National Development Team's Barton and Phinney top 10 at Triptyque
Quevecamps, Belgium (April 5, 2009)—Behind the top-ten overall performances of Chris Barton (Ojai, Calif.) and Taylor Phinney (Boulder, Colo.), the USA Cycling National Development Team scored a fifth-place overall ranking at the Triptyque des Monts et Chateaux race in Belgium. The squad, made up of a compilation of U23 athletes from various U.S.-based squads, helped Barton to a fifth-place overall finish following his third-place result in the opening stage. After a sixth-place finish in the event’s stage two individual time trial, Phinney pulled in at ninth-place overall.
Barton used a 16th-place result in the ITT followed by a pair of finishes amongst the lead group to hold on to his top five ranking in the general classification. Phinney rode an 11:06 in the 8.3-kilometer ITT to finish sixth in the second stage, 10 seconds behind the Belgian stage winner. The eighteen-year-old pursuit world champion held in the main group in the 127-kilometer third stage before sprinting to a 10th-place result in the 165-kilometer fourth stage to hold on to ninth overall.
G.P. Waregem winner Cole House (Oneida, Wis.) grabbed the seventh spot in stage three after a sprint to the finish. Phinney also finished 10th in the overall points classification. All seven of the USA Cycling National Development Team riders finished the 2.2-rated event combining for a team time of 32:46:52, only 31 seconds behind the winning German squad.
The USA Cycling National Development Team will continue on to the first of the 2009 UCI Nations’ Cup Series, the Tour of Flanders, on April 11.
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Recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling is the official governing body for all disciplines of competitive cycling in the United States, including road, track, mountain bike, BMX and cyclo-cross. As a membership-based organization and sanctioning body, USA Cycling consists of 64,000+ members, including 57,000 competitive cyclists, 1,500 coaches, 4,000 student-athletes, 2,200 officials, 350 professional cyclists, and 200 certified mechanics. USA Cycling also sanctions 2,500 competitive and non-competitive organized cycling events throughout the United States annually, as well as 1,800 clubs and teams. Associations of USA Cycling include the United States Cycling Federation (road, track & cyclo-cross), the National Off-Road Bicycle Association (mountain bike), the BMX Association, the National Collegiate Cycling Association and the United States Professional Racing Organization. USA Cycling is also responsible for the identification, development, support and promotion of American cyclists through various athletic initiatives and programs including the USA Cycling National Development Team, the USA Cycling Women’s National Team, the USA Cycling Junior Development Team, Talent Identification and Regional Development Camps, domestic and international race calendars, direct athlete funding and support programs, and educational camps and seminars. USA Cycling also fields and supports U.S. National Teams for various international events, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, Pan American Games, Continental Championship and World Cups across all levels and disciplines of competitive cycling. USA cycling further supports grass roots and locally-based initiatives through its 32 Local Associations and comprehensive network of licensed and certified coaches and officials. Additionally, USA Cycling conducts National Championship events for amateur and professional cyclists, awarding more than 600 national titles annually to men and women in junior, U23, masters, elite, professional and paralympic categories throughout the various disciplines of competitive cycling. To learn more about USA Cycling, visit www.usacycling.org. For media-related or general inquiries, please contact USA Cycling Director of Communications, Andy Lee at 719-434-4272 or alee@usacycling.org.
This Article Published 2009-04-06 10:56:38
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