DEVO WRAP: Lauren Hall sprints her way to the top of the podium at Gent-Wevelgem

Lauren Hall on top of the podium after winning Gent-Wevelgem. Photo by Jack Seehafer

(March 31, 2014) – Riders in the USA Cycling National Development Program (NDP) enjoyed significant success last week as Lauren Hall (Dolores, Colo./Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) won the women's edition of the Gent-Wevelgem and U23 rider Tanner Putt (Bissell Development Team) placed 10th overall in Portugal's Volta ao Alentejo.

WOMEN'S ROAD

Gent-Wevelgem

Hall won the women's edition of the Gent-Wevelgem in Belgium on Sunday after arriving from the United States only two days earlier. When the 115-kilometer race split at about 35 kilometers to go, Hall was in the break which eventually dropped to eight riders.

"We worked really well together until about 5K and then some of the girls started attacking," an excited Hall told USA Cycling afterwards. "I felt that was very early so I just followed knowing that you only have one or two opportunities to put all the power in the pedals for something to come out in your favor."

She waited until the last kilometer to make her move, and at about 300 meters out, she outsprinted the other seven to cross the finish line victorious.

Alexis Ryan, Kathryn Donovan, Ruth Winder, Lauren Hall, Maura Kinsella, and Lauren Komanski

Hall was followed in second and third by the French duo of Janneke Ensing and Vera Koedooder. Next up for USA Cycling's contingent was Alexis Ryan (Ventura, Calif./UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women's Team) in 12th. Lauren Komanski (Winston-Salem, N.C./Twenty16 Pro Cycling) was 52nd, Kathryn Donovan (Oxnard, Calif./Twenty16 Pro Cycling) was 83rd, and Maura Kinsella (Boulder, Colo./Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) was 106th. Ruth Winder (Lafayette, Calif./UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Women's Team) also raced for USA Cycling.

Complete results from the women's Gent-Wevelgem.

U23 MEN'S ROAD

Volta ao Alentejo

Tanner Putt (Bissell Development Team) placed an impressive 10th overall and earned the white jersey for the youth classification in Portugal's Volta ao Alentejo over the weekend. The five-stage race began on March 26 and closed out on March 30th.

Putt's best performance over the five days was 10th place in stage three's 205-kilometer racefrom Redondo to Mertola. He was 29th in stage one, 11th in stage two, 12th in stage four, and 24th in stage five.

The U23 stage race was won by Spaniard Carlos Barbero Cuesta while Eduard Prades (ESP) was second and Karel Hnik (CZE) was third.

Putt was joined in the red, white and blue jerseys of USA Cycling's National Development Program squad by teammates Taylor Eisenhart (Lehi, Utah/BMC Racing Team) in 22nd, Robin Carpenter (Hincapie Sportswear Development Team) in 24th, Ryan Eastman (Bissell Development Team) in 57th, Gregory Daniel (Bissell Development Team) in 60th, and Alex Darville (Bissell Development Team) in 84th.

For complete results from the Volta ao Alentejo, click here.

GP Wilfried Pieters

U23 riders Justin Oien (Escondido, Calif./California Giant Cycling), Colin Joyce (Pocatello, Idaho/California Giant Cycling), Geoffrey Curran (Tustin, Calif./Bissell Development Cycling), Yannick Eckmann (Boulder, Colo./California Giant Cycling), Erik Volotzky (Chatsworth, Calif./DRC De Mol), and TJ Eisenhart (Lehi, Utah/BMC Racing Team) also raced for the USA Cycling National Development Program last week. The squad of six competed in the GP Wilfried Pieters on March 23 in Mol, Belgium.

The start line featured 190 riders, but unfortunately at about five kilometers in, a high-speed crash forced Volotky to exit early. The remaining five U.S. riders made the first split. Then after another 50 kilometers of attacking, Oien made it off the front with a smaller group of 14. Although Oien was disadvantaged as the only American in the lead group, the 19-year-old managed to hang on for 12th-place in the sprint finish.

COMING UP

Next up for the women's road portion of the USA Cycling National Development Program is the Tour of Flanders on April 6, the GP de Dottignies on April 7, and the Energiewacht Tour which is slated for April 9 -13.

The U23 riders inUSACycling's National Development Program will next compete in La Triptyque in Belgium, April 4-6, Circuit des Arndennes in France, April 11-13, and the Tour of Flanders on April 12.

PHOTOS

Top: Lauren Hall on the podium after her win at Gent-Wevelgem. Photo by Jack Seehafer.

Bottom: USA Cycling's ladies for Gent Wevelgem were (L-R) Alexis Ryan, Kathryn Donovan, Ruth Winder, Lauren Hall, Maura Kinsella, and Lauren Komanski. Photo by Jack Seehafer.

MORE ABOUT THE USA CYCLING NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Want to be part of USA Cycling’s Development Program? The first step is getting on USA Cycling’s radar. One of the best ways to do this is by attending a USA Cycling Regional Talent Identification Camp. The primary goal of the Talent ID Camps is to recognize athletes who, at an early age, show signs of potential future success in cycling. Receiving instruction from some of USA Cycling’s finest coaches, the camps also provide the necessary framework to improve the athletes' skill set thus progressing their talent development. In some cases, the Regional Talent ID Camps assist in selecting riders for international competition and/or a national development camp.

For more information and the full 2014 schedule of USA Cycling’s Regional Talent ID Camps, please click here.
USA Cycling's National Development Programs are supported by the USA Cycling Development Foundation. Support the future of American cycling with an online donation now.

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