Toona tightens men's and women's NRC standings

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With nine events remaining on USA cycling’s NRC, the overall rankings have become tighter than ever. The biggest mover was Frank Pipp (Bissell Pro Cycling) who jumped from seventh to third place after a solid ride in the Tour de Toona.

Pipp finished sixth in the race but due to the non-participation of current NRC leader, Francisco Mancebo, the American was able to claw back much of the Realcyclist.com’s advantage. Jacobe Keough (UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling) currently lying in second also closed on Mancebo after continuing his successful 2011 season with third place in the Glencoe Grand Prix at the end of June.

Mancebo’s Realcyclist.com team didn’t race the Tour de Toona and thus it unsurprising to see the Spaniards overall lead being diminished. Mancebo had a stellar start to the season, and has said publicly that he is aiming for some of the stage races in the second half of the American summer.

Bissell Pro Cycling assumed the lead in the men's team standings and now holds a 57-point edge on UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling. The two teams have been exchanging the lead all season and with plenty of races left, it’s still unclear which team will take top honours in 2011.

Women’s Standings

The women’s NRC standings are also closer than ever. Amber Neben's (HTC Highroad Women) lead over Janel Holcomb (Colavita-Forno d'Asolo) has been reduced to a slender 54 points. Holcomb took top honours in the Tour de Toona to shave Neben’s margin by 108 points at the top. Canadian Erinne Willock (Team TIBCO to the Top) remains in third place a further 127 points behind Holcomb.

Colavita-Forno d'Asolo continued to build on their lead in the women's NRC team standings. Colavita currently lead by 776 points over second placed Team TIBCO to the Top.

Like the men, much of the movement in the women’s standings comes from a number of higher profile riders being otherwise engaged in bigger races taking place in Europe. The HTC-Highroad Women’s team sent a strong team to the Giro Donne, and thus fell in the standings.