July 26, 2011

NRC: Cascade Cycling Classic creates chaos in men's and women's standings

The USA Cycling National Racing Calendar (NRC) rode through the Cascade Cycling Classic in Bend, Ore., last week. The five-day event shook up the men's and women's standings.

Men

(From left) Best Young rider and second overall Lachlan Morton, overall winner Francisco Mancebo, and third overall Jeremy Vennell. (Photos by Pat Malach, www.Oregon.CyclingAction.com)

Francisco Mancebo (ESP/Realcyclist.com) used three top-three finishes, including winning Thursday's time trial, to top the general classification of the Cascade Cycling Classic and increase his lead atop the men's NRC standings. With seven events remaining for the men, Mancebo leads second-place rider Jacobe Keough (Sandwich, Mass./UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling) by 299 points. Frank Pipp (Boulder, Colo./Bissell Pro Cycling) overcame a 30-point deficit to tie Jonathan Cantwell (AUS/PureBlack Racing) for third place with 460 points, 63 points behind Keough. Christopher Baldwin (Boulder, Colo./Bissell Pro Cycling) moved from 12th into fifth place with 397 points after placing sixth at the Cascade Cycling Classic.

In addition to winning Thursday's time trial, Mancebo placed second in Wednesday's 74-mile road race and third in Friday's 84-mile road race. Lachlan Morton (Boulder, Colo./Chipotle Development Team) placed second in the general classification while Jeremy Vennell (NZL/Bissell Pro Cycling) finished third. Morton finished in the top five twice, including placing second in the final event, an 83-mile circuit race.

The top four of the men's team NRC standings are unchanged. After placing two riders in the top five of the Cascade Cycling Classic general classification, Bissell has expanded its lead to 366 points over second-place UnitedHealthcare. Jamis-Sutter Home, which is 289 points behind UnitedHealthcare in third place, has a 318-point cushion on Team Exergy. Realcyclist.com overtook PureBlack Racing for fifth place and is only two points behind Team Exergy for fourth.

COMING UP

There are two events in the upcoming week in the NRC. On July 30, the Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium will take place in Charlotte, N.C. The Tour de Nez is the next day in Reno, Nev.

Women

Anne Samplonius wins the final stage, but Janel Holcomb collected the overall prize and the NRC lead. (Photos by Pat Malach, www.Oregon.CyclingAction.com)

With only seven events remaining on the women's calendar, Janel Holcomb (San Diego, Calif./Colavita-Forno d'Asolo) has regained her perch atop the women's NRC standings after topping the general classification at the Cascade Cycling Classic. Holcomb placed in the top 10 in four of the six events that comprise the Cascade Cycling Classic, including placing second in Sunday's 67-mile road race. Holcomb now holds a 134-point advantage over Amber Neben (Lake Forest, Calif./HTC-Highroad Women), who sits in second place. Erinne Willock (CAN/Team TIBCO to the Top) is 83 points behind Neben and only 36 points ahead of Kristin Armstrong-Savola (Boise, Idaho/Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY 12). Clara Hughes (CAN/Cycling BC) rounds out the top five only eight points behind Armstrong-Savola.

Holcomb opened the event finishing 16th in the two-mile individual time trial before placing ninth in the 74-mile road race. She was sixth in the 14-mile individual time trial spanning 14 miles before crossing in ninth place in the 71-mile stage race. After finishing 21st in the 23-mile criterium she rebounded to place second in the 67-mile road race to complete the event and secure her top spot in the general classification and women's NRC standings.

Colavita-Forno d'Asolo added to its lead in the women's team NRC standings, holding a 859-point edge on Team TIBCO to the Top. HTC-Highroad Women is in third place, 712 points behind Team TIBCO to the Top. Diadora Pasta Zara is in fourth place, 104 points ahead of the fifth-place Primal-MapMyRider Women's Racing, but 798 points behind HTC-Highroad Women.

COMING UP:

The women also have two events in the upcoming week as they will compete in the Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium on July 30 in Charlotte, N.C., before contesting the Tour de Nez the next day in Reno, Nev.

NRC standings

Trio tops National Time Trial Calendar standings

The USA Cycling National Time Trial Calendar (NTTC) in its first year has been hotly contested. There are three men tied atop the men's NTTC standings while Carmen Small (Durango, Colo./Team TIBCO to the Top) has a five-point lead over three women tied for second place in the women's NTTC standings.

The next event on the NTTC is the Masters Road National Championships Time Trial in Bend, Ore., on Aug. 31.

NTTC standings

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