NCC: Allar regains top women's spot as Clarke's lead shrinks

  
  


The USA Cycling National Criterium Calendar (NCC) blazed into its fifth event on Saturday as racers contested the Sunny King Criterium in Anniston, Ala. While the leader of the men's standings remains Hilton Clarke (AUS/UnitedHealthcare), there is a new, but familiar leader of the women's standings.

Carlos Alzate Escobar topped the men's podium at the Sunny King Criterium on Saturday. (Photo by Philip Darden)
Carlos Alzate Escobar topped the men's podium at the Sunny King Criterium on Saturday. (Photo by Philip Darden)
Clarke's lead in the NCC men's standings is down to 121 points after Saturday's racing in Alabama. Clarke has amassed 399 points this season while Carlos Alzate Escobar (COL/UnitedHealthcare), who won on Saturday, has amassed 278 points to move from third into second place. Luke Keough (Sandwich, Mass./UnitedHealthcare) slipped down one spot into third place. Keough has 190 points, only 18 more points than Sergio Hernandez (San Pedro, Calif./Jelly Belly Cycling), who sits in fourth after placing second at the Sunny King Criterium. Shane Kline (Bally, Pa./Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis) rounds out the top five with 153 points.

After finishing second in Saturday's women's race, Erica Allar (Tucson, Ariz./CARE4CYCLING powered by Solomon) has jumped from second place in last week's standings into the top spot of the NCC women's standings with 264 points. Laura van Gilder (Cresco, Pa./Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers) finished fourth on Saturday to boost her season's point total to 193 and move from fourth place into second place. Last week's standings leader, Lauren Stephens (Dallas, Texas/FCS-Zngine p/b Mr. Restore), is now in third place with 175 points, while Jacquelyn Crowell (Maitland, Fla./Exergy TWENTY16) dropped one spot into fourth place with 130 points. The winner of Saturday's race, Coryn Rivera (Tustin, Calif./Marian University), has ascended the standings into a tie for fifth place with Joanie Caron (CAN/Primal Pro Women p/b BH) with 120 points apiece.

Coryn Rivera narrowly edged Erica Allar to win the women's race at the Sunny King Criterium. (Photo by Philip Darden)
Coryn Rivera narrowly edged Erica Allar to win the women's race at the Sunny King Criterium. (Photo by Philip Darden)
The NCC men's team standings are unchanged from last week. UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling (945 points) has expanded its lead on Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis (403 points) to 542 points after the Sunny King Criterium. Jamis Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home remains in third place with 226 points, 110 points ahead of CashCall Mortgage, which sits in fourth place. Champion System p/b Stan's NoTubes is the fifth-place team with 110 points.

CARE4CYCLING powered by Solomon has jumped from third place in last week's standings into the top spot of the NCC women's team standings with 348 points. Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies slipped into second place with 298 points, while Colavita-Fine Cooking has moved into third place, only 13 points out of second place. Exergy TWENTY16 is 13 points out of third place and 73 points ahead of the fifth-place FCS-Zngine p/b Mr. Restore.

Check out a photo gallery from the race.

Full results from the Sunny King Criterium.

 

USA Cycling NCC Standings:

Men
1. Hilton Clarke (AUS/UnitedHealthcare) — 399
2. Carlos Alzate Escobar (COL/UnitedHealthcare) — 278
3. Luke Keough (Sandwich, Mass./UnitedHealthcare) — 190
4. Sergio Hernandez (San Pedro, Calif./Jelly Belly Cycling) — 172
5. Shane Kline (Bally, Pa./Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis) — 153

Women
1. Erica Allar (Tucson, Ariz./CARE4CYCLING powered by Solomon) — 264
2. Laura Van Gilder (Cresco, Pa./Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers) — 193
3. Lauren Stephens (Dallas, Texas/FCS-Zngine p/b Mr. Restore) — 175
4. Jacquelyn Crowell (Maitland, Fla./Exergy TWENTY16) — 130
5. Coryn Rivera (Tustin, Calif./Marian University) — 120
5. Joanie Caron (CAN/Primal Pro Women p/b BH) — 120

Men's Team Standings
1. UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling — 945
2. Team SmartStop-Mountain Khakis — 403
3. Jamis Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home — 226
4. CashCall Mortgage — 116
5. Champion System p/b Stan's NoTubes — 110

Women's Team Standings
1. CARE4CYCLING powered by Solomon — 348
2. Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies — 298
3. Colavita-Fine Cooking — 285
4. Exergy TWENTY16 — 272
5. FCS-Zngine p/b Mr. Restore — 199
 

For complete standings, visit the NCC's official webpage at usacycling.org/ncc.

The NCC continues next weekend with its first multi-day event of the year. Beginning Saturday, April 27, riders will be in the southeastern United States to contest USA Crits Speed Week "A" in Georgia and South Carolina. Speed Week "A" concludes on May 1. The races will be streamed live online.


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This Article Updated April 22, 2013 @ 09:03 PM For more information contact: