Clarke & Hosking's double act in Minneapolis

Image 1 of 49

Hilton Clarke (UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis) won the Uptown Minneapolis Criterium, his second criterium victory at the Nature Valley GP. This time it took a photo finish for the race officials to grant him the narrow victory ahead of Ken Hanson (Team Type 1) in second and Ben Kersten (Fly V Australia) in third.

"The team really came through for me at the end," said Clarke. "Jonny [Clarke] and Karl [Menzies] were going so fast on the last lap to give me such a good lead-out. Kersten made a good run at the line and caught me off guard but I used my instincts and waited. I just got around Kersten at the line and Ken came second so it must have been very close."

"The team management has been incredible and really knows the bike racing," he added. "All the guys know what to do to get me to the line. If I am put into position then I give it my all to deliver. The next two days don't suit me so I am more than happy to help the team. What else can I ask for? It's been a great race for me."

Scott Zwizanski (Kelly Benefit Strategies) maintained his lead in the overall classification ahead of Rory Sutherland (UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis). Both riders attempted to gain additional time and both won a one-second time bonus during the evening's criterium.

"I'm extremely happy with my team and we really tried to put pressure on the race," Clarke continued. "Rory and Scott got a one-second time bonus but we did ride really hard to bring back a breakaway so that Rory could have a shot at the time bonuses. We tried to race tonight and didn't sit back."

The pro men lined up to complete 40 laps of the Uptown Minneapolis Criterium. Massive crowds lined the streets on a six-corner circuit that included a fast chicane positioned mid-way through.

A break launched from the gun that included the likes of Daniel Holloway (Bissell), Rob Bush (Kenda p/b Geargrinder), Alessandro Bazzana and Aaron Kemps (Fly V Australia), Bernard van Ulden (Jelly Belly p/b Kenda), Alexey Schmidt (Team Type 1), Adrian Hegyvary (UnitedHealtcare p/b Maxxis), Adam Bergman (Texas Road House p/b Motorex) and Paul Martin (Panther p/b Competitive Cyclist).

The move gained a maximum of 20 seconds and the gap was largely controlled by Kelly Benefit Strategies in an effort to protect race leader Scott Zwizanski back in the peloton. The gap continued to drop quickly until it was reabsorbed with roughly 25 laps to go.

Bush launched himself off the front for a second breakaway attempt however the move was shut down by riders that tried to bridge the gap. Kelly Benefit Strategies maintained control at the front of the field. They were briefly overtaken by the UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis train set up for an early lead-out.

Similar to the stage two Downtown Saint Paul Criterium, UnitedHealthcare p/b Maxxis displayed the most dominant lead-out that it resumed inside ten laps to go. Jonny Clarke and Karl Menzies brought teammates Jake Keough and Hilton Clarke to the last corner.

Keough and Clarke were followed by rival duos Aaron Kemps in support of sprinter Ben Kersten (Fly V Australia) and Davide Frattini who led out his sprinter Ken Hanson (Team Type 1). The three lead-out men rounded the final corner and let their respective sprinters loose. Kersten got the jump on the field but Clarke and Hanson, respectively, were able to pass him on the run in to the finish line.

Hosking can't stop winning

Chloe Hosking (HTC-Columbia) also won a second consecutive criterium this week in Uptown Minneapolis. The Australian sprinter outpaced Brooke Miller (Tibco-To the Top) in second, Shelley Evans (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12) in third and Carla Swart (Vera Bradley Foundation) in fourth.

"We came here with the aim of winning as many stages as we can and we will be doing the same in the last two stages," Hosking said. "I was lucky that I had such a good team around me that was able to help so much. I'm looking forward to the rest of the tour."

"There were so many more sprinters and it felt more chaotic than the first night," she added. "It was about three wide going through the last corner. Brooke Miller got a jump on us and I was lucky enough to run at her wheel and just got her at the line. I liked having something to chase, it worked well for me."

Evans started the day two seconds behind the previous race leader Alison Starnes (Tibco-To the Top). She moved into the overall race lead by virtue of her third place time bonus combined with winning all three intermediate time bonus sprints for a grand total of 20 additional seconds.

"I was going all out for those intermediate sprints," Evans said. "That was our one goal and we stuck with it so we are really happy. We go into tomorrow defending the jersey. I needed to have that cushion going into tomorrow and the last day. It will be a challenge for sure and we have our work cut out for us."

The National Weather Service announced tornado sightings and severe thunderstorm warnings that subsequently forced race officials to cancel stage two in Cannon Falls. The racing resumed the following evening, a race for the sprinters on stage four's Uptown Minneapolis Criterium.

Some 70 women rolled to the line with fresh legs raring to take on the event's three intermediate sprints for time bonuses and the finish line sprint that also for time.

Race leader Alison Starnes (Tibco-To the Top) relied on her teammates to hold the field together and bring back the majority of breakaways that contained riders who threatened her overall race lead.

Shelley Evans (Peanut Butter &Co.TWENTY12) proved in the stage two criterium that she meant business when it came to collecting time bonus sprints. She captured 21 seconds that day and moved into second place overall.

"There were different people going for time bonuses tonight, then the first criterium," Evans said. "Brooke Miller was definitely going for them which made the sprints harder because she is more of a pure sprinter."

The sprinter won the first time bonus and effectively moved herself into the overall race lead. She further increased her lead in the overall classification by virtue of capturing the second and third intermediate sprint. Peanut Butter & Co p/b TWENTY12 assumed their rightful responsibilities at the front of the field to protect Evans lead.

Attacks from HTC-Columbia, Tibco-To the Top and Webcor-Builders became relentless. But with five laps to go the field conceded to a bunch sprint finale won by the stage two criterium winner, Chloe Hosking (HTC-Columbia).