NCC: Events on both coasts bring little change to standings

  
  


The women's field at Manhattan Beach. Photo by Philip Beckman
The women's field at Manhattan Beach. Photo by Philip Beckman
With scoring opportunities dwindling, the USA Cycling National Criterium Calendar (NCC) had a pair of races this weekend - one on each coast. On Saturday, the men were in West Chester, Pa., to compete in the Iron Hill Twilight Criterium before the women rejoined the fray in Manhattan Beach, Calif., on Sunday to contest the Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix.
 
This weekend brought little change in the men's standings. After placing 11th in the Iron Hill Twilight Criterium, Hilton Clarke (AUS/UnitedHealthcare) still holds the top spot with 1,249 points. He is just a couple of points ahead of teammate Carlos Alzate Escobar (COL/UnitedHealthcare) who finished tenth in Pennsylvania and ranks second overall with 1,246 points. Iron Hill Twilight Criterium winner Luke Keough (Sandwich, Mass./UnitedHealthcare) still holds the number-three spot with 987 points while Karl Menzies (AUS/UnitedHealthcare) placed second on Saturday and is fourth overall with 767 points. Shane Kline (Bally, Pa./Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis) is fifth in the standings with 585. The Manhattan Beach Grand Prix also awarded men's NCC points with Jesse Anthony finishing first in the event to enter the NCC rankings in 36th position.
 
After winning the only women's NCC event of the weekend, the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix, Erica Allar (Tucson, Ariz./CARE4CYCLING powered by Solomon) strengthened her standings lead to 1,077 points. She still holds the top spot ahead of second- and third-ranked Theresa Cliff Ryan (Cedar Springs, Mich./Fearless Femme p/b Pure Energy Cycling-Vie13) and Laura Van Gilder (Cresco, Pa./Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers) who total 784 and 777 points respectively. The only major change in the women's standings over the weekend came when Samantha Schneider (Milwaukee, Wis./TIBCO-To the Top) placed second in California and jumped into fourth place with 504 points. Her move knocked Jennifer Purcell (Austin, Texas/Colavita-Fine Cooking) from fourth into fifth with 500 points.
 
For complete results from the Iron Hill Twilight Criterium, click here.
For complete results from the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix, click here.
 
In the men's team standings, UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling clinched its win last week and this weekend increased its point total to 4,140 over second-ranked Team SmartStop-Mountain Khakis which has 1,560 points. In the women's standings, CARE4CYCLING powered by Solomon still leads with 1,499 points compared to the 908 earned thus far by second-place team Colavita/Fine Cooking.
 
MEN'S STANDINGS
  1. Hilton Clarke (AUS/UnitedHealthcare) – 1249
  2. Carlos Alzate Escobar (COL/UnitedHealthcare) – 1246
  3. Luke Keough (Sandwich, Mass./UnitedHealthcare) – 987
  4. Karl Menzies (AUS/UnitedHealthcare) – 767
  5. Shane Kline (Bally, Pa./Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis) - 585
WOMEN'S STANDINGS
  1. Erica Allar (Tucson, Ariz./CARE4CYCLING powered by Solomon) – 1077
  2. Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Cedar Springs, Mich./Fearless Femme p/b Pure Energy Cycling-Vie 13) – 784
  3. Laura Van Gilder (Cresco, Pa./Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers) – 777
  4. Samantha Schneider (Milwaukee, Wis./TIBO-To the Top) – 504
  5. Jennifer Purcell (Austin, Texas/Colavita-Fine Cooking) - 500
WOMEN'S TEAM STANDINGS
  1. CARE4CYCLING powered by Solomon - 1499
  2. Colavita/Fine Cooking - 908
  3. TIBCO/To the Top - 871
  4. Fearless Femme p/b Pure Energy Cycling Vie 13 - 682
  5. Exergy/TWENTY 16 - 589
MEN'S TEAM STANDINGS
  1. UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling – 4140*
  2. Team SmartStop-Mountain Khakis – 1560
  3. Jamis Hagens Berman – 646
  4. Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies - 382
  5. Jelly Belly Cycling – 370
COMING UP

With only five events remaining on this year's NCC, points are at a premium. Next weekend, the riders will be in Boise, Idaho, to contest the Anderson Banducci Twilight Criterium


This Article Updated July 8, 2013 @ 10:53 PM For more information contact: