NRC: Alison Powers to women's lead, Mancebo tops men

  
  


The USA Cycling National Racing Calendar (NRC) started its 2013 season with the Redlands Bicycle Classic presented by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians in California. After four spectacular days of racing, Francisco Mancebo (ESP/5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda) and Alison Powers (Pinecliffe, Colo./NOW and Novartis for MS) emerged atop the men's and women's standings, respectively.

The men celebrate being on the podium at the 2013 Redlands Bicycle Classic presented by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. (Photo by Mark Foist)
The men celebrate being on the podium at the 2013 Redlands Bicycle Classic presented by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. (Photo by Mark Foist)

The NRC men's standings are topped by a familiar face to open the 2013 season. Mancebo topped the general classification to earn 200 standings points. He added 10 points for placing third in Friday's road race to amass 210 standings points and lead Chad Haga (Colorado Springs, Colo./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) by 20 points after the first of eight races. Haga finished second overall after winning Thursday's time trial to record his points. Thomas Zirbel (Boulder, Colo./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) is in fourth place with 154 points, only 14 points ahead of Luis Roberto Romero Amaran (CUB/Jamis Hagens Berman), who is in fourth place with 140 points. David Williams (Grand Rapids, Mich./5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda), who rounds out the top five with 124 points.

Powers was dominant throughout the stage race, topping the general classification after winning the time trial, road race, criterium and amassing the most sprint points. In all, Powers earned 340 points to lead the NRC women's standings by 160 points. Tayler Wiles (Murray, Utah/Specialized-lululemon) finished second in the general classification and time trial to earn 180 points, placing her second in the standings. Rhae-Christie Shaw (CAN/Vanderkitten-Focus), who placed third overall and in Thursday's time trial to record 134 points, earning only four more points than Joanne Kiesanowski (NZL/Team TIBCO-To the Top). Amber Neben (Lake Forest, Calif./The Dare to Be Project) is in fifth place with 114 points.

Alison Powers dominated the women's field at the 2013 Redlands Bicycle Classic presented by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. (Photo by Kathy Jo Lorenz)
Alison Powers dominated the women's field at the 2013 Redlands Bicycle Classic presented by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. (Photo by Kathy Jo Lorenz)

The NRC men's team standings show 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda and Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies with 344 points apiece. 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda holds a slight edge due to better placement at the Redlands Bicycle Classic presented by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Jamis Hagens Berman sits in third place with 324 points. Hincapie Sportswear Development Team is in fourth place with 106 points and Champion System p/b Stan's NoTubes is in fifth place with 80 points.

Led largely by Powers' stellar week of racing, NOW and Novartis for MS tops the NRC women's team standings with 400 points. Powers collected 340 of the team's 400 points to help it build a 166-point cushion in the standings over Specialized-lululemon. Team TIBCO-To the Top sits in third place with 230 points, only four points out of second place. Exergy TWENTY16 is in fourth place with 166 points, while Vanderkitten-Focus is in fifth place with 152.
 

Full results from the Redlands Bicycle Classic presented by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

 

USA Cycling NRC Standings:

Men
1. Francisco Mancebo (ESP/5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda) — 210
2. Chad Haga (Colorado Springs, Colo./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) — 190
3. Thomas Zirbel (Boulder, Colo./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) — 154
4. Luis Alberto Romero Amaran (CUB/Jamis Hagens Berman) — 140
5. David Williams (Grand Rapids, Mich./5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda) — 124

Women
1. Alison Powers (Pinecliffe, Colo./NOW and Novartis for MS) — 340
2. Tayler Wiles (Murray, Utah/Specialized-lululemon) — 180
3. Rhae-Christie Shaw (CAN/Vanderkitten-Focus) — 134
4. Joanne Kiesanowski (NZL/Team TIBCO-To the Top) — 130
5. Amber Neben (Lake Forest, Calif./The Dare to Be Project) — 114

Men's Team
1. 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda — 344
1. Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies — 344
3. Jamis Hagens Berman — 324
4. Hincapie Sportswear Development Team — 106
5. Champion System p/b Stan's NoTubes — 80

Women's Team
1. NOW and Novartis for MS — 400
2. Specialized-lululemon — 234
3. Team TIBCO-To the Top — 230
4. Exergy TWENTY16 — 166
5. Vanderkitten-Focus — 152
 

For complete standings, visit the NRC's official webpage at usacycling.org/nrc.

The NRC continues with another stalwart race, as road races head to Fayetteville, Ark., to contest the Joe Martin Stage Race presented by Nature Valley from April 25-28.


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This Article Updated April 9, 2013 @ 09:13 PM For more information contact: