NCC: Escobar rising while Allar strengthens standings grip

  
  


Carlos Alzate Escobar topped the men's omnium podium at the conclusion of Speedweek "A". (Photo by Galen Burke)
Carlos Alzate Escobar topped the men's omnium podium at the conclusion of Speedweek "A". (Photo by Galen Burke)
The USA Cycling National Criterium Calendar (NCC) shifted to the southeast for the four-race USA CRITS Speed Week "A." The action began on Saturday with the Terrapin Twilight in Athens, Ga., before heading to Roswell for the Roswell Criterium on Sunday. After an off-day on Monday, the action resumed in Tybee Island, Ga., with the Coastal Empire Cycle Fest before culminating in Walterboro, S.C., with the Downtown Walterboro Criterium on Wednesday.

After winning the men's omnium, Carlos Alzate Escobar (COL/UnitedHealthcare) has trimmed Hilton Clarke's (AUS/UnitedHealthcare) lead atop the NCC men's standings to 91 points. Escobar finished in the top three of each of the four races to top the men's omnium podium and boost his season-long total to 433 points. Shane Kline (Bally, Pa./Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis) jumped from fifth place in last week's standings into third place with 218 points after finishing third in the omnium. Sergio Hernandez (San Pedro, Calif./Jelly Belly Cycling) collected 25 points over the week to hold on to fourth place, only seven points ahead of Luke Keough (Sandwich, Mass./UnitedHealthcare).

Erica Allar (Tucson, Ariz./CARE4CYCLING powered by Solomon) topped the women's omnium podium after stringing together four top-five finishes, including a pair of wins, during Speed Week "A." In the NCC women's standings, Allar now holds a 166-point cushion over Laura van Gilder (Cresco, Pa./Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers). Lauren Stephens (Dallas, Texas/FCS-Cycling: p/b Zngine + Mr. Restore) remains in third place with 175, but she has stiff competition closing in. Jennifer Purcell (Austin, Texas/Colavita-Fine Cooking) finished fifth in the omnium and now holds fourth place in the standings with 161 points. Defending USA Cycling elite women's criterium national champion Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Cedar Springs, Mich./Fearless Femme p/b Pure Energy) has moved into fifth place in the standings, only one point behind Purcell.

Erica Allar expanded her lead in the women's standings after winning the women's omnium at Speedweek "A". (Photo by Galen Burke)
Erica Allar expanded her lead in the women's standings after winning the women's omnium at Speedweek "A". (Photo by Galen Burke)
With 1,300 points already, the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team is threatening to ride away with the NCC men's team standings. Team SmartStop-Mountain Khakis is within striking distance with 553 points in second place. Jamis Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home sits in third place with 226 points while Champion System p/b Stan's NoTubes moved from fifth place into fourth place with 155 points. Sharecare Cycling p/b WheelandSprocket.com holds fifth place with 141 points.

Bolstered by stellar riding by Allar and Lenore Pipes (Ithaca, N.Y.), the CARE4CYCLING powered by Solomon team has the lead in the NCC women's team standings with 488 points. Colavita-Fine Cooking moved up one spot into second place with 380 points. Exergy TWENTY16 also moved up one spot and now holds third place with 312 points. Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies tumbled two spots in a week and now is in fourth place with 298 points. Primal Pro Women p/b BH rounds out the top five with 204 points.

Full results from Speed Week "A".

 

USA Cycling NCC Standings:

Men's Standings
1. Hilton Clarke (AUS/UnitedHealthcare) — 524 pts
2. Carlos Alzate Escobar (COL/UnitedHealthcare) — 433 pts
3. Shane Kline (Bally, Pa./Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis) — 218 pts
4. Sergio Hernandez (San Pedro, Calif./Jelly Belly Cycling) — 197 pts
5. Luke Keough (Sandwich, Mass./UnitedHealthcare) — 190 pts

Women's Standings
1. Erica Allar (Tucson, Ariz./CARE4CYCLING powered by Solomon Corp) — 404
2. Laura Van Gilder (Cresco, Pa./Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers) — 238
3. Lauren Stephens (Dallas, Texas/FCS-Cycling: p/b Zngine + Mr. Restore) — 175
4. Jennifer Purcell (Austin, Texas/Colavita-Fine Cooking) 161
5. Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Cedar Springs, Mich./Fearless Femme p/b Pure Energy) — 160

Men's Team Standings
1. UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling — 1300
2. Team SmartStop-Mountain Khakis — 553
3. Jamis Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home — 226
4. Champion System p/b Stan's NoTubes — 155
5. Sharecare Cycling p/b WheelandSprocket.com — 141

Women's Team Standings
1. CARE4CYCLING powered by Solomon — 488
2. Colavita/Fine Cooking — 380
3. Exergy TWENTY16 — 312
4. Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies — 298
5. Primal Pro Women p/b BH — 204
 

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

The NCC continues with the three-day USA CRITS Speed Week "B" in Georgia and South Carolina. Men and women will contest the Spartanburg Regional Classic on Friday, Belmont Criterium p/b Carolinas HealthCare System on Saturday and Global BMW Sandy Springs Cycling Challenge on Sunday. Additionally, the Dana Point Grand Prix will be contested in Dana Point, Calif., on May 5.



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This Article Updated May 2, 2013 @ 10:15 PM For more information contact: