The 19-event USA Cycling National Criterium Calendar had its 13th contest last weekend as the Harlem Skyscraper Criterium dominated the streets of New York City on Sunday.
MEN
Jacobe Keough (Sandwich, Mass./UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis), who won the criterium in New York City, continues his rapid ascent up the NCC men’s standings. Keough remains in second place, but he trails the leader, Hilton Clarke (AUS/UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis), by only 50 points with five events remaining for the men.
Keough’s younger brother, Luke Keough (Sandwich, Mass./Team Mountain Khakis p/b SmartStop) overtook Carlos Alzate Escobar (COL/Team Exergy) and is now in third place, 74 points behind his brother. Escobar is only five points out of third place and 94 points ahead of fifth-place Brad Huff (Springfield, Mo./Jelly Belly Cycling Team).
The top five teams in the NCC men’s team standings were not changed following the Harlem Skyscraper Criterium. UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis’ lead over the second-place Jamis-Sutter Home has grown to 536 points, but the competition is hot for the remaining spots in the standings. Jamis-Sutter Home’s margin in only 51 points ahead of third-place Team Exergy. Team Mountain Khakis p/b SmartStop is only eight points out of third place. Kenda 5 Hour Energy p/b Geargrinder rounds out the top five, 172 points out of fourth place.
WOMEN
After a brief rest from competing, the NCC women’s standings remain unchanged as Erica Allar (Tucson, Ariz./RideClean-PatentIt.com) remains the leader while Team TIBCO-To the Top remains perched atop the NCC women’s team standings.
USA Cycling NCC Standings:
Men
1. Hilton Clarke (AUS/UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis) — 478
2. Jacobe Keough (Sandwich, Mass./UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis) — 428
3. Luke Keough (Sandwich, Mass./Team Mountain Khakis p/b SmartStop) — 354
4. Carlos Alzate Escobar (COL/Team Exergy) — 349
5. Brad Huff (Springfield, Mo./Jelly Belly Cycling Team) — 255
Women
1. Erica Allar (Tucson, Ariz./RideClean-PatentIt.com) — 576
2. Laura van Gilder (Cresco, Pa./Mellow Mushroom) — 382
3. Sarah Fader (Morrisville, N.C./Pepper Palace-Spin-Tech Training p/b ABRC) — 263
4. Nicky Wangsgard (Cedar City, Utah/Primal-MapMyRider Women’s Racing) — 192
5. Christina Gokey-Smith (Denton, Texas/NOW and Novartis for MS) — 170
Men’s Team
1. UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis — 1,145
2. Jamis-Sutter Home — 609
3. Team Exergy — 558
4. Team Mountain Khakis p/b SmartStop — 550
5. Kenda 5 Hour Energy p/b Geargrinder — 378
Women’s Team
1. Team TIBCO-To the Top — 600
2. Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies — 510
3. Exergy Twenty12 — 394
4. Vanderkitten-Focus — 246
5. Primal-MapMyRider Women’s Racing — 242
