Americans Abroad: Mannion top-10 in Korea

Welcome to Americans Abroad, our weekly check-in with the American pros in the European peloton. VeloNews will publish these updates every Monday throughout the season.

Gavin Mannion of Drapac Cycling went to South Korea as a domestique for Brenton Jones, but left as the team’s best finisher. Mannion, who rode to fourth overall at the USA Pro Challenge and third at Tour of the Gila in 2015, finished the Tour de Korea in seventh place, 2:08 behind Nippo – Vini Fantini’s Grega Bole.

Drapac’s goal for the eight-day race was to collect as many stage wins as possible. Mannion worked for Jones, who won two days and spent stage 5 in the leader’s jersey. His best finish before stage 6 was 67th. Stage 6 featured the hills between Asan and Chungju. Drapac gave Mannion the green light to ride for a stage win, and he went away in a group of 10 riders with 150 kilometers remaining. The break was whittled down to six as the day progressed, and they held onto a 23-second advantage at the finish line. In the sprint, Mannion finished third, a result that rocketed him up nearly 60 places on the general classification, from 66th to seventh. He was able to keep his position in the overall until the end of the race, two days later.

Brent Bookwalter (BMC)

Brent Bookwalter returned to Europe to help Richie Porte in the Critérium du Dauphiné in France. He finished 49th overall, and was 12th on stage 4.

Ian Boswell (Sky)

Ian Boswell’s race season continued after the Giro d’Italia with the Tour de Suisse. The race started Saturday, and after Monday’s stage 3, Boswell was 67th overall.
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Tyler Farrar (Dimension Data)

Farrar is also in Switzerland. After stage 3, he was 165th overall.

Chad Haga (Giant – Alpecin)

Chad Haga raced for the Giant – Alpecin squad and John Degenkolb in France last week. Haga did not start stage 5 and finished 96th on stage 3, his best stage of the week.

Alex Howes (Cannondale)

Working for Pierre Rolland, Alex Howes spent the week racing in the mountains of France, tuning his form ahead of the Tour de France. Howes finished 98th overall and was 46th in stage 4.

Carter Jones (Giant – Alpecin)

Jones raced for the first time in a month last week in France. Overall, he finished 130th.

Ben King (Cannondale)

Along with Howes, King raced for Pierre Rolland. He finished the race 77th overall. His best stage was stage 5, where he finished 29th.

Taylor Phinney (BMC)

Phinney was one of two Americans racing for the BMC squad at the Rond um Köln in Germany Sunday. He finished 117th, 3:13 behind Dylan Groenewegen, the day’s victor.

Kiel Reijnen (Trek – Segafredo)

Kiel Reijnen is one of two Americans on the trek – Segafredo Tour de Suisse squad, riding for Fabian Cancellara. After stage 3, Reijnen was in 160th place. He also raced the Grand Prix du Canton d’Argovie on Wednesday and finished 64th.

Joey Rosskopf (BMC)

Joey Rosskopf raced the German Rund um Köln Sunday. He finished 38th in a bunch sprint with the same time as Groenewegen.

Peter Stetina (Trek – Segafredo)

Stetina is the second American helper for Fabian Cancellara in Switzerland. After Monday, he was 97th overall.

Andrew Talansky (Cannondale)

Following a trip to California and a difficult spring season, Andrew Talansky leads the Cannondale team in Switzerland. After stage 3, he was 40th on the general classification.

Tejay van Garderen (BMC)

Van Garderen chose the Tour de Suisse over the Critérium du Dauphiné for this year’s Tour de France preparation. After stage 2, he was 17th overall, 33 seconds behind race leader Peter Sagan.

Alexey Vermeulen (LottoNL – Jumbo)

Lotto NL’s young American rider finished the Critérium du Dauphiné in 82nd place. His best finish of the race was the penultimate stage, 7, where he finished 34th.

Larry Warbasse (IAM)

Warbasse was one of two Americans who raced the GP du Canton d’Argovie. He finished 51st overall, 24 seconds behind Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek – Segafredo)