Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team 2007

Greenville, S.C. — The Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team will put three riders on the start line of Sunday’s USA Cycling Pro Championship road race who finished in the top 12 of last year’s race in Greenville, S.C.

That trio is among a total of four riders from Toyota-United who will compete over the two days of championships: Chris Baldwin will ride the time trial Saturday, then join Justin England, Burke Swindlehurst and Chris Wherry in Sunday’s road race.

Swindlehurst finished fourth in the road race last year, one of only nine racers who actually crossed the finish line. Another 22 were given pro-rated finish times for a total of 31 finishers of more than 100 starters.

At 110 miles (177 km), the road race is slightly shorter than last year’s version. The riders will climb Paris Mountain four times instead of five times. Also new for 2007 will be three starting circuits that will be in addition to the three finishing circuits.

Toyota-United Team Director Harm Jansen said the team’s approach will be a little different than other races it has contested this year because Toyota-United will not enjoy strength in numbers.

Wherry, ninth place a year ago and the national road champion in 2005, said he would like nothing more than to don the stars-and-stripes jersey again.

“That was such an awesome year to have that jersey and go through that experience,” Wherry said. “Winning this race is going to be a goal of mine from now until to the end of my career.”

Jansen agrees Wherry is on good form.

“Chris has been looking super strong these last few weeks,” Jansen said. “He knows better than anyone else how to go about preparing to be there in the end.”

In the time trial, Baldwin aims to earn what would be his first win of the year. He has finished second nine times – including three runner-up finishes at National Race Calendar stage races – and has 19 podium finishes overall.

Last year, he was leading at the final time check, only to crash in a tight right-hand corner and lose the race by 32 seconds to David Zabriskie (CSC). The corner is not part of this year’s course.