Pro CX: Anderson and Vincent clinch while men’s standings up for grabs

The penultimate weekend of the 2013-14 USA Cycling Professional Cyclo-cross Calendar (Pro CX) featured the two races of the North Carolina Grand Prix in Hendersonville, N.C., on Dec. 14-15. After the weekend of racing, the winner of the Pro CX women‘s standings has been determined, but many of the top 20 places of USA Cycling’s $40,000 prize purse remain up for grabs.

Pro CX men’s standings supremacy will be decided at the calendar finale, Kingsport Cyclo-cross Cup in Kingsport, Tenn., on Jan 5. Jeremy Powers (Easthampton, Mass./Rapha-Focus) won both races in Hendersonville to collect 70 points, but Tim Johnson (Topsfield, Mass./Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) placed second and fourth to remain within 26 points of the lead. Ben Berden (BEL/Raleigh-Clement) has secured third-place in the standings with 866 points. Ryan Trebon (Bend, Ore./Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) will finish the season in fourth place with 711 points while James Driscoll (Sandy, Utah/Raleigh-Clement) will place fifth with 530 points.

The top five of the Pro CX women’s standings are unchanged after the races in North Carolina. Elle Anderson (San Francisco, Calif./California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized) has secured the top spot with 809 points. Katerina Nash (CZE/Luna Pro Team) will finish in second place with 755 points. Meredith Miller (Boulder, Colo./California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized) and Crystal Antho

ny (Beverly, Mass./Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) are locked in a battle for third place. With one race remaining, Miller holds third place with 677 points, but Anthony is in fourth place, only 24 points behind. Laura van Gilder (Cresco, Pa./Van Dessel p/b Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers) is in fifth place, but Nicole Duke (Boulder, Colo./Marin Bikes-SPY) is only seven points behind her. Jessica Cutler (Seattle, Wash./Bikesport NW-Jamis) and Sunny Gilbert (Ballwin, Mo./Michelob UltraBig Shark Bicycle) won the two women’s races in North Carolina.

The Pro CX juniors men’s standings are unchanged after a week without competition on the Pro CX. With one race remaining, Austin Vincent (Simsbury, Conn./Race Cf-Racecf.Org @Racecf) has clinched the top spot with 345 points. After a strong performance at the Deschutes Brewery Cup on Dec. 7, Lance Haidet (Bend, Ore./Bear Development Team) has surged into second place with 286 points, only 32 points ahead of Peter Goguen (Hopedale, Mass./Race Cf-Racecf.Org @Racecf), who is sitting in third place with 254 points. Cooper Willsey (Hinesburg, Vt./Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) can reach second place as he is sitting in fourth place with 250 points. David Lombardo (Crystal Lake, Ill./WCJ Racing) rounds out the top five with 236 points.

Results for the North Carolina Grand Prix Races 1 and 2 can be found online.

Check out photo galleries from North Carolina Grand Prix.

USA Cycling Pro CX Standings:

Men’s Standings

1. Jeremy Powers (Easthampton, Mass./Rapha-Focus) — 1,015
2. Timothy Johnson (Topsfield, Mass./Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) — 989
3. Ben Berden (BEL/Raleigh Clement) — 866
4. Ryan Trebon (Bend, Ore./Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) — 711
5. James Driscoll (Sandy, Utah/Raleigh-Clement) — 530

Women’s Standings

1. Elle Anderson (San Francisco, Calif./California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized) — 809
2. Katerina Nash (CZE/Luna Pro Team) — 755
3. Meredith Miller (Boulder, Colo./California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized) — 677
4. Crystal Anthony (Beverly, Mass./Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) — 653
5. Laura Van Gilder (Cresco, Pa./Van Dessel p/b Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers) — 493

Juniors Men’s Standings

1. Austin Vincent (Simsbury, Conn./Race Cf-Racecf.Org @Racecf) — 345
2. Lance Haidet (Bend, Ore./Bear Development Team) — 286
3. Peter Goguen (Hopedale, Mass./Race Cf-Racecf.Org @Racecf) — 254
4. Cooper Willsey (Hinesburg, Vt./Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) — 250
5. David Lombardo (Crystal Lake, Ill./WCJ Racing) — 236

The Pro CX riders will enjoy a short respite before the season culminates and the standings positions are claimed at the Kingsport Cyclo-cross Cup in Kingsport, Tenn., on Jan. 5.