NRC: Powers’ special season continues at Elk Grove

  
  


Alison Powers stands atop the podium as the winner of the NRC women's standings. (Photo Copyright 2013 Von R Buzard)
Alison Powers stands atop the podium as the winner of the NRC women's standings. (Photo Copyright 2013 Von R Buzard)
The women's portion of the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar (NRC) concluded Sunday as the Alexian Brothers Tour of Elk Grove, in Elk Grove Village, Ill., ended. With standings spots still up for grabs, the competition went up as the riders contested a three-stage, three-day race from Aug. 2-4.

Alison Powers' (Pinecliffe, Colo./NOW and Novartis for MS) stellar season continued in Elk Grove last weekend as she secured the top spot of the NRC women's standings. Powers, who won the women's race at the 2013 USA Cycling Professional Criterium National Championships on July 27, finished third in the general classification to overtake Claudia Haeusler (GER/Team TIBCO-To the Top) and clinch the top spot of the standings with 1,108 points. Haeusler dropped one spot into second place with 1,054 points, only 36 points ahead of Shelley Olds (Gilroy, Calif./Team TIBCO-To the top), who topped the women's GC. Joelle Numainville (CAN/Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies), who finished second, only three seconds behind Olds, remains in fourth place with 848 points while Mara Abbott (Boulder, Colo./Exergy TWENTY16) rounds out the top five with 624 points.

Since the men's race did not accrue points toward the NRC men's standings, the top five remains the same. Francisco Mancebo (ESP/5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda) has secured the top spot with 814 points. Chad Haga (Colorado Springs, Colo./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) sits in second place with 554 points, only 36 points ahead of Joseph Rosskopf (Athens, Ga./Hincapie Sportsweat Development Team). Serghei Tvetcov (MOLDVOA/Jelly Belly Cycling) is in fourth place with 428 points, only 48 points ahead of Jesse Anthony (Beverly, Mass./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies), who holds fifth place.

The women of Team TIBCO-To the Top claim the trophy as the winners of the NRC women's team standings. (Photo Copyright 2013 Von R Buzard)
The women of Team TIBCO-To the Top claim the trophy as the winners of the NRC women's team standings. (Photo Copyright 2013 Von R Buzard)
The riders from Team TIBCO-To the Top fortified the team's position atop the NRC women's team standings with a pair of riders in the top five in Elk Grove Village. Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies held on to second place with 1,920 points despite a strong, late push from NOW and Novartis for MS, which also placed two riders in the top five in Illinois to finish with 1,806 points. Exergy TWENTY16 placed fourth with 1,262 points while Specialized-lululemon rounds out the top five with 738 points.

As the individual standings, the NRC men's team standings also remain stagnant. Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies holds a 560-point cushion on 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda in the race for the top spot. Jamis Hagens Berman leads a three-team battle for third place with 966 points. Hincapie Sportswear Development Team holds fourth place with 850 points and Jelly Belly Cycling is in fifth place with 808 points.


 

Full results from the Tour of Elk Grove.

 

USA Cycling NRC Standings:

Men's Standings
1. Francisco Mancebo (ESP/5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda) — 814
2. Chad Haga (Colorado Springs, Colo./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) — 554
3. Joseph Rosskopf (Athens, Ga./Hincapie Sportswear Development Team) — 518
4. Serghei Tvetcov (MOLDOVA/Jelly Belly Cycling) — 428
5. Jesse Anthony (Beverly, Mass./Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) — 380

Women's Standings
1. Alison Powers (Pinecliffe, Colo./NOW and Novartis for MS) — 1,108
2. Claudia Haeusler (GER/Team TIBCO-To the Top) — 1,054
3. Shelley Olds (Gilroy, Calif./Team TIBCO-To the Top) — 1,018
4. Joelle Numainville (CAN/Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) — 848
5. Mara Abbott (Boulder, Colo./Exergy TWENTY16) — 624

Men's Team Standings
1. Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies — 1,720
2. 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda — 1,160
3. Jamis Hagens Berman — 966
4. Hincapie Sportswear Development Team — 850
5. Jelly Belly Cycling — 808

Women's Team Standings
1. Team TIBCO-To the Top — 2,922
2. Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies — 1,920
3. NOW and Novartis for MS — 1,806
4. Exergy TWENTY16 — 1,262
5. Specialized-lululemon — 738
 

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

The calendar concludes on Sept. 7 with the Thompson Bucks County Classic in Doylestown, Pa., where the men will have their final chance to compete for precious standings points.


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This Article Updated August 7, 2013 @ 09:33 PM For more information contact: