Australians, Argentines excel in Boise; Amaran extends overall lead in men’s NRC standings

Boise, Idaho — USA Cycling continued the men’s portion of its 2010 National Racing Calendar on Saturday (July 17) with the Wells Fargo Twilight Criterium.

Overall leader Luis Amaran (CUB/Jamis Sutter Home-Colavita) finished 45th in Boise, but he was able to extend his advantage over Scott Zwizanski (Mill Valley, Calif./Kelly Benefit Strategies), who did not enter the event and remained second. Rory Sutherland (AUS/United HealthCare p-b Maxxis) stands third after skipping Saturday’s race. Amaran’s Jamis Sutter Home-Colavita squad continues to lead the men’s team competition.

Since the Boise Twilight Criterium was a men’s-only event, the women’s NRC standings remain unchanged. Cath Cheatley (NZL/Colavita-Baci Pro Cycling) leads the individual competition by 93 points over Alison Powers (Pinecliffe, Colo./Team Vera Bradley Foundation), while Shelley Evans (Scotts Valley, Calif./Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty 12) is third. Powers’ squad leads Cheatley’s by 62 points in the team standings.

Below are the men’s and women’s overall standings for individuals and teams in the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar after 17 of 23 events:

Men’s Individual Standings
1. Luis Amaran (CUB/Jamis Sutter Home-Colavita) 663
2. Ben Day (Boulder, Colo./Fly V Australia) 428
3. Ben Jacques-Maynes (Watsonville, Calif./Bissell Pro Cycling) 365
4. Alejandro Borrajo (ARG/Jamis Sutter Home/Colavita) 272
5. Levi Leipheimer (Santa Rosa, Calif./Team Mellow Johnny’s) 265

Women’s Individual Standings
1. Allison Powers (Pinecliffe, Colo./Team Vera Bradley Foundation) 568
2. Laura Van Gilder (Cresco, Pa./Mellow Mushroom) 459
3. Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (GER/HTC Columbia) 424
4. Mara Abbott (Boulder, Colo./Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty 12) 381
5. Katheryn Mattis (Mountain View, Calif./Webcor) 335

Men’s Team Standings
1. Jamis Sutter Home/Colavita 1152
2. Fly V Australia 1072
3. Bissell Pro Cycling 790
4. United Health Care p/b Maxxis 755
5. Jelly Belly p/b Kenda 732

Women’s Team Standings
1. Team Vera Bradley Foundation 1506
2. TIBCO 941
3. Colavita/Baci p/b Cooking Light 940
4. Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty 12 926
5. Webcor 661

The NRC will continue this week in Bend, Ore., with men’s and women’s races Tuesday-Sunday at the Cascade Classic.