Rally Cycling continued to put its stamp on the 2017 North Star Grand Prix as Colin Joyce stormed to victory in the Mankato Road Race with a brave solo move. Joyce retook the overall lead for his efforts. Joyce’s win was built on aggressive tactics to reclaim the yellow jersey and continued the team’s streak of podiums throughout the week. In addition to Joyce’s win, Emma White crossed the line in second to maintain her overall lead and score her third podium of the week.
Colin Joyce and Brandon McNulty on the podium after stage five
The team continued its run of podium places the day before the Mankato Road Race at the Uptown Minneapolis Criterium. Allison Beveridge grabbed second in the women’s race with overall race leader, Emma White in fourth. In the men’s race Ty Magner (Holowesko | Citadel) scooped up time bonuses and finished second on the stage to wrestle the yellow jersey off the shoulders of Brandon McNulty. As important as the day’s stage results were, the team came away unscathed and ready to fight in Mankato.
“It is always nice when you can carry a leader’s jersey from start to finish, but we are happy with the situation,” said Performance Manager Jonas Carney, after the team lost the overall lead in stage four. “The team is riding well, and Brandon has shown he is in good form. The team is now in a position to attack, and as Evan Huffman showed last year, one can gain a lot of time in the Mankato stage.”
Joyce powering his way to victory in the Mankato Road Race
“The plan was to put as much pressure on everyone as possible, and it seemed to go pretty well,” said Joyce. "We tried to push it on the climbs, be a little patient and then make hell break loose close to the finish. I was the one that was able to go clear, but it was a team effort. When I was solo, I just kept telling myself to keep pedaling - similar to Dory from Finding Nemo – ‘just keep swimming, just keep swimming.’”
Emma White defended her yellow jersey with the help of Sara Poidevin and Erica Allar
In the women’s event, the squad again rode in defense of White’s yellow jersey. Halfway into the 61-mile stage, a dangerous break went up the road with Beveridge and Katherine Maine making the selection. The presence of Beveridge and Maine force the peloton to chase and with less than three miles remaining the breakaway was reeled in. In the sprint for the line, Ruth Winder (UnitedHealthcare) edged White for the victory.
“It was a tough race, but the team continued to ride well, and we still have the jersey,” said White. “Allison and Katherine were in the breakaway and on the final lap they started attacking – causing the break to disintegrate. It allowed us to catch them on the last lap, and then it was a drag race to the line. I didn’t get the win but gained time on Marlies (Mejias Garcia). With one stage left, we are going to Stillwater with the simple plan of defend, defend, defend!”
The North Star Grand Prix ends on Sunday with the notorious Stillwater Criterium, featuring the 13% Chilkoot Hill!
North Star Grand Prix Stage 4 | Men
1. Justin Williams (Cylance Cycling)
2. Tyler Magner (Holowesko | Citadel)
3. Miguel Bryon (Holowesko | Citadel)
4. Jose Alfredo Rodriguez Victoria (Elevate-KHS)
5. Charles (Brad) Huff (Rally Cycling)
6. John Murphy (Holowesko | Citadel)
7. Ayden Toovey (NSW Institute of Sport)
8. Tony Baca (ELBOWZ Racing)
9. Samuel Bassetti (Herbalife p/b Marc Pro - Nature's Bakery)
10. Andrew Giniat (North Memorial Health p/b Project Echelon)
General Classification After Stage 4 | Men
1. Tyler Magner (Holowesko | Citadel Racing)
2. Brandon McNulty (Rally Cycling)
3. Colin Joyce (Rally Cycling)
4. Bryan Gomez (Gateway Harley-Davidson-Trek)
5. Charles (Brad) Huff (Rally Cycling)
6. John Murphy (Holowesko | Citadel)
7. MacKenzie Brennan (Holowesko | Citadel)
8. Innokenty Zavyalov (Elevate-KHS Pro Cycling)
9. Bryan Lewis (Cylance Cycling)
10. George Simpson (Gateway Harley-Davidson-Trek)
North Star Grand Prix Stage 4 | Women
1. Marlies Mejias Garcia (Weber Shimano Ladies Power)
2. Allison Beveridge (Rally Cycling)
3. Ellen Noble (Colavita/Bianchi USA)
4. Emma White (Rally Cycling)
5. Kendall Ryan (Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank)
6. Sara Bergen (Rally Cycling)
7. Holly Edmondston (Cycling New Zealand)
8. Ruth Winder (UnitedHealthcare)
9. Erica Allar (Rally Cycling)
10. Diana Penuela (UnitedHealthcare)
General Classification After Stage 4 | Women
1. Emma White (Rally Cycling)
2. Marlies MejiasGarcia (Weber Shimano Ladies Power)
3. Ruth Winder (UnitedHealthcare)
4. Brianna Walle (Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank)
5. Rushlee Buchanan (UnitedHealthcare)
6. Tayler Wiles (UnitedHealthcare)
7. Whitney Allison (Colavita/Bianchi USA)
8. Allison Beveridge (Rally Cycling)
9. Kirsti Lay (Rally Cycling)
10. Stephanie Roorda (The Cyclery - 4iiii)
North Star Grand Prix Stage 5 | Men
1. Colin Joyce (Rally Cycling)
2. Dylan Sunderland (NSW Institute of Sport)
3. Brandon McNulty (Rally Cycling)
4. Bryan Gomez (Gateway Harley-Davidson-Trek)
5. Liam Magennis (NSW Institute of Sport)
6. Morgan Schmitt (Arapahoe Resources / Garneau)
7. Ryan Cavanaugh (NSW Institute of Sport)
8. Callum Gordon (Centric Racing p/b Catella)
9. Austin Stephens (303 Project)
10. Orlando Garibay (Cylance Cycling)
General Classification After Stage 5 | Men
1. Colin Joyce (Rally Cycling)
2. Tyler Magner (Holowesko | Citadel)
3. Brandon McNulty (Rally Cycling)
4. Bryan Gomez (Gateway Harley-Davidson-Trek U25)
5. Brad Huff (Rally Cycling)
6. Kevin Girkins (ELBOWZ Racing)
7. Cory Lockwood (Elevate-KHS)
8. Justin Mauch (Herbalife p/b Marc Pro - Nature's Bakery)
9. Morgan Schmitt (Arapahoe Resources / Garneau)
10. Danny Pate (Rally Cycling 9:07:54
North Star Grand Prix Stage 5 | Women
1. Ruth Winder (UnitedHealthcare)
2. Emma White (Rally Cycling)
3. Marlies MejiasGarcia (Weber Shimano Ladies Power)
4. Brianna Walle (Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank)
5. Rushlee Buchanan (UnitedHealthcare)
6. Lily Williams (Chicago Womens Elite Cycling)
7. Ariane Bonhomme (The Cyclery - 4iiii)
8. Allison Beveridge (Rally Cycling)
9. Tayler Wiles (UnitedHealthcare)
10. Ashlee Ankudinoff (North Memorial Healthcare)
General Classification After Stage 5 | Women
1. Emma White (Rally Cycling)
2. Marlies Mejias Garcia (Weber Shimano Ladies Power)
3. Ruth Winder (UnitedHealthcare)
4. Brianna Walle (Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank)
5. Rushlee Buchanan (UnitedHealthcare)
6. Tayler Wiles (UnitedHealthcare)
7. Allison Beveridge (Rally Cycling)
8. Ariane Bonhomme (The Cyclery - 4iiii)
9. Whitney Allison (Colavita/Bianchi)
10.Lily Williams (Chicago Womens Elite Cycling)
