Cares and Blasi take over US Pro XCT lead

Colin Cares (Kenda-Felt) and Zephanie Blasi (WXC World Racing) took over the USA Cycling US Pro Cross Country Tour lead after finishing second in last weekend's US Cup Triple Crown - Bonelli Park. Both riders move into the top spots after combining silver with a 13th-place finish in last week's Mellow Johnny's Classic.

With his absence Max Plaxton (Specialized Racing) fell into a points deadlock with Raphael Gagne (Rocky MTN Factory), but retained second place due to his victory at Mellow Johnny's. A similar scenario on the women's side shows Catharine Pendrel (Team Luna Chix) holding on to second place in the US Pro XCT standings over Erin Huck (Tokyo Joe's).

The Subaru-Trek squad and the Kenda/Felt Pro MTB Team moved into one and two on the team standings respectively after a strong showing at Bonelli.

The second of five 2012 events on the US Pro XCT, Bonelli saw a host of new faces at the front of the pack, and first time winners in both fields with the absence of many of last week's top 10 riders opting to prepare for the upcoming World Cup next weekend in South Africa. In the women’s race, local Allison Mann (Sho-Air-Specialized) made the best of home track knowledge and rode away to a convincing solo win to earn the first US Pro XCT victory of her career. Behind Mann, a see-saw battle finally broke apart late in the five-lap race with Blasi racing ahead for silver. Huck, Jamie Busch and Andreanne Pichette (Opus-OGC-Equipe Queb) who was the first U23 women's rider on the day, rounded out the top five.

In the elite men's race, nearly 70 men rolled to the line to do battle in the heat of the unseasonably warm day. Mexico's Ignacio Torres (Turbo) grabbed the bull by the horns leading the first lap. In pursuit was Torres’ teammate Emmanuel Valencia, chased by Cannondale's Alex Grant, Sho-Air/Specialized's Brendon Davids and Cares. Davids was the first to make a mistake, as a dropped chain late into lap one put the young rider back outside the top 10. Meanwhile, Torres began to extend his lead pushing a furious pace.

On the third of six laps, riders began to spread as the hot weather and technical course took its toll. Meanwhile Torres quietly extended his lead, looking comfortable and cruising to a 20-second victory and his first US Pro XCT win. Cares followed in second, followed by a surging Gagne, Valencia and young Kerry Werner (BMC MTB Dev. Team), who rounded out the top five, and earned the title of top U23 rider.

See Cyclingnews' full coverage of the Bonelli Park US Pro XCT round.

US Pro XCT Standings after two rounds

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Elite men standings
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Colin Cares (USA) Kenda/Felt240pts
2Max Plaxton (Can) Specialized Racing200Row 1 - Cell 3
3Raphael Gagne (Can) Rocky Mountain Factory200Row 2 - Cell 3
4Geoff Kabush (Can) Scott-3Rox190Row 3 - Cell 3
5Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Racing180Row 4 - Cell 3
6Ignacio Torres (Mex) Turbo170Row 5 - Cell 3
6Derek Zandstra (Can) Scott-3 Rox Racing170Row 6 - Cell 3
8Sam Schultz (USA) Subaru-Trek160Row 7 - Cell 3
9Jeremiah Bishop (USA) Cannondale Factory Racing150Row 8 - Cell 3
10Adam Craig (USA) Giant Rabo Bank140Row 9 - Cell 3
10Emmanuel Valencia (Mex) Turbo140Row 10 - Cell 3
12Ryan Woodall (USA) Top Gear Bicycles/Mtfmx.Com140Row 11 - Cell 3
13Kerry Werner (USA) BMC Mountainbike Development Team Usa138Row 12 - Cell 3
14Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru-Trek130Row 13 - Cell 3
15Russell Finsterwald (USA) Subaru-Trek130Row 14 - Cell 3
16Brendon Davids (RSA) Sho-Air/Specialized125Row 15 - Cell 3
17Spencer Paxson (USA) Team S&M120Row 16 - Cell 3
18Menso De  Jong (USA) Santa Cruz Bicycles115Row 17 - Cell 3
19Antoine Caron (Can) Subway-Genetik100Row 18 - Cell 3
20Alex Grant (USA) Cannondale Factory Racing90Row 19 - Cell 3
20Jason Sager (USA) Team Jamis90Row 20 - Cell 3
22Tj Woodruff (USA) Momtentum Endurance Arizona Cyclist86Row 21 - Cell 3
23Rotem Ishay (Isr) Team Jamis85Row 22 - Cell 3
24Cameron Jette (Can) Scott-3 Rox Racing70Row 23 - Cell 3
25Carl Decker (USA) Giant Factory Team55Row 24 - Cell 3
26Peter Glassford (Can) Momentum Endurance50Row 25 - Cell 3
27Evan Guthrie (Can) Team Canada45Row 26 - Cell 3
28Kris Sneddon (Can) Kona40Row 27 - Cell 3
29Victor Alber (USA) Super Cool Bike Shop/American Classic35Row 28 - Cell 3
30Howard Grotts (USA) Specialized30Row 29 - Cell 3
30Jeremy Martin (Can)30Row 30 - Cell 3
32Adam Morka (Can) Trek Canada28Row 31 - Cell 3
33Ben Bostrom (USA) Sho-Air/Specialized27Row 32 - Cell 3
34Payson Mcelveen (USA) Rock Mountain Chocolate Factory Devo24Row 33 - Cell 3
35Macky Franklin (USA) Orbea Tuff Shed23Row 34 - Cell 3
36Bryan Alders (USA) Epic Pro Cycling Team22Row 35 - Cell 3
37Seamus Powell (USA) Giant-Mid Atlantic Mtb Team20Row 36 - Cell 3
37Dana Weber (USA) Pro Bike Supply20Row 37 - Cell 3
39Zachary Valdez (USA) Whole Athlete-Specialized19Row 38 - Cell 3
40Cody Canning (Can) Trek Red Truck P/B Mosaic Homes16Row 39 - Cell 3
41Tyson Wagler (Can) Scott-3Roxracing13Row 40 - Cell 3
42Andy Schultz (USA) Kenda-Felt12Row 41 - Cell 3
43Kalan Beisel (USA) Orbea Tuff Shed11Row 42 - Cell 3
44Bryan Fawley (USA) Orbea Tuff Shed10Row 43 - Cell 3
45Matt Gordon (USA) Team Cycle Progression9Row 44 - Cell 3
46Robert Marion (USA) American Classic/Xpedo P/B Max7Row 45 - Cell 3
47Brennan Wodtli (USA)6Row 46 - Cell 3
48Blake Harlan (USA) Ya Gotta Giv'r3Row 47 - Cell 3
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Elite women standings
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Zephanie Blasi (USA) Wxc World Racing240pts
3Erin Huck (USA) Tokyo Joes200Row 1 - Cell 3
2Catherine Pendrel (Can) Team Luna Chix200Row 2 - Cell 3
4Judy Freeman (USA) Crankbrothers Race Club190Row 3 - Cell 3
5Monique Mata (USA) Sho-Air/Specialized180Row 4 - Cell 3
6Erica Tingey (USA) Kuhl/Rocky Mountain175Row 5 - Cell 3
7Katie Compton (USA) Giant Rabobank Team170Row 6 - Cell 3
7Allison Mann (USA) Sho-Air/Specialized170Row 7 - Cell 3
9Mariske Strauss (RSA) Pepper Palace.Spin-Tech Training170Row 8 - Cell 3
10Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team160Row 9 - Cell 3
11Sarah Kaufman (USA) Stan's No Tube Elite Women's Team160Row 10 - Cell 3
12Lea Davidson (USA) Specialized Racing150Row 11 - Cell 3
13Jamie Busch (USA)140Row 12 - Cell 3
13Heather Irmiger (USA) Subaru/Trek140Row 13 - Cell 3
15Emily Batty (Can) Subaru-Trek130Row 14 - Cell 3
15Andreanne Pichette (Can) Opus-Ogc/Equipe Quebec130Row 15 - Cell 3
17Sage Wilderman (USA) Kenda/Felt125Row 16 - Cell 3
18Chloe Woodruff (USA) Crankbrothers Race Club 11120Row 17 - Cell 3
19Amanda Sin (Can) Scott-3 Rox Racing110Row 18 - Cell 3
20Daniela Chavz (Mex)100Row 19 - Cell 3
20Jennifer Smith (NZl) Trek/Vw100Row 20 - Cell 3
22Cayley Brooks (Can)60Row 21 - Cell 3
23Vicky Barclay (USA) Stans No Tubes Women50Row 22 - Cell 3
24Lisa Uranga (USA) Pacc45Row 23 - Cell 3
25Christina Gokey-­-Smith (USA) Colonels/Sho-Air40Row 24 - Cell 3
25Valerie Maunier (Can)40Row 25 - Cell 3
27Meghan Korol (USA) Pepper Palace.Spin-Tech Training35Row 26 - Cell 3
28Liz Carrington (USA) Bear Valley Bikes30Row 27 - Cell 3
28Haley Smith (Can) Team Canada30Row 28 - Cell 3
30Melanie Long (USA) Tough Girl/ Scott28Row 29 - Cell 3
31Andreane Lanthier  Nadea (Can) Rocky Mountain Factory20Row 30 - Cell 3
32Anna Fortner (USA) The Team-Socalcross15Row 31 - Cell 3
33Kaila Hart (USA) No Tubes Elite Women12Row 32 - Cell 3
34Caeli Barron (Can) Cynergy Racing9Row 33 - Cell 3
35Alicia  Rose Pastore (USA) BMC MTB Development Stans No Tubes7Row 34 - Cell 3
36Vanessa Humic (USA)5Row 35 - Cell 3
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Team standings
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Subaru-Trek55pts
2Kenda/Felt  Pro  MTB  Team51Row 1 - Cell 3
3Team  Luna  Chix46Row 2 - Cell 3
4BMC  MTB  Development  Team46Row 3 - Cell 3
5Specialized  Racing45Row 4 - Cell 3
6Orbea-Tuff Shed9Row 5 - Cell 3
7Giant  Factory  Off‐Road  TeamRow 6 - Cell 2 Row 6 - Cell 3
8Honey  Stinger‐Bontrager  Off-RoadRow 7 - Cell 2 Row 7 - Cell 3

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