Moninger and Pic take NRC overall titles

Scott Moninger (Health Net pb Maxxis) and Tina Pic (Quark) took the men's and women's individual titles in the 2005 USA Cycling National Racing Calendar that concluded last week. Health Net presented by Maxxis claimed the men's team title for the second year in a row, with the women's title going to T-Mobile.

Moninger, who finished sixth in last year's NRC, was rewarded for his consistency, taking his first individual NRC title with 1348 points. He placed first overall in this year's San Dimas Stage Race, the Joe Martin Stage Race, the Cascade Cycling Classic, the Tour de Nez and the International Tour de Toona.

Pic defended her overall title from the 2004 NRC with 1952 points. The three-time champion won her last NRC individual title in 2000, and won her fourth consecutive national title at this year's USPRO Criterium Championships. Pic is currently competing as a member of the elite women's team at the UCI Road World Championships in Madrid, Spain.

Both Health Net presented by Maxxis won its second men's team title in a row by over 2000 points, whereas women's team champion, T-Mobile edged out Quark Cycling for first by a mere 30 points after finishing second in last year's NRC. In its ninth season of competition, this year's NRC was condensed from 56 races to 38, with 115 days of racing for men and 93 for women in 20 states around the country.

For a complete list of this year's standings, go to www.usacycling.org/nrc/

Final points standings