USA CRITS: Skylar Schneider goes back-to-back in South Carolina with Spartanburg Criterium win

Skylar Schneider of L39ion of Los Angeles secured a consecutive victory at the Spartanburg Criterium in South Carolina, narrowly defeating Andrea Cyr from HigherDOSE - Renova in a thrilling finish. The race, held on Friday night in downtown Spartanburg, saw Schneider, Cyr, and Rebecca Lang of Team Winston Salem-FLOW break away from the peloton with fewer than 30 laps remaining. Schneider timed her final uphill sprint perfectly to edge out Cyr at the line, while Lang claimed third place, finishing just ahead of the chasing group by 18 seconds. The race showcased strong tactical collaboration between the leading trio, despite representing different teams. Schneider highlighted the cooperative spirit among the riders, noting that all three recognised the winning move and worked well together throughout the race. Reflecting on her performance, Schneider mentioned that the pressure was less intense than at the previous day’s Greenville Cycling Classic, allowing her to focus on strategy alongside her teammate Alexi Ramirez, who also played a key role in the race dynamics. In the men’s event, Jordan Parra of Foundation Cycling New York took his fourth win in five USA CRITS races, capitalising on an opportunity to shine after usually supporting his teammates. Parra’s teammate Bryan Gomez finished second, with Lucas Bourgoyne of Team Cadence Cyclery pb Waldo Racing completing the podium in third. The Foundation Cycling team demonstrated strong form, with multiple riders placing in the top ten and maintaining high positions in the overall series standings. The Spartanburg Criterium results left the women’s individual leaderboard unchanged, with Liza Ray of Kingdom Elite Racing retaining the lead thanks to her earlier victories. Meanwhile, the men’s overall competition remains tightly contested, with Leonel Rodriguez of The Paceline Project holding the top spot and Gomez closing in on the podium. The USA CRITS series continues with its sixth round scheduled for the High Line Criterium in Suwanee, Georgia, promising more exciting racing as the season progresses.