NRC: New men's leader; women closer after Joe Martin Stage Race

  
  


The competition atop the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar (NRC) standings is heating up as there is a new men's leader. The women's standings are tightening after the series rolled through its second event, the Joe Martin Stage Race p/b Nature Valley, in Fayetteville, Ark. The four-day stage race featured extraordinary competition and crowned deserving winners.

Chad Haga wears the yellow leaders jersey on the start line of the final day of the Joe Martin Stage Race p/b Nature Valley. (Photo by Tom Ewart)
Chad Haga wears the yellow leaders jersey on the start line of the final day of the Joe Martin Stage Race p/b Nature Valley. (Photo by Tom Ewart)
The NRC men's standings are under new leadership after the Joe Martin Stage Race as Chad Haga (Colorado Springs, Colo./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies), who defeated Mancebo by five seconds in the general classification in Arkansas, now holds the top spot with 420 points. The previous leader, Francisco Mancebo (ESP/5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda), now sits in second place with 410 points. Joseph Rosskopf (Athens, Ga./Hincapie Sportswear Development Team) placed fourth overall over the weekend to boost his total to 204 points, only four points ahead of Juan Haedo (ARG/Jamis Hagens Berman), who sits in fourth with 200 points. Luis Alberto Romero Amaran (CUB/Jamis Hagens Berman) slipped from fourth into fifth place with 170 points.

Alison Powers (Pinecliffe, Colo./NOW and Novartis for MS) remains in the top spot of the NRC women's standings with 520 points after placing second overall in the Joe Martin Stage Race. Her closest competition, Claudia Haeusler (GER/Team TIBCO/ To the Top), topped the final results in Arkansas and has racked up 360 points to move into second place, 160 points behind Powers. Joelle Numainville (CAN/Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) has moved into third place with 334 points, 120 points ahead of Lauren Stephens (Dallas, Texas/FCS-Cycling: p/b Zngine + Mr. Restore), who is in fourth place with 214 points. Tayler Wiles (Murray, Utah/Specialized-lululemon) dropped from second in the previous standings into fifth place with 180 points.

Claudia Haeusle topped the women's podium at the Joe Martin Stage Race p/b Nature Valley. (Photo by Tom Ewart)
Claudia Haeusle topped the women's podium at the Joe Martin Stage Race p/b Nature Valley. (Photo by Tom Ewart)
The top two teams in the NRC men's team standings remain deadlocked in the top spot. 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda and Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies have each accumulated 634 after two events. Jamis-Hagens Berman remains in third place with 324 points and Hincapie Sportswear Development Team holds onto fourth place with 424 points. Elbowz Racing has overtaken Champion System p/b Stan's NoTubes for fifth position with 202 points.

Following the Joe Martin Stage Race, Team TIBCO-To the Top has nearly reeled in the top spot of the NRC women's team standings. Team TIBCO-To the Top was in third place following the Redlands Bicycle Classic and has jumped into second place with 674 points, only 46 points behind the leaders, NOW and Novartis for MS. Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies moved into the top five, occupying third place with 488 points. The women from FCS-Cycling: p/b Zngine Mr. Restore hold a 30-point cushion on Specialized-lululemon for fourth place with 264 and 234 points, respectively.

Full results from the Joe Martin Stage Race p/b Nature Valley.

 

USA Cycling NRC Standings:

Men
1. Chad Haga (Colorado Springs, Colo./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) — 420
2. Francisco Mancebo (ESP/5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda) — 410
3. Joseph Rosskopf (Athens, Ga./Hincapie Sportswear Development Team) — 204
4. Juan Haedo (ARG/Jamis Hagens Berman) — 200
5. Luis Alberto Romero Amaran (CUB/Jamis Hagens Berman) — 170

Women
1. Alison Powers (Pinecliffe, Colo./NOW and Novartis for MS) — 520
2. Claudia Haeusler (GER/Team TIBCO/ To the Top) — 360
3. Joelle Numainville (CAN/Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) — 334
4. Lauren Stephens (Dallas, Texas/FCS-Cycling: p/b Zngine + Mr. Restore) — 214
5. Tayler Wiles (Murray, Utah/Specialized-lululemon) — 180

Men's Team
1. Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies — 634
1. 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda — 634
3. Jamis Hagens Berman — 492
4. Hincapie Sportswear Development Team — 424
5. Elbowz Racing — 202

Women's Team
1. NOW and Novartis for MS — 720
2. Team TIBCO/ To the Top — 674
3. Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies — 488
4. FCS-Cycling: p/b Zngine Mr. Restore — 264
5. Specialized-lululemon — 234
 

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

The NRC continues this week as riders travel to New Mexico to contest Silver City's Tour of the Gila powered by SRAM from May 1-5.


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This Article Updated April 29, 2013 @ 10:03 PM For more information contact: