NCC: UnitedHealthcare clinches as Clarke assumes lead

  
  


The UnitedHealthcare team prepares to lead out Hilton Clarke at the Herman Miller Brickyard Classic in Grand Rapids. (Photo by Randy Cleves)
The UnitedHealthcare team prepares to lead out Hilton Clarke at the Herman Miller Brickyard Classic in Grand Rapids. (Photo by Randy Cleves)
The USA Cycling National Criterium Calendar (NCC) completed its 17th event of the season as riders contested the Herman Miller Brickyard Classic in Grand Rapids, Mich. With only seven events remaining on the calendar, the riders performed to the best of their abilities, providing a sensational day of racing yielding a new standings leader and secured a standings champion.

Hilton Clarke (AUS/UnitedHealthcare) has regained the top spot of the NCC men's standings after winning the men's race in Grand Rapids. Clarke surged ahead of his teammate Carlos Alzate Escobar (COL/UnitedHealthcare) by six points with only seven races remaining on the men's calendar. Luke Keough (Sandwich, Mass./UnitedHealthcare) remains in third place with 887 points, 195 points ahead of Karl Menzies (AUS/UnitedHealthcare), who sits in fourth with 692 points. Shane Kline (Bally, Pa./Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis) holds fifth place with 577 points.

Erica Allar (Tucson, Ariz./CARE4CYCLING powered by Solomon Corp) strengthened her grip on the top spot of the NCC women's standings after winning the women's race in Grand Rapids. Allar now leads the women with 977, 197 points ahead of the new second-place rider, Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Cedar Springs, Mich./Fearless Femme p/b Pure Energy Cycling-Vie13), who placed second in the race on Saturday. Laura van Gilder (Cresco, Pa./Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers) dropped one spot in the standings into third place with 717 points, 67 points behind Cliff-Ryan. Jennifer Purcell (Austin, Texas/Colavita-Fine Cooking) remains in fourth place with 500 points, only 23 points ahead of Kimberley Wells (AUS/Fearless Femme p/b Pure Energy Cycling-Vie13), who holds fifth place.

With a stellar performance from the beginning of the NCC, UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling has secured the top spot of the NCC men's team standings with 3,925 points. Team SmartStop-Mountain Khakis remains in second place with 1,454 points, 808 points ahead of Jamis Hagens Berman, which is sitting in third place. Jelly Belly Cycling is still in fourth place with 332 points, 50 points ahead of Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies.

CARE4CYCLING powered by Solomon Corp extended its lead atop the NCC women's team standings and now has 1,399 points, 491 points ahead of the second-place team, Colavita-Fine Cooking. Team TIBCO-To the Top holds third place with 790 points, 108 points ahead of the new fourth-place team, Fearless Femme p/b Pure Energy Cycling Vie13. Exergy TWENTY16 slipped down one spot into fifth place with 589 points.

Check out a photo gallery from the Herman Miller Brickyard Classic.

Full results of the Herman Miller Brickyard Classic.

 

USA Cycling NCC Standings:

Men's Standings
1. Hilton Clarke (AUS/UnitedHealthcare) — 1,227
2. Carlos Alzate Escobar (COL/UnitedHealthcare) — 1,221
3. Luke Keough (Sandwich, Mass./UnitedHealthcare) — 887
4. Karl Menzies (AUS/UnitedHealthcare) — 692
5. Shane Kline (Bally, Pa./Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis) — 577

Women's Standings
1. Erica Allar (Tucson, Ariz./CARE4CYCLING powered by Solomon Corp) — 977
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) — 717
4. Jennifer Purcell (Austin, Texas/Colavita-Fine Cooking) — 500
5. Kimberly Wells (AUS/Fearless Femme p/b Pure Energy) — 477

Men's Team Standings
1. UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling — 3,925*
2. Team SmartStop-Mountain Khakis — 1,454
3. Jamis Hagens Berman — 646
4. Jelly Belly Cycling — 332
5. Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies — 282

Women's Team Standings
1. CARE4CYCLING powered by Solomon — 1,399
2. Colavita-Fine Cooking — 908
3. Team TIBCO-To the Top — 790
4. Fearless Femme p/b Pure Energy Cycling Vie13 — 682
5. Exergy TWENTY16 — 589

* — clinched standings lead
 

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

Plenty of points will be available in the upcoming week as the NCC continues with a pair of events — one on each coast. On July 6, the men will compete in the Iron Hill Twilight Criterium in West Chester, Pa., before the women rejoin the racing in Manhattan Beach, Calif., to contest the Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix on July 7.


Related Articles



This Article Updated July 1, 2013 @ 11:00 PM For more information contact: