UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling veteran Karl Menzies secured the first ever overall win for the new US team when he finished 3rd in Sunday’s final stage to win the omnium (points) at the Tour de Murietta.
“The guys had another good day today,” said team directeur sportif Gord Fraser. “They worked really well together yesterday in the crit and again today in the road race. They’re executing really well, and the teamwork was critical to getting Karl the overall win against some strong competition.”
Menzies opened up the three-day omnium, with 2nd in the time trial Friday behind teammate Rory Sutherland. He took over the top spot in the standings after earning points for his 13th place finish in Saturday’s crit, after helping teammate Eric Barlevav to 4th place in the stage. He accumulated points enough points with his stage placings to seal up the overall with his 3rd place in today’s race.
Barlevav finished the race in 4th overall. “That was a good result from Eric for his first stage race with UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis,” Fraser commented.
The Tour de Murietta, was the second test in the team’s “pre-season” preparation for the NRC-opening Redlands Classic begins on March 25. The team will make their final preparations next weekend at the San Dimas Stage Race.
The roster will change up a bit for San Dimas, with Brad White, Andrew Pinfold, Max Jenkins and Jake Keough joining Sutherland, Menzies, Jonathan Clarke and Chris Baldwin.
San Dimas kicks off Friday with a 3.7-mile climbing time trial. The race continues Saturday with 12 trips around a challenging 7-mile circuit, and finishes Sunday with a 90-minute criterium around a 1.2-mile course in San Dimas.