Devo Wrap: L'Avenir, Holland Ladies Tour underway

The USA Cycling National Development Program is contesting the Tour de l'Avenir (U23), Holland Ladies Tour (women) and just finished the G.P. Rüebliland (juniors) in Europe. With the first two events just heating up, USA Cycling's contingents are within striking distance of the top of the general classification.

The Tour de l'Avenir

American riders are in a good position in the early stages of the Tour l'Avenir in France. (Photo by Amaury Sport Organisation)
American riders are in a good position in the early stages of the Tour l'Avenir in France. (Photo by Amaury Sport Organisation)
Six of America's top young cycling stars are contesting the Tour de l'Avenir, often known as the U23 Tour de France. With three of eight stages complete as of Tuesday, Robert Bush (Louisville, Ky./Chipotle Development Team) and Larry Warbasse (Traverse City, Mich./BMC Racing) are USA Cycling's best-placed riders, sitting under a minute behind the general classification leader. Ian Boswell (Bend, Ore./Hot Tubes Development) is just 1:13 behind the leader while Joe Dombrowski (Marshall, Va./Trek Livestrong U23) and Rob Squire (Sandy, Utah/Chipotle Development Team) are 1:31 and 1:46 back, respectively. The race, which began on Sunday, Sept. 4, will continue until Sunday, Sept. 11.

The prologue kicked things off with Nathan Brown (Covington, Tenn./Trek Livestrong U23) registering the team's best result in 12th, 29 seconds behind the race leader. As a group, the Americans were strong, sitting in third overall following Sunday's prologue.

Battling fierce cross-winds in the 160.5-kilometer stage one road race, the American riders kept pace and finished with the main group, 36 seconds behind the stage winners.

In the second stage, Boswell, Dombrowski, Bush, Squire and Warbasse each finished among the stage's leaders.

USA Cycling's Tour de l'Avenir roster:

Ian Boswell (Bend, Ore./Hot Tubes Development)
Nathan Brown (Covington, Tenn./Trek Livestrong U23)
Robert Bush (Louisville, Ky./Chipotle Development Team)
Joe Dombrowski (Marshall, Va./Trek Livestrong U23)
Rob Squire (Sandy, Utah/Chipotle Development Team)
Larry Warbasse (Traverse City, Mich./BMC Racing)

WOMEN

A group of six women are contesting the Holland Ladies Tour 2011 for USA Cycling. The race began on Tuesday, Sept. 6 and will conclude on Sunday, Sept. 11.

In Tuesday's opening stage, Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Cedar Springs, Mich./Colavita-Forno d'Asolo) registered the best result among USA Cycling's contingent, placing 15th, 21 seconds behind the leader. The entire contingent is within 10 minutes of the race leaders after the first stage. Tayler Wiles (Murray, Utah/Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12) is currently 12th in the Best Young Rider Classification while the team is sitting in fifth overall.

The riders will contest the time trial on Wednesday.

USA Cycling's roster for the Holland Ladies Tour:

Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Cedar Springs, Mich./Colavita-Forno d'Asolo)
Andrea Dvorak (Crozet, Va./Colavita-Forno d'Asolo)
Robin Farina (Charlotte, N.C./NOW and Novartis for MS)
Kristin McGrath (Durango, Colo./Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12)
Coryn Rivera (Tustin, Calif./Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12)
Tayler Wiles (Murray, Utah/Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12)

JUNIORS

Alex Darville was the runner-up in the fourth stage of the Grand Prix Rüebliland. (Photos by Billy Innes)
Alex Darville was the runner-up in the fourth stage of the Grand Prix Rüebliland. (Photos by Billy Innes)
A group of junior riders contested the Grand Prix Rüebliland, a four-stage UCI 2.1-inscripted junior event in Lenzburg, Switzerland. In the final results, the U.S. team compiled a pair of single-stage individual podium appearances en route to finishing third in the team general classification. Additionally, Tyler Williams (Shafter, Calif./All Sport-Team Swift) tied for third in the Sprint Classification and placed fourth in the King of the Mountains Classification while Alex Darville (Santa Barbara, Calif./Echelon Santa Barbara) finished eighth in the Points Classification.

