NorCal Cycling News – Cycling and Racing in Northern California

Bend seems like a second home to NorCal young retirees and cyclists. NorCal’s finest have converged on Bend one more time for the Cascade Cycling Stage Race.  Coverage is spotty, you can try and tune into the official twitter feed , or try , or for live updates.

Women’s Update

Pascale Schneinder, i’m just treating her like a local at this point, ripped up a huge TT for Vanderkitten.  Starnes and Guarnier also put in strong TT’s to finish in the top 20.  The road race sorted out the contenders pretty quicky with Starnes, Schneinder, and Newell putting in strong rides to finish under two minutes behind the leaders.  A big group of NorCal riders finished 4 minutes after the leaders, a group which included, Katheryn Curi Mattis who is making mini-comeback as a DS/rider for the Webcor team.   Starne’s is the best placed NorCal rider in the GC sitting in 15th, 1:20 down on the leaders.  Bec Werner and Emily Collins are sitting in 4th and 5th, respectively, in the best young rider competition, so they might be able to claw their way into a jersey if the climbers have an off day.

Men’s Update

I don’t know how I feel about Mancebo and Grajales dominating the stage racing scene in the US.  It does look a little scary with all the Trek-Livestrong and Chipolte Development riders littering the top 20 in the GC.  Nate English had a strong ride in the road race coming in the top 20 less than a minute behind the leaders.  English is sitting in 24 which he should be able to improve given his performance at Mt. Hood earlier this year.