Jesse Anthony (Kelly Benefit Strategies/Optumhealth) and Robert Forster (UnitedHealthcare) chat before Sunday’s final stage. Forster, who won the Wheaties Fuel Sprinters jersey, would attack hard with two laps to go, Anthony and his team managed his and countless other attacks, holding onto yellow.
This weekend’s racing was filled with racing drama, long breaks and late race wins, and it all seemed to work out for SRAM equipped athletes. Up in Minnesota, The Nature Valley Grand Prix happened and it was the green machine of Kelly Benefits Medifast OptumHealth taking the win
The youngish Anthony rode beyond his years and took the team’s biggest win of the season, only miles from the program’s headquarters. He and his green team rode the perfect offensive and defensive race.
Anthony battled all day, with his teammates protecting him, to maintain yellow in Stillwater
Carney celebrates Anthony in yellow
Team Director Jonas Carney said his plan to attack with all eight guys during Saturday’s hilly and windy Menomonie Road Race worked to perfection. The team drove the race to the point of no return and Anthony ended up in the jersey. The move isolated GC threat and previous NVGP winner Rory Sutherland (UHC). Sutherland and UHC teammate Forster would have to settle for stage wins. Even Sutherland complimented the tactics stating that there is no shame in being bested with great strategy.
The Kelly Benefits team is closer than most, they surrounded Anthony until the final laps, and then it was up to Jesse to manage a flurry of attacks from Forster (UHC) and Sutherland (UHC). Up the final hill Anthony closed in and took an impressive second place on the stage, Sutherland cruised in for the stage win.
Kristin Armstrong of Peanut Butter & Co TWENTY12, talks with teammates after the Women’s race. Armstrong finished third overall.
Overall SRAM athletes took six stage wins, one yellow jersey (Anthony), one Queen of the Hill jersey and two Wheaties Fuel Sprint Competition jerseys (Kirchmann and Forster).
Stage wins incude:
Rory Sutherland (UHC) – St Paul Time Trial
Kristin Armstrong (Peanut Butter & Co Twenty12) – St Paul TT
Jake Keough (UHC) – St Paul Criterium
Robert Forster (UHC) – Canon Falls Road Race
Robert Forster (UHC) – Minneapolis Criterium
Bernard Van Ulden (Jelly Belly) – Menomonie RR
Lisa Kirchmann (Cola Vita) – Menomonie RR
Rory Sutherland (UHC) – Stillwater Criterium
Forster and Sutherland (UHC) chill prior to the final stage
Menzies rode like ten men, but that’s typical
The Women line up, Armstrong ponders how to get her yellow jersey back (second from right). She said after the race, “I just didnt have that extra punch.” Her laser focused comeback for another godl medal in London continues at Nationals this coming weekend.