Darville also posted the contingent's best result, finishing second in the 111-kilometer fourth stage. Alexey Vermeulen (Pinckney, Mich./ProChain-Team Turner) also earned a spot on the podium, placing third in the 82.8-kilometer second stage.

Alexey Vermeulen finished third in the second stage of the Grand Prix Rüebliland.(Photos by Billy Innes)
Alexey Vermeulen finished third in the second stage of the Grand Prix Rüebliland.(Photos by Billy Innes)
In the race's first stage, Daniel Eaton (Mesa, Ariz./Strada Racing Club) put himself in a move that gained more than three minutes on the field. Eaton finished the day in 6th place and Darville was 17th.

Saturday morning's second stage was fast paced from the start. A group of six riders, including Vermeulen, got away and built a lead approaching one minute. As the breakaway approached the last five kilometers of the stage, the margin disintegrated. Vermeulen sprinted for third place while Darville finished in 12th.

As a team, the USA Cycling riders used Saturday afternoon's 9.8-kilometer time trial to vault into third place in the team general classification. Colby Wait-Molyneux (Vancouver, Wash./Hammer Nutrition-CMG Racing Team) finished sixth and Darville was 15th.

Sunday's 111-kilometer queen stage marked the fourth and final stage of the competition. The stage featured a category 1 climb and four circuits that included a category 2 climb. Williams, who experienced some unlucky mechanical issues early in the race, broke away with three Swiss riders to start off stage four. The breakaway helped Williams earn points as he crested the category 1 climb first, crossed an intermediate sprint first and placed second on the first circuit's category 2 climb. Gradually, the peloton caught the breakaway, resulting in a field sprint to the finish line in which Darville took second.

Darrel Kohli (Rapid River, Mich./Team Geargrinder) also competed with the group from USA Cycling.

CAMPS

USA Cycling's Sprint Program Director Jamie Staff is holding a sprint camp with over 20 riders at the velodrome at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center from Sept. 6-12. The riders will work in the gym as well as on the track through the duration of the camp.

COMING UP

The following group of U23 riders will contest the Tour of China from Sept. 9-19:

Charlie Avis (Palo Alto, Calif./Trek Livestrong U23)
Evan Huffman (Elk Grove, Calif./California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized)
Eamon Lucas (Pacific Grove, Calif./California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized)
Tanner Putt (Roswell, Ga./Team Type 1)
Chris Stastny (Vacaville, Calif./California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized)
Mike Stone (Monroe, Ga./Hincapie Development)

The following group of women will contest the Premondiale Giro Toscana Int. Femminile - Memorial Michela Fanini in Italy from Sept. 13-18:

Robin Farina (Charlotte, N.C./NOW and Novartis for MS)
Megan Guarnier (Mountain View, Calif./Team TIBCO to the Top)
Janel Holcomb (San Diego, Calif./Colavita-Forno d'Asolo)
Kristin McGrath (Durango, Colo./Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12)
Carmen Small (Durango, Colo./Team TIBCO to the Top)
Tayler Wiles (Murray, Utah/Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12)

The following group of junior riders will contest the Rothaus Regio Tour in Germany from Sept. 8-11:

Alex Darville (Santa Barbara, Calif./Echelon Santa Barbara)
Kristo Jorgenson (Boise, Idaho/BYRDS)
Mathew Lipscomb (Decatur, Ga./Greenville Spinners Bicycle Club-Hincapie Development Team)
Paul Lynch (Colchester, Conn./Hot Tubes Development Cycling)
Alexey Vermeulen (Pinckney, Mich./Prochain)
Colby Wait-Molyneux (Vancouver, Wash./Hammer Nutrition-CMG Racing Team)

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.

About USA Cycling’s National Development Programs
One of USA Cycling’s dual missions is to achieve sustained success in international cycling competition. To that end, USA Cycling maintains development programs for all disciplines of competitive cycling, including men’s and women’s U25 and junior road; mountain bike; track (endurance and sprint) and BMX development programs. These programs provide a structured pathway to the top tier of the sport through athlete development that begins with Junior racing series, Regional Development Camps and racing and moves through to international competition. For more about USA Cycling’s Athlete Development Programs, click here.


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This Article Published September 6, 2011 For more information contact: