Lachlan Morton wins the 2016 UCI America Tour
Australian Lachlan Morton, team Jelly Belly-Maxxis, was crowned overall winner of the UCI America's Tour. Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team took the overall team prize.
The remaining 2016 races, the Vuelta Guatemala, October 24-November 11, the Gran Premio de San Jose, November 12, and the Vuelta Popular a Costa Rica, December 13-25, are part of the 2017 America Tour.
Morton took overall wins in the Tour of the Gila and Tour of Utah. A crash on the Tour of California on stage 4 to Laguna Seca put him out of a good overall finish.
"This is a great recognition of an incredible season for Lachlan," said Jelly Belly Director Danny van Haute. "The Americas Tour overall is awarded to an individual, but the team played an enormous part in putting Lachlan into that position and everyone on this year's team should be proud."
Lachlan's team Jelly Belly - Maxxis finished in 5th in the overall team standings.
Robin Carpenter from Holowesko-Citadel was second behind Morton, thanks to his victory in the Tour of Alberta.
Cannondale-Drapac's Andrew Talansky. who was fourth in tyhe Tour of California and third in the Tour of Utah came third overall in the individual standings.
2016 UCI America Tour Overall Individual Standings
1 Lachlan Morton (Aus) Jelly Belly - Maxxis 326 pts
2 Robin Carpenter (USA) Holowesko - Citadel 277
3 Andrew Talansky (USA) Cannondale - Drapac 265
4 Jonathan Klever Caicedo Cepeda (Ecu) Strongman-Campagnolo Wilier 250
5 Ryan Roth (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 245
6 Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Etixx - QuickStep 245
7 Travis McCabe (USA) Holowesko - Citadel 240
8 Ramirez Chacon Brayan Stiven (Col) Movistar 228
9 Jonathan Monsalve (Ven) 224
10 Evan Huffman (USA) Rally Cycling 212
11 Rob Britton (Can) Rally Cycling 183
12 Adrien Costa (USA) Axeon Hagens Berman 175
13 Rohan Denis (Aus) BMC Racing Team 170
14 Manuel Rodas Ochoa (Gua) 155
15 Eric Marcotte (USA) Team Jamis 152
16 Frayre Moctezuma Eder (Mex) 148
17 Brent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing Team 140
18 Benjamin Perry (Can) Silber Pro Cycling 137
19 Marco Canola (Ita) UnitedHealthcare 133
20 Dayer Uberney Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar 132.25
2016 UCI America Tour Overall Team Standings
1 Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team 660 pts
2 Silber Pro Cycling 647
3 Axeon Hagens Berman 547
4 Rally Cycling 526
5 Jelly Belly - Maxxis 450
6 Team Jamis 374
7 UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team 330
8 Movistar Team 291
9 Strongman-Campagnolo Wilier 273
10 Funvic Soul Cycles - Carrefour 272
11 Lupus Racing Team 181
12 EPM-Une-Área Metropolitana 171
13 Garneau - Québecor 169
14 Start - Vaxes Cycling Team 140
15 Caja Rural - Seguros RGA 131
16 Sindicato Empleados Públicos of San Juan 125
17 Inteja-MMR Dominican Cycling Team 112
18 Fortuneo - Vital Concept 110
19 Team Ecuador 106
20 Team Illuminate 93
Team Jelly Belly-Maxxis – Looking Forward to 2017
The Team rode The Beautiful Xingtai-Green International Stage Race, last in a block of UCI Asia Tour races, as the last official race on the 2016 calendar.
With a strong ride marred by mishap at Tour of California and an incredible showing at Tour of Utah, it was inevitable that Lachlan Morton would be eyeing a return to World Tour racing from a European base. We wish Lachlan the very best and are grateful for the past two seasons he spent with us.
“Lachlan changed the dynamic within the team,” said DS Danny van Haute. “We built a team based on stage races and we built it around a leader who could recruit the best aspects of every rider around him, while also motivating The Team and keeping morale high. Jelly Belly presented by MAXXIS has benefitted and continues to benefit from Lachy’s time here.”
“I’ve had the best two seasons of my career with Jelly Belly Cycling presented by MAXXIS,” confirmed Morton. “I will be forever grateful to this team. I have got renewed goals and dreams so I am heading back to Europe.Start of a new chapter and I couldn’t be more excited.”
Serghei Tvetcov, former Romanian Road and TT National Champion, returns stateside in 2017 and to The Team where he had breakout rides including 3rd overall at US Pro Challenge and the overall victory at Cascade Cycling Classic.
Sean Bennett, promising U23 all-rounder with international experience, will split his 2017 season between Jelly Belly Cycling presented by MAXXIS and the US National team.
Powerhouses Jacob Rathe, Taylor Shelden, and Angus Morton return, as do climbers Jordan Cheyne, Michael Sheehan, and Josh Berry. Sprinters Ben Wolfe and Ulises Castillo will also be animating domestic races at the highest level in 2017.
