North Star Grand Prix: Anderson wins Uptown Minneapolis Criterium

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The North Star Grand Prix stage 4 Uptown Minneapolis Criterium was all about the sprint for all jersey competitions, not just the K’ul Chocolate Sprint jersey competition.

Ryan Anderson and teammate Jesse Anthony (Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies) took first and third on the stage as Ben Hill (Donkey Label Racing) took second.

Hill secured eight seconds of time bonuses for his second-place finish and five seconds for winning the first time bonus sprint competition, extending his overall race lead by 13 seconds ahead of runner-up Tom Zirbel (Optum).

Optum stacked their general classification options as Anderson’s 15 seconds of time bonus (12 for the stage win and three for second in an intermediate time bonus sprint) moved him into third overall, 20 seconds behind Hill. Teammate Scott Zwizanski sits fourth overall at 27 seconds back. Anthony moved up to seventh overall (from ninth) due to his six seconds of time bonuses.

Champion System-Stan’s NoTubes successfully organized to deliver Bryan Gomez to the K’ul Chocolate Sprint jersey lead. Gomez started the stage just one point behind Elbowz Racing’s Stefan Rothe.

How it unfolded

Several crashes shook up the field, most notably one that took down over 25 riders. Between the crashes and the fast paced attacks to win intermediate sprints, the field split into two main groups.

The day’s notable break formed after the field split with about 19 laps to go and consisted of Greg LeMond Best Young Rider jersey wearer Tobin Ortenblad (California Giant/Specialized), second placed young rider George Simpson (GS Ciao), Sergio Hernandez (InCycle-Cannondale Pro Cycling Team), George Capelle (Isagenix / SeaSucker / Guttenplan Coaching), and Gabriel Baca (Elbowz Racing).

“It was a fight on the sprints today for the time bonus,” Ortenblad said. “I attacked down the back stretch and the second the guys pulled through I knew I was pretty marked because the second placed young rider was there. I was a little bummed he was in the group because I was hoping to pull some time on him today.” Ortenblad was indeed able to extend his lead over Simpson by winning the second time bonus competition from the break.

“Everyone worked together well,” Ortenblad said. “Then Optum must have lined it up because they caught us within 10 laps or so.”

“We expected that was going to happen,” said Anderson of the break. “We wanted to stay together with the team and commit to the finish.”

The break was caught with just under two laps to go. “I’m new to the team so we’re sort of finding each other a bit,” Hill said. “Tonight for the first time we got a bit of organization going into the finish there. We’re starting to work well together. Optum, they’re another level. But we’re doing what we can.”

There was no change in the Luther VW Top Amateur jersey, which will be worn by Elbowz Racing’s Colin Strickland.

Other notable Elbowz Racing rider was the field’s only woman Carmen Small, who stayed comfortably in the front group for the duration of her race.

“I made it to my halfway mark, and did a few more laps because it got easier because Optum was trying to collect themselves on the front,” Small said. “The bigger picture is to finish in Stillwater, so while it may be kind of weird that I quit the race but I have to be smart about where I put my efforts. Tomorrow’s going to be really really hard. I know the course and the climbs will hurt me more than most of the guys.

“What I noticed yesterday [at Cannon Falls Road Race] is I was fine sitting in the flats but as soon as I would go in the wind it was really hard for me. It was literally 5km/hr faster than any European race I’ve ever done. The sections that were Strava’ed, I was five miles per hour faster than any woman last year so that gives you an idea of the speed difference.”

Small, ever the fan favourite, was awarded a crowd prime of over $500 for being the first woman across the line.

Racing continues tomorrow with the 100.1 mile Menomonie Road Race, featuring higher classified King of the Hills competitions, which are sure to shake up the standings.

Full Results