After a hugely successful Amgen Tour of California, North Star Grand Prix and Tour de Beauce, Rally Cycling heads into the National Championships of the United States and Canada looking to take home maple leaf and stars and stripe jerseys. The USA Cycling Professional Road Race and Time Trial National Championships take place June 24-25 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Canadian Road Nationals run from June 24-28 in Ottawa, Ontario.
The USA Cycling Professional Road Race and Time Trial National Championships kick off with the time trial on Saturday. Evan Huffman and Brandon McNulty headline the Rally Cycling roster with both riders looking to capture the top step of the podium. Huffman, the 2012 U-23 National Time Trial Champion, won the Tyrone Time Trial at the Tour of the Gila in May and has shown consistent form all year. McNulty, the 2016 Junior World Time Trial Champion, is coming off his first professional win in the opening time trial of the North Star Grand Prix. McNulty won by seven seconds over Huffman, and in the process set a new course record.
19-year-old Brandon McNulty is on the hunt for his first professional national title
“I’m looking forward to the races this weekend and hope the team can come away with at least one title,” said Huffman. “Brandon and I will both be in contention for the time trial, while the road race course should suit a strong sprinter like Colin (Joyce) who showed some great form at North Star. Nationals is always a tough race to predict, so I'm glad we have a big team with several cards to play for the finish.”
In the women’s time trial, the team will look to garner a good result with 2015 Junior World Championship silver medalist Emma White. It will be the second Individual Time Trial National Championships for White who was part of Rally Cycling’s National Team Time Trial winning squad last year. Olympic Silver Medalist Kelly Catlin was set to join White on the start line, but a fractured wrist sustained in a crash at Winston-Salem will keep her on the sideline.
After a stage win and overall victory at the North Star Grand Prix, Colin Joyce has emerged as a favorite for the stars and stripes
After incredible displays of strength in California and Minnesota, the men of Rally Cycling look to put a rider in the stars and stripes jersey of national champion. After his two stage wins at the Tour of California, Huffman is the team’s designated leader and will rely on the strength and experience of veterans Danny Pate and Jesse Anthony. If the race comes to a sprint finish, Curtis White and Tom Soladay are set to lead out fast men Colin Joyce, Shane Kline, Eric Young or National Criterium Champion Brad Huff. Emerson Oronte and Sepp Kuss have ridden all season brilliantly and will be the team’s wild cards.
Emma White will be a threat in both the time trial and road race
The women are led by the dynamic duo of Erica Allar and Emma White. White is having a breakout season, winning a stage of the Tour of the Gila and the overall at the recent North Star Grand Prix. In addition to the overall, White won one stage, landed on the podium twice and captured the Best Young Rider competition. Amy Benner, Megan Heath, Caitlin Laroche and Monica Volk make up the rest of the Rally Cycling roster.
“This season is shaping up well for me, so my goals keep getting bigger!” said White. "I love the courses at Nationals. They are fast and technical, which suits me. We'll miss our Canadian teammates, but I'm looking forward to seeing what we are capable of this weekend.”
Chasing Maple Leafs: Canadian Road Nationals
As the American riders of Rally Cycling chase the stars and stripes, the Canadian half of Rally Cycling will aim to bring home their country’s maple leaf jersey in the time trial and road race. On the men’s side, Rob Britton, Adam de Vos, Matteo Dal-Cin, and Pierrick Naud will all take to the start line for the road race, with Naud sitting out the time trial. Britton, De Vos and Dal-Cin are coming off strong rides at the Tour of California while Naud has shown great form recently, picking up wins around the province of Québec. Dal-Cin and Britton both recently showed their strength by winning stages at last week’s Tour de Beauce. Dal-Cin got his win on the infamous Mont Mégantic while Britton struck out solo with over 40 kilometers remaining in stage five to take a dramatic victory.
“The Tour de Beauce gave the team and me a lot of confidence going into nationals,” said Dal-Cin. “It is going to be a difficult race, but with Rob, Adam and Pierrick, the team can manage a few different scenarios. The season has been going well, and I have been able to carry good fitness through the first half of the season. Last year, I crashed in the final corner of the road race and didn’t get the chance to challenge for the win. This year I would like to be in at the finale – if Rob hasn’t already won solo.”
Kirsti Lay will the lead the women of Rally Cycling in Ontario
The Canadian women of Rally Cycling will take to the line led by Olympic Bronze Medalists Kirsti Lay and Allison Beveridge. Climbing aces Sara Poidevin and Katherine Maine will join them. Poidevin finished second in both the time trial and road race at U-23 Nationals in 2016 and will look to put a season of injury behind her with a top result. Sara Bergen will play the role of the squad's opportunist as she returns to form following a crash at the Tour of the Gila. All five riders will line up for the road race and time trial.
US Professional Road Race Championships Roster | Men
Jesse Anthony
Brad Huff
Evan Huffman
Colin Joyce
Shane Kline
Sepp Kuss
Brandon McNulty
Emerson Oronte
Danny Pate
Tom Soladay
Curtis White
Eric Young
US Professional Time Trial Championships Roster | Men
Evan Huffman
Brandon McNulty
US Professional Road Race Championships Roster | Women
Erica Allar
Amy Benner
Megan Health
Caitlin Laroche
Monica Volk
Emma White
US Professional Time Trial Championships Roster | Women
Emma White
Canadian Road Nationals | Road Race | Men
Rob Britton
Matteo Dal-Cin
Adam de Vos
Pierrick Naud
Canadian Road Nationals | Time Trial | Men
Rob Britton
Matteo Dal-Cin
Adam de Vos
Canadian Road Nationals | Road Race | Women
Sara Bergen
Allison Beveridge
Kirsti Lay
Katherine Maine
Sara Poidevin
Canadian Road Nationals | Time Trial | Women
Sara Bergen
Allison Beveridge
Kirsti Lay
Katherine Maine
Sara Poidevin
