It was a homecoming weekend of sorts in Dixon, Ill., as former pro Bryce Mead, donning a Mead’s Bike Shop kit, and Chicago product Reid Mumford (Kelly Benefit Strategies) took part in the second year of the Ronald Reagan Criterium.

Mumford wasted little time before escaping the P/1/2/3 field alone. Spirited racing followed in attempts to form chase groups, but it wasn’t until Mumford lapped the field a little more than halfway through that a decisive split occurred. Mumford proceeded to tow seven riders around for the balance of the race, now officially a race for 2nd, claimed by Sherman Park revelation Ben Damhoff (Geargrinder).

Making his debut as a 3, Kaleb Koch (IS Corp) received an elite-quality leadout from teammate Peter Davis and handily won the 3/4’s sprint, especially impressive considering he was in junior gears for the downhill and tailwind-aided homestretch.

Also impressive was Joe Berenyi (Psimet) passing riders down the homestretch of the masters 4/5’s to take the first win of his career.  Brandon Diffenderfer (Spidermonkey Cycling) also had a good day, hitting the podium in both the 3/4’s and 4/5’s. And racing three times, Ryan O’Boyle (South Chicago Wheelmen) won the juniors race and placed 2nd in the 4/5’s. O’Boyle has had a fantastic season, and I expect we’ll see him thrive in the elite categories in 2011.

In the masters 1/2/3’s, Todd Metz (Apache) showed that his Winfield performance was no fluke, winning out of a four-up sprint, and in a final tuneup before masters national track championships, Stacy Appelwick (Bouledogue Tout Noir) picked up her latest win in the women’s open.

Full results.