Devo Wrap: Win in Germany highlights week

The USA Cycling National Development Program enjoyed an extremely successful trip to Germany last week. A group of juniors competed in Etappen der Rad and rode away with the overall win and the Best Young Rider jersey.

JUNIORS

Geoffrey Curran topped the final podium at Etappen der Rad in Germany. (Photo by Barney King)

Curran won the opening stage individual time trial with teammates Michael Dessau (Boulder, Colo./Slipstream-Craddock Junior Development) and Alexey Vermeulen (Pinckney, Mich./Bissell-ABG-NUVO) placing fifth and sixth, respectively.

The second stage was not as kind to the USA Cycling riders. A series of crashes and mechanical issues forced three of the contingent's riders from the race. Curran had slipped from the top spot into second place, two seconds back. Vermeulen remained in sixth place, seven seconds behind the leader, Tristan Wedler (GER).

The third stage concluded with a steep, 600-meter climb with a technical approach. Vermeulen got into an early 14-rider breakaway, which lasted approximately 66 kilometers. Curran remained in the field, positioning himself for the finale. The race came back together and Curran finished the stage in third place giving him the overall win, while Vermeulen was eighth in the stage, allowing him to move up to fourth in the final results.

Curran earned an automatic nomination to the team contesting the juniors men's race at the 2012 UCI Road World Championships by placing fifth in the Peace Race, last week.

Below is a list of the riders who started Etappen der Rad for USA Cycling:

Geoffrey Curran (Tustin, Calif./Surf City Cyclery-Sterling BMW)
Micheal Dessau (Boulder, Colo./Slipstream-Craddock Junior Development)
Alexey Vermeulen (Pinckney, Mich./Bissell-ABG-NUVO)
Thomas Wrona (Pinehurst, N.C./Hot Tubes Development Cycling Team)
Chad Young (Newmarket, N.H./CCB Racing)

MOUNTAIN BIKE

Keegan Swenson finished sixth in the juniors men race at the 2012 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in the Czech Republic. (Photo by Rob Jones, CanadianCyclist.com)

In the juniors men's race, Keegan Swenson (Park City, Utah/Cannondale Factory Racing) finished in sixth place, only 3:10 behind the winner Victor Koretzky (FRA). Richard Cypress Gorry (Payson, Ariz./Whole Athlete-Specialized) was seven minutes behind Koretzky in 27th.

Kate Courtney (Kentfield, Calif./Whole Athlete-Specialized) placed 10th in the juniors women's race, only 4:57 behind the winner Margot Moschetti (FRA).

In the men's U23 race, Howard Grotts (Durango, Colo./Fort Lewis College) posted the best result, placing 28th, 5:07 behind Ondrej Cink (CZE) in the final results. Kerry Werner (Banner Elk, N.C./BMC Mountain Bike Development Team) and Russell Finsterwald (Colorado Springs, Colo./Subaru-Trek Mountain Bike Team) finished 11 seconds apart in 32nd and 33rd, respectively.

Click here for full results of the 2012 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic.

COMING UP

U23
The six riders listed below are slated to contest Fleche du Sud, a five-day stage race in Luxembourg from May 16-20:

Max Durtschi (Sun Valley, Idaho/Chipotle-First Solar Development Team)
Matthew Lipscomb (Decatur, Ga./Hincapie Development Team)
Eamon Lucas (Fremont, Calif./California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized)
Paul Lynch (Colchester, Conn./Team Type 1-Development)
Connor O’Leary (Salt Lake City, Utah/Bontrager-Livestrong Team)
Zack Noonan (Kutztown, Pa./BikeReg.com-Cannondale)

The following group of five U23 riders are slated to contest Ronde Isard in France from May 17-20:

Joshua Berry (Coeur D'Alene, Idaho/Chipotle-First Solar Development Team)
Daniel Eaton (Mesa, Ariz./Mesa Cycles Shop and Racing Team)
Jesse Goodrich (Louisville, Colo./Juwi Solar Racing)
Rob Squire (Sandy, Utah/Chipotle-First Solar Development Team)
Larry Warbasse (Traverse City, Mich./BMC-Hincapie Sportswear Cycling Team)

Juniors
The following group of five juniors riders are slated to contest the Driedaagse van Axel in the Netherlands from May 18-20:

Geoffrey Curran (Tustin, Calif./Surf City Cyclery-Sterling BMW)
Alexey Vermeulen (Pinckney, Mich./Bissell-ABG-NUVO)
Colby Wait-Molyneux (Vancouver, Wash./Hammer Nutrition-CMG Racing Team)
Thomas Wrona (Pinehurst, N.C./Hot Tubes Development Cycling Team)
Chad Young (Newmarket, N.H./CCB Racing)

The following group of six juniors riders are slated to contest the Trofeo Karlsberg in Germany from May 17-20:

Greg Daniel (Englewood, Colo./Slipstream-Craddock Junior Development)
Alex Darville (Santa Barbara, Calif./Hammer Nutrition-CMG Racing Team)
T.J. Eisenhart (Lehi, Utah/Velosport Racing)
Colin Joyce (Pocatello, Idaho/Hot Tubes Development Cycling Team)
Noah Williams (Wimberley, Texas/Slipstream-Craddock Junior Development)
Tyler Williams (Shafter, Calif./Team Swift)

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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