Pro XCT: Wells clinches title with WORS Cup victory

  
  


Todd Wells clinched the Pro XCT title with his win at the 2014 WORS Cup
Todd Wells clinched the Pro XCT title with his win at the 2014 WORS Cup. (photo by Dave Reich)
(July 17, 2014) -- Todd Wells (Durango, Colo./Specialized Factory Racing) sewed up the 2014 men's title of the USA Cycling Pro Mountain Bike Cross-Country Tour (Pro XCT) by riding to a 27-second victory at the penultimate event of this year's tour, the WORS Cup in Portage, Wis.
 
It marked back-to-back wins for Wells at Pro XCT events and gave him an insurmountable lead in the men's Pro XCT standings. Wells was coming off a June 28 victory at the Colorado Springs event. With one event remaining on the calendar, Wells has accumulated 1150 points. The next three riders in the standings, all from Canada, did not compete at the WORS Cup but held their respective spots in the standings. Geoff Kabush (CAN/Scott-3Rox) is in second place with 815 points, followed by Max Plaxton (CAN/Cannondale Factory Racing) with 665 and Derek Zandstra (CAN/3-Rox Racing) with 560. Moving into the men's top five by virtue of a sixth-place finish at the WORS Cup was Russell Finsterwald (Colorado Springs, Colo./SRAM-Troy Lee Design) who now has tallied 532 points.

 
Evelyn Dong's win at the 2014 WORS Cup moved her into second place in the Pro XCT standings
Evelyn Dong's win at the 2014 WORS Cup moved her into second place in the Pro XCT standings. (photo by Dave Reich)
Also solidifying overall victory in the Pro XCT standings for 2014 was women's leader Katerina Nash (CZE/Luna Pro Team). Despite not competing at the WORS Cup, Nash's 1200 points in the Pro XCT women's standings give her enough of a cushion to claim the season title prior to the final event. Vaulting from fourth place to second place in the women's standings was Evelyn Dong (Salt Lake City, Utah). Dong won the women's race at the WORS cup by a margin of 1 minute, 38 seconds to earn 250 points in the standings for a total of 915. Catharine Pendrel (CAN/Luna Pro Team), who also did not compete last weekend, dropped to third place with 800 points. Runner-up to Dong at the WORS Cup, Erin Huck (Boulder, Colo./Tokyo Joe's-VCGraphix.com), moved into the top five with 780 points to put her fourth, while idle Emily Batty (CAN/Trek Factory Racing) falls from third to fifth with 675 points.
 
Team
The Luna Pro Team remains in the top spot in the Pro XCT team standings with 2050 points. Specialized Racing added 335 points at the WORS Cup to increase its total to 1575 and hold on to second place in the standings. The top five is filled out by Trek Factory Racing with 1125, Sho-Air/Cannondale with 749, and SRAM/TLD Racing with 532 points.

Full results from WORS Cup

Photo Gallery

 
  USA Cycling Pro XCT Standings:

Men
1. Todd Wells (Durango, Colo./Specialized Racing) — 1150
2. Geoff Kabush (CAN/Scott-3Rox Racing) — 815
3. Max Plaxton (CAN/Cannondale Factory Team) — 665
4. Derek Zandstra (CAN/3-Rox Racing) — 560
5. Russell Finsterwald (Colorado Springs, Colo./SRAM-Troy Lee Designs) — 532

Women
1. Katerina Nash (CZE/Luna Pro Team) — 1200
2. Evelyn Dong (Salt Lake City, Utah/Backcountry.com) — 915
3. Catherine Pendrel (CAN/Luna Pro Team) — 800
4. Erin Huck (Boulder, Colo./Tokyo Joe's-VCGraphix.com) — 780
5. Emily Batty (CAN/Trek Factory Racing) — 675 

Team
1. Luna Pro Team — 2050
2. Specialized Racing — 1575
3. Trek Factory — 1125
4. Sho-Air/Cannondale — 749
5. SRAM-TLD Racing — 532

Complete Pro XCT Standings
 
   

The Pro XCT concludes July 26 with the Specialized Catamount Classic in Williston, Vt.

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This Article Updated July 17, 2014 @ 09:06 PM For more information contact: