The organizers of the U.S. Women's Prestige Cycling Series have released the current standings following the Series' second round at Minnesota's Nature Valley Grand Prix. Christine Thorburn (Webcor Builders) continued her winning ways, successfully defending the Series lead that she had established at the Redlands Bicycle Classic by claiming the overall win at the Nature Valley GP. She established her position early by winning the first two stages in Saint Paul and Mankato and then she and her team successfully defended the jersey in the three that remained. The win, her second in the two Women's Prestige Cycling Series events held thus far, gives her a commanding lead in the Series.
Tina Pic and teammate Annette Buetler (Quark Cycling) are tied for second, with Pic taking the tie breaker (best result in the most recent Series event). Kim Baldwin (T-Mobile) slipped from third to fourth while youngster Erinne Willock (Webcor Builders) rounds out the top five.
Willock continues to dominate the Best Young Rider category in the Series, taking an impressive fifth overall at the Nature Valley Grand Prix. Her performance was capped by a very close second in Nature Valley's very tough Stillwater Criterium. Aubrey Lemieux (Quark Cycling) and Stefanie Graeter (Webcor Builders) have equal points, with Lemieux taking the tie breaker. They're followed by Alisha Lion (Ford-Basis) and Kathleen Billington (Diet Cheerwine).
Ina Teutenberg (T-Mobile) is clinging to a diminishing lead over Laura Van Gilder and Tina Pic (Quark Cycling) in the Series sprint competition. Teutenberg finished third in the Nature Valley Grand Prix's Freewheel Sprint Competition, possibly because of a crash in the Mankato Road Race. Thorburn leads a three-way tie for fourth.
Webcor Builders continues to lead the Series team competition. However, their second-place team finish at the Nature Valley Grand Prix has begun to erode that lead, with their margin dropping from 270 points after Redlands to 220. Quark and T-Mobile remain within striking distance, with Ford-Basis and Colavita / Cooking Light rounding out the top five.
The Series began at the Redlands Bicycle Classic (March 31-April 3) and continues at the Tour de Toona/International (July 25-31) before finishing at the Bermuda Grand Prix (September 22-25).
Series standings after round 2
