liza Ray of Kingdom Elite Racing finished sixth, maintaining her overall lead with 1,621 points. The battle for the remaining podium places remains tight, with only 50 points separating second through fourth positions, suggesting an exciting conclusion to the series in the final round. On the men’s side, Gomez’s victory propelled him into second place in the overall standings, just 48 points behind leader Leonel Rodriguez of MC Cycling Team. Marcos Mendez, who finished second in the race, now trails Gomez by a mere five points in third place, while Preston Eye holds fourth, 32 points further back. This close points spread sets the stage for a dramatic finale at the upcoming Gears & Guitars Criterium, which will crown the 2026 USA Crits champions. The Streets of Fire Criterium served as a thrilling prelude to the season’s conclusion, showcasing strong performances from both established leaders and emerging contenders. With the championship still undecided in both categories, the final weekend of racing in Winston-Salem promises intense competition and strategic battles as riders vie for the coveted series titles.