U23 Squad Opens April European Racing Campaign

Quevecamps, Belgium (April 3, 2009)—Racing with the USA Cycling National Development Team, BMC Racing’s Chris Barton (Ojai, Calif.) placed third Friday in the opening stage of the Triptyque des Monts et Chateaux race in Belgium.

Barton, one of 14 U23 athletes racing with the National Development Team throughout Europe this month, sprinted to a third-place finish amidst at 12-man lead group in the 170-kilometer stage from Vieux-Conde, France to Quevecamps.

Racing alongside Barton with the National Development Team is Taylor Phinney (Boulder, Colo.), Kirk Carlsen (Boulder, Colo.), Austin Carroll (Orange, Calif.), Taylor Shelden (Breckenridge, Colo.), Cole House (Oneida, Wis.),and Peter Salon (Brooklyn, N.Y.).

The Triptyque des Monts et Chateaux continues through April 5.