NCC: New men's leader as women's standings tighten

  
  


The USA Cycling National Criterium Calendar (NCC) rolled through its tenth event of the year, the Wilmington Grand Prix in Wilmington, Del. After the dust had settled on a spectacular day of racing on Saturday, there was a new leader in the NCC men's standings.

Luke Keough topped the men's podium in Wilmington on Saturday. (Photo by Les Kipp)
Luke Keough topped the men's podium in Wilmington on Saturday. (Photo by Les Kipp)
Hilton Clarke (AUS/UnitedHealthcare) finished second to Luke Keough (Sandwich, Mass./UnitedHealthcare) in the men's race in Delaware to regain the top spot of the NCC men's standings. Carlos Alzate Escobar (COL/UnitedHealthcare), who placed seventh in the criterium, slipped into second place, 28 points behind Clarke. Shane Kline (Bally, Pa./Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis) finished third in the race and holds third place in the standings, 276 points behind Escobar and only 35 points ahead of the victorious Keough, who is in fourth place. Karl Menzies (AUS/UnitedHealthcare) rounds out the top five with 276 points, 129 points behind Keough.

The NCC women's standings are unchanged after the Wilmington Grand Prix. Erica Allar's (Tucson, Ariz./CARE4CYCLING p/b Solomon Corp) lead has grown by six points to 313 over second-place Laura van Gilder (Cresco, Pa./Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers). With 375 points, Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Cedar Springs, Mich./Fearless Femme p/b Pure Energy) has moved within 10 points of second place and 113 points clear of fourth-place Kimberley Wells (AUS/Fearless Femme p/b Pure Energy). Jennifer Purcell (Austin, Texas/Colavita-Fine Cooking) sits in fifth place with 219 points, 43 points behind Wells.

Kelly Fisher-Goodwin sprinted to victory at the Wilmington Grand Prix on Saturday. (Photo by Les Kipp)
Kelly Fisher-Goodwin sprinted to victory at the Wilmington Grand Prix on Saturday. (Photo by Les Kipp)
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling continues to flex its muscles in the NCC men's team standings with 2,108 points. Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis is in second place with 1,075 points. The race for third is heating up between three teams. Jamis-Hagens Berman holds third place with 226 points, 17 points ahead of Champion System p/b Stan's NoTubes and 20 points ahead of Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies.

CARE4CYCLING powered by Solomon Corp's lead in the NCC women's team standings has grown to 354 points over Colavita-Fine Cooking with 11 races for women remaining on the calendar. Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies moved up one spot into third place with 397 points, overtaking the fourth-place Exergy TWENTY16. Team TIBCO-To the Top remains in fifth place with 259 points, 104 points out of fourth place.

Full results from the Wilmington Grand Prix.

Check out a photo gallery from the Wilmington Grand Prix.

 

USA Cycling NCC Standings:

Men's Standings
1. Hilton Clarke (AUS/UnitedHealthcare) — 744
2. Carlos Alzate Escobar (COL/UnitedHealthcare) — 716
3. Shane Kline (Bally, Pa./Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis) — 440
4. Luke Keough (Sandwich, Mass./UnitedHealthcare) — 405
5. Karl Menzies (AUS/UnitedHealthcare) — 276

Women's Standings
1. Erica Allar (Tucson, Ariz./CARE4CYCLING powered by Solomon Corp) — 698
2. Laura Van Gilder (Cresco, Pa./Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers) — 385
3. Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Cedar Springs, Mich./Fearless Femme p/b Pure Energy) — 375
4. Kimberley Wells (AUS/Fearless Femme p/b Pure Energy) — 262
5. Jennifer Purcell (Austin, Texas/Colavita-Fine Cooking) — 219

Men's Team Standings
1. UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling — 2,108
2. Team SmartStop-Mountain Khakis — 1,075
3. Jamis Hagens Berman — 226
4. Champion System p/b Stan's NoTubes — 209
5. Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies — 206

Women's Team Standings
1. CARE4CYCLING powered by Solomon — 917
2. Colavita/Fine Cooking — 563
3. Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies — 397
4. Exergy TWENTY16 — 363
5. Team TIBCO/ To the Top — 259
 

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

The NCC continues with a men's race in New Jersey next week. On Monday, May 27, the men will compete in Middle Earth Tour of Somerville in Somerville, N.J.


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This Article Updated May 20, 2013 @ 10:39 PM For more information contact: