Antonio Cruz is a former criterium specialist who took the U.S. title in 1999.    One year later he won the U.S. Olympic Trials road race, earning a spot on the team for the Sydney games, a victory he considers as perhaps the most important of his career.  The win and his ride in Sydney with Tour de France Champion Lance Armstrong and other top Americans, including Armstrong’s US Postal Service teammates George Hincapie and Tyler Hamilton, landed Cruz a tryout with Postal, who signed him for the 2001 season.

For the past six years, Cruz has been part of the legendary squad, adapting his criterium skills to success in stage races and one-day events in both Europe and the U.S.   Often playing the supporting role for team leaders, Cruz’ abilities as a domestique helped Postal become one of the top teams in the world.  In 2004, however, Cruz got the go ahead and earned his first European victory, winning the second stage at the French Tour de L’Ain, followed by four top 10 stage finishes at the Tour de Spain, where USPS won the TTT title.  Last year, Cruz migrated with most of his US Postal Service teammates to Discovery once sponsorship changed, helping Discovery to huge team wins at the Giro D’Italia and Tour de Georgia.

Ironically, despite his illustrious career, Cruz almost left the sport for good in 1990.   Having been around cycling his whole life, filling water bottles and airing up tires for his father, Carlos Cruz (who still races), Antonio started racing at age 12 – and excelled.   But after competing at such high levels as a Junior, he became burnt out.  From 1990-1995, he didn’t compete at all.  Instead, he married and became a father.  While his wife, Jodi, was in school completing her nursing program in Reno, Nevada, Cruz supported her while working as a pharmacy technician.  While there, he joined the local cycling club, The Reno Wheelman.  Renewing his passion, he began racing and training again in 1996, and within three years, he was the USPRO Criterium Champion.

As a first year member of BMC, Cruz brings invaluable experience, leadership and maturity; he also knows the rewards of teamwork and is an integral part of BMC’s strong team focus.

Statistics:

• Country: United States
• Height: 5’9”
• Weight: 145lbs.
• Date of Birth: October 31, 1971
• Place of Birth: East Los Angeles, CA
• Residence:  Long Beach, CA
• Pro Since:  1999 

Team History:

• 2008 to Present BMC Pro Cycling Team
• 2007 – Discovery Pro Cycling Team
• 2006- Toyota United Pro Cycling Team
• 2005 – Discovery Pro Cycling Team
• 2001-2004 – United States Postal Service
• 2000 – Saturn
• 1999 – L’Equipe Cheval
  

Career Highlights:

• 2008 - BMC Pro Cycling Highlights
  • 1^st year member of Swiss International squad
• 2007 - Discovery Highlights
  • Return to former team championed by  long time friend and teammate “Lance Armstrong”
• 2006 - Toyota United Tour Highlights
  • Part of one of the biggest and most dominating American squads to ever exist
• 2005 - US Postal Cycling team -  
  • 4^th, Stage 9, Tour de Langkawi (Malaysia)  
  • 7^th, Stage 6, Tour de Langkawi (Malaysia) 
  • 16^th Overall, Tour de Langkawu (Malayia)
  • Gent-Wevelgem (Belgium)
  • Winning Team Dodge Tour of Georgia
  • Winning Team 88^th Giro d’Italia (Italy)
• 2004 - US Postal Pro Cycling
  • 1^st Stage 2, Tour de L’Ain (France)
  • 1^st Overall, Tour de Nez
  • 2^nd  Criterium, Tour de Nez
  • 2^nd Road Race, Tour de Nez
  • 3^rd Time Trial, Tour de Nez
  • 4^th Stage 16, Vuelta a Espana (Spain)
  • 4^th Stage 19, Vuelta a Espana (Spain)
  • 2 additional top 10 finishes in Vuelta a Espana (Spain)
  •  6^th New York City Cycling Championship
  • 5^th Road Race, U.S. Elite National Championship
  • 11^th Kume-Brussels-Kume (Belgium)

Other Notable Results:

• Olympic Trials Winner & Olympian (2000)
• USPRO Criterion Champion (1999)

 

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