The American Criterium Cup is five races through its eight-race slate and the standings have started to crystalize as the teams and riders dedicated to the series and chasing the end-of-season prizes have risen to the top of the standings.
On both the men’s and women’s side, two of the top prizes have been essentially locked up between REIGN Storm racing already holding an unassailable lead in the men’s team prize, and Skylar Schneider of the Miami Blazers has what seems to be a lead in the women’s individual standings. Nevertheless, with prize lists rewarding consistency throughout the top of the individual and team standings, there is much more to play for.
The women’s team competition is wide-open
The competition where there is the most still up in the air during the last three races is the women’s team competition. Leading the way is DNA Pro Cycling. The team from Utah has yet to notch a win on race day but they have brought a strong team to each of the races as Rylee McMullen and Makayla Macpherson have found their way into the top ten consistently. They currently lead the team’s table by 13 points, with 103 points over the Miami Blazers’ 90 points.
Beyond those top two teams, the rest of the money places are up for grabs in the season-long team competition. L39ion of Los Angeles, Automatic-Abus Racing, LA Sweat Racing, and Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty24 occupy the third through sixth place spot in the overall standings. Ultimately, team prizes go five deep so there should be a fight for the final places on those standings between the four teams.
In the Individual standings, Skylar Schneider is leading with a healthy 23-point lead with 69 points through five races. Rylee McMullen is in second with 46 points putting her nine points ahead of her DNA Pro Cycling teammate Makayla Macpherson who is third with 37 points. Beyond those three top riders, the next four places are grouped close together with Arielle Verhaaren (Automatic-Abus Racing), Paola Muñoz (Goldman Sachs ETF Racing), Kendall Ryan (L39ion of Los Angeles), and Marlies Mejias Garcia (Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty24) all sitting within 11 points of the $2,750 third place prize.
ACC individual standings after five race days
- Skylar Schneider (Miami Blazers) – 69 points
- Rylee McMullen (DNA Pro Cycling) – 46 points
- Makayla Macpherson (DNA Pro Cycling) – 37 points
- Arielle Verhaaren (AUTOMATIC-Abus) – 35 points
- Paola Muñoz (Goldman Sachs Racing ETFS) – 33 points
- Kendall Ryan (L39ion of Los Angeles) – 30 points
- Marlies Mejias Garcia (Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty24) – 26 points
Lastly, the ACC mid-race sprint jersey is firmly up for grabs with Skylar Schneider a solitary point behind Rylee McMullen who has held the jersey since the start of the season in Tulsa. Andrea Cyr is in third and while it seems as if she is out of it, the green jersey has more points for the races later in the season, so expect the three women to keep fighting for the points, and cash, available at the remaining three races.
REIGN Storm controls the men’s classification as individuals look to breakthrough
On the men’s side, it is all about REIGN Storm Racing as the juggernaut team has the overall team prize wrapped up, sits in the top three places of the individual standings, and has a firm grasp on the mid-race green jersey. The team has brought a strong roster to every ACC race this year and has delivered several wins and one-two victories to cement their status as the top criterium-specific team on the US calendar this year. With the team prize wrapped up, REIGN will now look to defend their top three riders’ place in the overall standings as Jordan Parra leads with 56 points ahead of Alfredo Rodriguez in second with 46, while Danny Summerhill sits in third with 42.
Nonetheless, there is more to play for than just the top spots and the rider who has done the most to make a claim at breaking up REIGN Storm’s hegemony is Clever Martinez who sits in fourth overall at 41 points, just 15 points – or one race victory – from the first place position. What makes Martinez’s season all the more impressive is the fact that he has done it entirely on his own without any team support to speak of. Martinez has been so strong that if he were a team, which he isn’t since his Rockland Development team is not registered as a Domestic Elite team and is therefore not eligible for the final prize – he would be second in the team overall standings.
ACC individual standings after five race days
- Jordan Parra (REIGN Storm Racing) – 56 points
- Alfredo Rodriguez (REIGN Storm Racing) – 46 points
- Danny Summerhill (REIGN Storm Racing) – 42 points
- Clever Martinez (Rockland Development) – 41 points
- Lucas Bourgoyne (Austin Outlaws) – 30 points
In the men’s team standings, the Austin Outlaws currently command the second position with 38 points ahead of the Miami Blazers who are third with 31. Then, it is a cluster of four teams sitting fifth through eight if you take out the WorldTour team Soudal Quick-Step as Luke Lamperti has returned to Europe and will not contest the rest of the series. Between the rest of those teams, however, expect a fight in the final three races of the season.
Lastly, the ACC green jersey competition is all about Danny Summerhill as the REIGN Storm rider has made an effort to collect points every night of the competition. He currently leads the competition by 11 points but will have to be sure to continue to score as the series goes on and those point totals increase.
That’s all for this week, but be sure to tune in on Saturday, July 27th when we will be in Chicago for the the seventh ACC race on the ninth day of Chicago Grit.
