NTC: Kovalcik clinches as Crane and Hammer surge in standings

  
  


The USA Cycling National Track Calendar (NTC) spun into its penultimate event, the Marymoor Grand Prix at the Marymoor Velodrome in Redmond, Wash., from July 19-21. In front of record crowds of over 2,000 people, which witnessed several track records fall, the riders kicked it into high gear to claim as many precious points as possible to maximize the standings position.

Kevin Mansker celebrates winning the men's keirin. (Photo by Amara Edwards, Amara Edwards Photography)
Kevin Mansker celebrates winning the men's keirin. (Photo by Amara Edwards, Amara Edwards Photography)

Andrew Carlberg (Bryan, Texas/Team Spincycle) remains atop the NTC men's sprint standings with 73 points with only one event remaining. Kevin Mansker (Colorado Springs, Colo./Rubicon Cycling), bolstered by winning the keirin in Washington, is now in second place with 67 points. Danny Robertson (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Momentum Coaching Group p/b Atomic) slipped one spot into third place with 60 points, eight points ahead of Jonathan Fraley (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Sernity Bikes), who is in fourth place. One point behind Fraley is Jeffrey Whiteman (Chicago, Ill./George Garner Cyclery Track Team), who is in fifth place with 51 points.

Thanks in large part to a stellar performance in her home state, Tela Crane (Sammamish, Wash./JL Velo p/b Broadmark Capital) has moved into the top spot of the NTC women's sprint standings with 109 points. Crane finished second in the sprint and team sprint, third in the keirin and fourth in the time trial to gain a two-point edge on Melissa (Missy) Erickson (Alexandria, Minn./Momentum Coaching Group p/b Atomic) in the standings. Dana Feiss (Telford, Pa./Home Depot Center Team) slipped from the top spot after the U.S. Grand Prix of Sprinting into third place with 75 points. Sarah Hammer (Colorado Springs, Colo./United Performance) won the women's sprint and joined with Erickson to win the team sprint while placing second in the time trial to surge into fourth place of the standings with 48 points. Danielle Gaxiola (MEX) slipped down one spot in the standings into fifth place with 45 points.

Sarah Hammer shares her celebration with the fans at the Marymoor Velodrome. (Photo by Amara Edwards, Amara Edwards Photography)
Sarah Hammer shares her celebration with the fans at the Marymoor Velodrome. (Photo by Amara Edwards, Amara Edwards Photography)
Zachary Kovalcik (Portland, Ore./Sizzle Pie Cycling p/b Veloforma) won the team pursuit and Madison while placing second in the points race to clinch the top spot of the NTC men's endurance standings with 160 points. The second-place rider, Keith Hillier (Millbrae, Calif./Marc Pro-Strava), trails Kovalcik by 93 points. Al Urbanski (Portland, Ore./Keller Rohrback Cycling) is only one point out of second place and 19 points ahead of fourth-place William Myers (Carmichael, Calif./Marc Pro-Strava). David DePetrillo (Sammamish, Wash./Hagens Berman-Society Consulting) moved into fifth place with 42 points.

Jennifer Zierke (Millbrae, Calif./Pinnacle p/b Argon 18) contributed to winning the team pursuit to remain atop the NTC women's endurance standings with 98 points. One of Zierke's teammates in the team pursuit, Korina Huizar (Roseville, Calif./Hellyer Racing), is in second place, but has closed her deficit to six points. Huizar added top-ten finishes in the points race and the scratch race to boost her season-long total to 92 points. Kate Wilson (Los Angeles, Calif./Home Depot Center Team) moved up one spot into third place with 62 points, 17 points ahead of two riders tied for fourth place. Sarah Hammer (Colorado Springs, Colo./United Performance) and Elizabeth Newell (Oakland, Calif./NOW Cycling) are deadlocked with 45 points apiece. Hammer racked up 45 points in Washington after winning the scratch race, points race and teaming with Tela Crane (Sammamish, Wash./JL Velo p/b Broadmark Capital) to win the Madison.

 

USA Cycling NTC Standings:

Men's Sprint Standings
1. Andrew Carlberg (Bryan, Texas/Team Spincycle) — 73
2. Kevin Mansker (Colorado Springs, Colo./Rubicon Cycling) — 67
3. Danny Robertson (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Momentum Coaching Group p/b Atomic) — 60
4. Jonathan Fraley (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Serenity Bikes) — 52
5. Jeffrey Whiteman (Chicago, Ill./George Garner Cyclery Track Team) — 51

Women's Sprint Standings
1. Tela Crane (Sammamish, Wash./JL Velo p/b Broadmark Capital) — 109
2. Melissa (Missy) Erickson (Alexandria, Minn./Momentum Coaching Group p/b Atomic) — 107
3. Dana Feiss (Telford, Pa./Home Depot Center Team) — 75
4. Sarah Hammer (Colorado Springs, Colo./United Performance) — 48
5. Daniela Gaxiola (MEX) — 45

Men's Endurance Standings
1. Zachary Kovalcik (Portland, Ore./Sizzle Pie Cycling p/b Veloforma) — 160
2. Keith Hillier (Millbrae, Calif./Marc Pro-Strava) — 67
3. Al Urbanski (Portland, Ore./Keller Rohrback Cycling) — 66
4. William Myers (Carmichael, Calif./Marc Pro-Strava) — 47
5. David DiPetrillo (Sammamish, Wash./Hagens Berman-Society Consulting) — 42

Women's Endurance Standings
1. Jennifer Zierke (Millbrae, Calif./Pinnacle p/b Argon 18) — 98
2. Korina Huizar (Roseville, Calif./Hellyer Racing) — 92
3. Kate Wilson (Los Angeles, Calif./Home Depot Center Team) — 62
4. Sarah Hammer (Colorado Springs, Colo./United Performance) — 45
4. Elizabeth Newell (Oakland, Calif./NOW Cycling) — 45
 

For complete standings, visit the Pro NTC's official webpage at usacycling.org/ntc.

The 2013 edition of the NTC comes to a close Nov. 22-24 at the VELO Sports Center at the StubHub Center complex in Carson, Calif. Plenty of points will be up for grabs as sprinters will contest the match sprint and the keirin while endurance riders will compete in the points race, scratch race and Madison.


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This Article Updated July 25, 2013 @ 03:48 PM For more information contact: