With the U.S. Capitol in the background and Pennsylvania Avenue freshly repaved, some of the country’s best cyclists battled it out in yesterday’s ING Direct Capital Criterium. But while the main attraction was the presence of a number of professional racers — including Garmin-Chipotle rider Christian Vande Velde, who placed fifth in the Tour de France — the event capped off what has been a strong year in local racing for area riders and teams.

The morning started with a 35+ Masters race, which was won by local strongman Ramon Benitez of Immediate Mortgage in a daring two-man breakaway that shot free of the main pack on the second lap and stayed away for the remainder of the race. The second event, a Cat 1/2/3 race packed with the area’s best cyclists, ended in a sprint finish that was won by Todd Hipp of Battley Harley Davidson.