Devo Wrap: Strong starts for Americans worldwide

Kristin Armstrong and Evelyn Stevens finished first and second, respectively, in the opening stage of the Women's Tour of New Zealand. (Photo by Jackson Stewart)
Kristin Armstrong and Evelyn Stevens finished first and second, respectively, in the opening stage of the Women's Tour of New Zealand. (Photo by Jackson Stewart)
Men and women in USA Cycling's National Development Program are contesting races in New Zealand, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic with tremendous success.

WOMEN
Women's Tour of New Zealand

With three riders in the top 10, the American contingent is in great position after the first of five stages of the Women's Tour of New Zealand. Kristin Armstrong (Boise, Idaho/Exergy Twenty12) completed the 7.1-kilometer time trial in 10:15 to win the stage. Evelyn Stevens (Dennis, Mass./Team Specialized-lululemon) finished in second place, 17 seconds behind while Carmen Small (Durango, Colo./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) was just 44 seconds behind Armstrong in ninth place. Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Cedar Springs, Mich./Exergy Twenty12) is in 18th, Ally Stacher (Asheville, N.C./Specialized-lululemon) is in 34th and 17-year-old Addyson Albershardt (Matthews, N.C./NOW and Novartis) is in 50th place, 1:34 behind Armstrong.

Find up-to-date results here.

Four women took a spin on the course expected to be the women's road race at the 2012 Olympic Games. (Photo by Andrew Hawkes)
Four women took a spin on the course expected to be the women's road race at the 2012 Olympic Games. (Photo by Andrew Hawkes)
The following group of four American women on Tuesday rode the course expected to be used for the road race at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Robin Farina (Charlotte, N.C./NOW and Novartis for MS)
Megan Guarnier (Mountain View, Calif./TIBCO-To the Top)
Amanda Miller (Fort Collins, Colo./TIBCO-To the Top)
Shelley Olds (Gilroy, Calif./AA Drink-Leontien Cycling Team)

U23 MEN
Rutas de America 2012

Ty Magner (Athens, Ga./BMC-Hincapie Sportswear Development Team) opened the six-stage Rutas de America 2012 in Uruguay in fine fashion, placing sixth in each of the first two stages. Magner is currently 37 seconds behind race leader Jorge Soto Perera (URU). Robert Bush (Louisville, Ky./Chipotle-First Solar Development Team) sits in 50th place, 17:44 back while Zack Noonan (Kutztown, Pa./BikeReg.com-Cannondale) is 20:22 back in 56th. Kit Karzen (Beverly Hills, Calif./Get Crackin'-MS Society) is in 64th and Ian Moir (Long Beach, Calif./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) holds 81st.

Among U23 riders, Magner is in second place while Bush sits in fifth after two stages.

Vuelta Independencia Nacional
After four of nine stages of the Vuelta Independencia Nacional in the Dominican Republic, Kerry Werner (Banner Elk, N.C./USA U23 BMC Development Team) sits in 14th overall, 2:11 behind the leader. Tanner Putt (Park City, Utah/BMC-Hincapie Sportswear Cycling Team), who has posted three top-10 stage results, sits 9:54 back in 42nd. Russell Finsterwald (Colorado Springs, Colo./Front Rangers Junior Cycling) is in 46th and Jos Chalmers (Indian Harbour Beach, Fla./ZMotion Racing) is 16:47 back in 69th place.

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 Updated February 28, 2012 @ 08:04 PM For more information contact: