Tom Zirbel Wins North Star Grand Prix Opener
Defending Champion Starts Strong in Team’s Hometown Race
Tom Zirbel smashed the opening time trial at the North Star Grand Prix, finishing with an incredible time of 9:59:31. Zirbel was the only rider to break the 10-minute barrier on the 5-mile course that runs along the east bank of the Mississippi river. Aaron Beebe (Bissell ABG Giant) finished second with Zirbel’s teammate and Amgen Tour of California King of the Mountains Evan Huffman in third. The victory is the fifth time Zirbel has won the time trial stage at the North Star Grand Prix and sets him up to defend the overall title he captured last year.
The North Star Grand Prix is Rally Cycling’s unofficial hometown event and the team has staked a claim to the top step of the podium, having won the overall title the last five years. Along with it being an important event for the team, it is also special for Zirbel who grew up south of the Twin Cities in Iowa. In his final season in the professional peloton, the course was lined with friends and family eager to see him race one final time. In addition to winning the overall title last year, Zirbel won the event in 2012. Another former winner, Jesse Anthony (2011) finished 14th and, along with Huffman and Danny Pate, are all within striking distance of the overall.
Click here for a full gallery of Rally Cycling in action during stage 1.
“It’s a special race for me as it’s the closest big event that we do near to where I grew up,” said Zirbel. “I always have a lot of friends and family show up, so I am happy to get a good result. I am not looking to hold the lead – it’s more about setting up the team later in the week. There is a good chance the jersey will change hands, but the team had a lot of guys go well today so we are in a good position.”
In the women’s race, the podium was elusive, with Heather Fischer the team’s highest place finisher in seventh. The women will look to climb back on the podium as the North Star Grand Prix continues with the St. Paul Criterium on Wednesday evening before tackling the Canyon Falls Road Race on Thursday. On Friday the race moves to Minneapolis for the Uptown Criterium. The event concludes over the weekend with the North Mankato Road Race on Saturday and the Stillwater Criterium on Sunday.
North Star Grand Prix Stage 1 Results
1. Tom Zirbel (Rally Cycling)
2. Aaron Beebe (Bissell ABG Giant)
3. Evan Huffman (Rally Cycling)
Rally Health, Inc., is a consumer-centric digital health company that makes it easy for individuals to take charge of their health and wellness, working with health plans, providers, and employers to reimagine consumer health engagement. The company’s flagship offering is Rally, a digital health platform that offers a configurable suite of solutions that help consumers manage all aspects of their health and care needs: Rally Engage focuses on personalized health and wellness support; Rally Choice is a benefits marketplace; and Rally Connect offers care provider search and cost transparency. More than 20 million consumers currently have access to the Rally platform through payers such as UnitedHealthcare, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, and thousands of employer groups. With offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Chicago, Minneapolis and Denver, Rally Health has been working to transform the consumer health and wellness industry since 2010. For more information, please visit www.RallyHealth.com.
Circuit Sport builds and executes modern engagement platforms within the dynamic world of professional cycling. Our unique approach to team management and marketing has set an international standard for over twenty years. Our pro road racing team, Rally Cycling, is more than just a collection of logos on a jersey – they are a real-time connection with a passionate, involved global fan base. Get in touch to learn how we help brands shine in the crowded world of sports marketing. www.circuitsport.com.
Comments are closed.