USA CRITS: Skylar Schneider and Marcos Mendez score decisive wins at Greenville Cycling Classic

Skylar Schneider of L39ION of Los Angeles and Marcos Mendez from Foundation New York claimed decisive victories at the Greenville Cycling Classic, the fourth round of the USA CRITS series held in downtown Greenville, South Carolina. Schneider surged ahead in the final two corners of the women’s 50-lap race, overtaking Elizabeth Harden and Andrea Cyr to secure the win. Meanwhile, Mendez continued his dominant form with his third series victory in the men’s race, narrowly edging out teammate Bryan Gomez in a competitive bunch sprint. The women’s race unfolded with Kingdom Elite Racing’s Harden and her teammate Liza Ray leading into the final lap, closely marked by Schneider and Cyr. Despite Harden’s team tactics, Schneider launched a powerful attack on the penultimate corner, creating a gap that held to the finish line. This event marked the first USA CRITS appearance for both Schneider and Cyr, who previously showed strong performances at the Redlands Bicycle Classic. Liza Ray, the current leader in the individual women’s standings, finished fifth, maintaining her position just behind Rebecca Lang. On the men’s side, Mendez’s victory reinforced his status as a top contender in the series, adding to his earlier wins at Sunny King Criterium and LaGrange Cycling Classic. His Foundation New York teammate Bryan Gomez finished second, fending off challenges from Team Cadence Cyclery’s Luke Fetzer and Cade Bickmore. Despite Mendez’s win, Leonel Rodriguez of The Paceline Project retained the overall lead in the men’s individual standings thanks to consistent top finishes, with Preston Eye holding a narrow margin over Mendez in the overall classification. The USA CRITS series continues its run in South Carolina with the Spartanburg Criterium scheduled for the following evening, followed by the sixth round in Suwanee, Georgia. Both Schneider and Mendez’s performances signal their intent to challenge for overall honours as the series progresses. With tight competition and strategic racing, the upcoming rounds promise further excitement and shifts in the standings.