Armstrong, Naturally; Sutherland Defends Nature Valley Grand Prix Title

If you ask any title holder, in any sports, they will all make the same claim; defending a title is a tough assignment. Then again, if you are an absolute hammer like Rory Sutherland (OUCH presented by Maxxis) or Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo TestTeam), taking on that type of a challenge is just part of the fun.

Although Sutherland's road to consecutive victories at the Nature Valley Grand Prix was a bit more arduous, entering the final race, the Stillwater Criterium, seven (7) seconds in arrears, he once again proved his mettle and took the final leader's jersey just three (3) seconds ahead of Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling).

Final General Classification - Men
1. Rory Sutherland (OUCH presented by Maxxis)
2. Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling)
3. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)
4. Tyler Wren (Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)
5. Anthony Colby (Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)
6. Peter Latham (Bissell Pro Cycling)
7. Will Routley (Jelly Belly Cycling Team)
8. Bernard Vanulden (Jelly Belly Cycling Team)
9. Mike Creed (Team Type1)
10. Luis Romero Amaran (Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)

For Armstrong, who would claim her fourth consecutive Nature Valley Grand Prix title, the victory was the proverbial icing on the cake of a career full of wonderful memories in the "Land of 10,000 Lakes." Retiring at year's end, Armstrong would out duel Shelley Olds (PROMAN Hit Squad) by thirty (30) seconds.

Final General Classification - Women
1. Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team)
2. Shelley Olds (PROMAN Hit Squad)
3. Alison Powers (Team Type 1)
4. Katharine Carroll (Team TIBCO)
5. Anne Samplonius (Lip Smacker)
6. Andrea Dvorak (Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)
7. Joanne Kiesanowski (Team TIBCO)
8. Cath Cheatley (Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light)
9. Amanda Miller (Lip Smacker)
10. Alexis Rhodes (Webcor Builders)

The Nature Valley Grand Prix was also the third stop of the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series. Allison Powers (Team Type 1) took over as Overall Leader as well as the Sprint Jersey Leader, while the Best Young Rider Jersey went to Rebecca Much (Webcor Builders).

Photo: Leonard Basobas