Hanson wins Giro d'Grafton

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Ken Hanson (UnitedHealthcare) won the men’s Giro d’Grafton criterium, apart of the Tour of America’s Dairyland and the National Criterium Calendar (NCC), on Saturday. He won a sprint ahead of his teammate Luke Keough and Daniel Holloway (Athlete Octane).

Isaac Howe (Champion Systems-Stan’s No Tubes) and Cole House (ISCorp-Intelligentsia) set the tone for the race with a quick tempo set just minutes into the race. Their attacks were short-lived but a glimpse of what was to come from 129 starters ready to take the $2,000 in cash primes. 

Alexander Ray (Hincapie Sports Devo), Kevin Mullervy (Champion Systems) and teammate Adam Leibovitz took turns off the front, followed by Ruben Companioni’s (Jamis-Hagens Berman). Paul Morris (Team Clif Bar) and Argentine Sebastian Trillini each picked up primes offered throughout the race.
 
Companioni lauched another attack late in the race and three chasers pursued while UnitedHealthcare organized its riders at the front of the field. With 10 laps to go, Andrew Dahlheim (Athlete Octane) joined Companioni in pursuit of a $250 prime. At seven to go, Griffin Easter (Airgas) picked up the $1,000 prime from Belgianwerx Bicycle Studio.
 
The field was all together with five laps remaining, UnitedHealthcare continued to drive the pace with five riders up front, launching Hanson and Keough onto the top two spots on the podium.

Schneider wins women’s criterium

Samantha Schneider (TIBCO/To the Top) won the women’s event ahead of Kendall Ryan (Team TIBCO II) and Erica Allar (Colavita-Fine Cooking).

Amy Phillips (Pepper Palace) went after the opening primes offered by the race, which sent Amanda Miller (TIBCO-To The Top) leading the charge in chasing her down.  The gap did close as prime-after-prime were launched at the field, over $1,500 cash in primes during the 60-minute race. 

Phillips was joined by Diana Penuela (Specialized Colombia), Starla Teddergreen (Cloud Racing), Joanne Kiesanowski (TIBCO-To The Top) and Lizzie Williams (Vanderkitten), who earned a $1000 from Wisconsin Discount Securities.
 
It was a competitive race, played smartly by the day’s 64 competitors, and one that kept the crowd on their collective toes until the end.  Fans were treated to an outstanding finishing sprint and a solid victory from Schneider in the bunch sprint.   

Tour of America’s Dairyland pb Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board continues on Sunday with its second of two NCC races, the Carl Zach Cycling Classic in Waukesha.

Full Results