NCC: Hilton has reservation atop men's standings

  
  


The USA Cycling National Criterium Calendar (NCC) completed its second week on Saturday as the men contested the Cigar City Brewing Criterium in Tampa, Fla.

After winning Saturday's race in Tampa, Hilton Clarke (Santa Monica, Calif./UnitedHealthcare) has jumped into the lead of the NCC men's standings with 155 points. Luke Keough (Sandwich, Mass./UnitedHealthcare) slipped into second place with 100 points, while Demis Aleman (ARG/Jamis-Hagens Berman) and Bruno Langlois (CAN/Garneau-Quebecor) are tied for third with 75 points apiece. Rahsaan Bahati (Los Angeles, Calif./Bahati Foundation-CA) rounds out the top five with 69 points.

Hilton Clarke pumps his fist after winning the Cigar City Brewing Criterium. (Photo by Jonathan Devich)
Hilton Clarke pumps his fist after winning the Cigar City Brewing Criterium. (Photo by Jonathan Devich)

With no race on the women's calendar, the NCC women's standings are unchanged, Leah Kirchmann (CAN/Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) holds the top spot with 100 points while Erica Allar (Tucson, Ariz./CARE4CYCLING p/b Solomon) sits in second place with 75 points. Joanie Caron (CAN/Primal Pro Women p/b BH) is 15 points behind Allar and five points ahead of the fourth-place rider Lauren Hall (Dolores, Colo./Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies). Cari Higgins (Boulder, Colo./Exergy TWENTY16) holds the fifth spot with 50 points.

UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling now has 311 points stretching its lead atop the NCC men's team standings to 176 points after its strong performance in Florida. Team SmartStop-Mountain Khakis jumped from fourth place into second place with 135 points, 41 points ahead of Jamis Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home. United Healthcare of Georgia p/b The 706 Project sits only nine points out of third with 85 points, 19 points ahead of the fifth-place Champion System p/b Stan's NoTubes.

The NCC women's team standings are also unchanged from last week. Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies sits in the top spot with 172 points while CARE4CYCLING p/b Solomon is 43 points behind in second place with 129. Primal Pro Women p/b BH is in third place, but has a narrow, three-point advantage on the fourth-place team Exergy TWENTY16. Team Novo Nordisk rounds out the top five, 55 points out of fourth place with 30 points.

Check out a photo gallery from the race.

Full results from the Cigar City Brewing Criterium.

 

USA Cycling NCC Standings:

Men
1. Hilton Clarke (Santa Monica, Calif./UnitedHealthcare) — 155
2. Luke Keough (Sandwich, Mass./UnitedHealthcare) — 100
3. Demis Aleman (ARG/Jamis-Hagens Berman) — 75
3. Bruno Langlois (CAN/Garneau-Quebecor) — 75
5. Rahsaan Bahati (Los Angeles, Calif./Bahati Foundation) — 69

Women
1. Leah Kirchmann (CAN/Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) — 100
2. Erica Allar (Tucson, Ariz./CARE4CYCLING p/b Solomon) — 75
3. Joanie Caron (CAN/Primal Pro Women p/b BH) — 60
4. Lauren Hall (Dolores, Colo./Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies) — 55
5. Cari Higgins (Boulder, Colo./Exergy TWENTY16) — 50

Men's Team Standings
1. UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling — 311
2. Team SmartStop-Mountain Khakis — 135
3. Jamis Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home — 94
4. United Healthcare of Georgia p/b The 706 Project — 85
5. Champion System p/b Stan's NoTubes — 66

Women's Team Standings
1. Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies — 172
2. CARE4CYCLING powered by Solomon — 129
3. Primal Pro Women p/b BH — 88
4. Exergy TWENTY16 — 85
5. Team Novo Nordisk — 30
 

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

The NCC continues next week as the women rejoin the fray in Delray Beach, Fla., for the Delray Beach Twilight Festival on Saturday, March 23. The race is scheduled to be streamed live on www.SmartStop.com.


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This Article Updated March 18, 2013 @ 08:36 PM For more information contact: