USGP of Cyclocross #3 - Mercer Cup - C1

West Windsor, New Jersey, USA, November 15, 2008

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Race 3 - November 15: Elite Women

Gould muscles to victory and series lead

By Kirsten Robbins in West Windsor, New Jersey

Georgia Gould prevailed
Photo ©: Mitch Clinton

Beijing Olympian Georgia Gould (LUNA) continued her strong season this afternoon when she converted a late-race lead into a solo victory ahead of team-mate Katerina Nash in trying conditions in Mercer County Park. Meanwhile, Maureen Bruno Roy (Seven) used her running skills through the thick mud to round out the podium placings with a solid third place.

Gould started the race just six points behind Nash in the USGP standings, but her victory bumped her into the leader's jersey with 133 points, just three points ahead of Nash, who sits on 130. Rachel Lloyd (California Giant Berry) remains in third place with 103 points.

"Katerina and I want Luna to be on the top of the USGP," said Gould. "I would prefer it was me and Katerina would prefer that it were her. But the second best thing is to have your team-mate up there. We work really well together but once it is down to the just two of us, we don't cut each other any slack.

"I tried not to give up and it was really hard because Katerina was out there and in some sections she would just ride away from me and in other sections I was so close to her," said Gould about her chase back to Nash on the last lap. "I remembered that she was faster riding up some of the stuff that I was running at first. I decided to ride the last climb on the last lap and she ran it. There was a lot of luck out there when it came to which line to pick. It was a hard fought battle and I had a lucky climb on that last climb."

Heavy rain fell on the course before the start of the women's forty five minute event. As predicted the rain softened the grounds and as each category raced prior to the women, the more the mud lifted and thickened on the three kilometer circuit. These very desirable cyclo-cross conditions forced the riders to run through much of the course and over many of it’s belgian-style features.

"I thought about the course last night, remembering it from last year," said Bruno Roy. "I prepared for the sand pit because I wanted to do well there, because it was the toughest part. When I arrived at the course today, the sand ended up being the easiest part of the circuit, compared to all the mud. It was a place where we could rest for a few seconds."

Gould and Wendy Simms (KONA) took the hole shot side-by-side into the start of the long sections of mud - a sector that was grass before the start of the day's event. Simms, fresh off of a Belgian campaign, put pressure on the front of the field during the first lap. Riders in tow included Nash and Bruno Roy, along with Lloyd, Natasha Elliott (Stevens) and Deidre Winfield (Velo Bella-Kona).

It was an old-fashioned ding dong
Photo ©: Mitch Clinton

Gould and Nash paired up against the elite women's field in much the same fashion as in the Derby City Cup in Louisville in Kentucky, two weeks prior. With the thick mud weighing down the bikes, the duo picked up speed taking a spare bikes on the first run through the pits. They gained a sizable advantage upon exiting the pits, a lead that would continue to increase. "I was trying to keep a good line but riding really close to the tape and I ended up crashing a few times because of that," said Nash. "I got a little bit of practice in the mud in Europe this year but this was very extreme. I felt like I could ride very well but the running was killing me today."

Despite being tangled in course tape and sliding through the circuit's sludge the leading pair continued to increase they're advantage on the second lap. The chase group behind began to separate as Bruno Roy put pressure on them, using her technical skills and fast paced running. By the end of the second lap, Bruno Roy found herself alone, chasing after a USGP podium finish.

"It was important to get out front first to avoid any crashes," said Bruno Roy who has been a consistently in the top five placing this season. "Everytime someone retires, two really good riders take their place. So each year my fitness is the same. I work full time and I train as much as I can. It's hard when the competition keeps increasing every year. So if I can get the same place each year, I'm actually doing a lot better."

With a safe lead ahead of the other teams, Gould and Nash, equally matched, raced against one another for the top prize. Nash gained and held ten seconds on the penultimate lap while Gould struggled to close the distance from behind. However, Gould surprised the crowds when she caught and passed her team-mate with half a lap remaining.

"We don't take it easy on each other because we both want to win," said Nash regarding the good sportsman ship between the two talents. "We were battling against one another out there and that is what really makes us better. We are very competitive and that does really well for us on the team. We both have a good lead over third place in the USGP and there are three races left so hopefully after tomorrow we will increase that lead and then just battle it out to see which one of us is going to get it."

The racing will continue in Mercer County Park for round four of the USGP on Sunday.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Mitch Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com

Georgia Gould was strong on the running sections, which set up her win
Luna's Georgia Gould remained focused on the victory all race
The Luna duo of Georgia Gould and Katerina Nash fought it out for the win
Wendy Simms lead Mo Bruno-Roy through one of the small descents
Katerina Nash leads Gould through a running section
Mo Bruno-Roy looked solid on her way to third place
Rachel Lloyd (California Giant Berry) secured third on the standings with her performance
Conditions didn't suit Laura Van Gilder and her powerful sprint today
Czech rider Katerina Nash makes the barriers look easy
Georgia Gould had her best race face on today, and it certainly worked
Katerina Nash gave everything to try and take the win today
It was an old-fashioned ding dong between Nash (front) and Gould
Georgia Gould prevailed and took the win in Mercer County Park
Katerina Nash was spent as she crossed the line for second
A very happy Georgia Gould took the series lead with her win

Images by Todd Leister/leisterimages.com

Whatever was applied to Georgia Gould's (Luna) cleats before the start helped power her to victory.
Whatever speed that the elite women built up on the asphalt dissipated quickly thanks to the mud.
Georgia Gould (Luna) and teammate Katerina Nash (Luna) started to pull away from the field on the first lap.
The mud forces Laura Van Gilder (C3 Sollay) to dismount push.
Katerina Nash (Luna) was in the lead until a tangle with a course marker knocked her back to second.
Fellow racer and EMT Marci Titus Hall (DeSalvo Custom Cycles) forfeited her own race result when she stopped to give aid to an injured Anna Young (Planet Bike).
Wendy Simms (Kona) shoulders her bike and searches for solid footing.
Overnight rains turned the course into a footrace.
The women were cheered on by a bucket playing ape.
Racers found the rain soaked sandpit to be one of the easiest sections to navigate.
Georgia Gould (Luna) celebrates her victory at the USGP Mercer Cup.
The mud appears to have taken its toll on Katerina Nash (Luna) as she crosses the line in second place.
Georgia Gould (Luna) on top of the podium with Katerina Nash (Luna) and Maureen Bruno Ray (MM Racing – Seven Cycles), l & r.
Georgia Gould (Luna) is awarded the USGP leaders jersey.

Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net

Matt Roy and Mo Bruno-Roy at the Knapp's Cyclery number ceremony
Wendy Simms and her husband Norm
Georgia Gould and husband Dusty Barr at the number ceremony
Anna Young (Planet Bike)
Velo Bella's Kathy Sherwin, Anna Milkowski, and Diedre Winfield
Canadian National Champion Wendy Simms (Kona)
Sue Butler (Mona Vie) just being Sue Butler
Georgia Gould (Luna) wins another start
Amy Wallace (Richard Sachs/RGM) running her bike in the deep mud
Georgia Gould leading team-mate Katerina Nash (Luna) through the sand
Natasha Elliot (EMD Soronao/Stevens) riding the sand pit
Amy Dombroski (Vello Bella)
Sue Butler (Mona Vie) riding in the top ten
Kathy Sherwin (Vello Bella) running in the deep mud
Anna Milkowski (Vello Bella) running a long straightaway
Rebecca Wellons (Ridley) suffering in the energy sapping mud
Katerina Nash (Luna) leading the race
Georgia Gould (Luna) chasing Nash
Mo Bruno-Roy (MM Racing) riding to a strong 3rd place finish
Josie Jacques-Mayne (Specialized) riding the S-Turns
Georgia Gould (Luna) comes from behind to take the win and series lead
Katerina Nash (Luna) looked totally exhausted at the finish
Mo Bruno-Roy (MM Racing) was quite pleased with her third-place finish
Women's podium (l to r): Katerina Nash (Luna Women's MTB), Georgia Gould (Luna Women's MTB), Mo Bruno-Roy (MM Racing)

Results

1 Georgia Gould (LUNA)                                             
2 Katerina Nash (Luna Women's MTB Team)                            
3 Maureen Bruno Roy (MM Racing p/b Seven Cycles)                   
4 Rachel Lloyd (California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized)          
5 Wendy Simms (Kona)                                               
6 Deidre Winfield (Velo Bella - Kona)                              
7 Natasha Elliot (EMD Serono/ Stevens)                             
8 Amy Dombroski (Velo Bella - Kona)                                
9 Sue Butler (MonavieCannondale.com)                               
10 Meredith Miller (California Giant Strawberries/ Specialized)    
11 Josie Jacques-Maynes (Specialized/KMC pb Cal Giant)             
12 Laura Van Gilder (C3 Sollay)                                    
13 Kathy Sherwin (Velo Bella - Kona)                               
14 Kristin Wentworth (Planet Bike)                                 
15 Sally Annis (NEBC/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental)                 
16 Anna Milkowski (Velo Bella-Kona)                                
17 Melanie Swartz                                                  
18 Kaitlin Antonneau (Nova Cycle Sport Foundation)                 
19 Nikki Thiemann (Human Zoom Pabst Blue Ribbon)                   
20 Arley Kemmerer (Hub Racing)                                     
21 Rebecca Wellons (Ridley Factory Team)                           
22 Amy Wallace (Richard Sachs)                                     
23 Linnea Koons (International Bicycle/Global)                     
24 Jennifer Maxwell (Team Kenda Tire)                              
25 Kristin Gavin (Human Zoom/Pabst Blue Ribbon)                    
26 Lauri Webber (Secret Henry's Team)                              
27 Elizabeth Frye (Boone Velo)                                     
28 Vicki Thomas (Ottawa Cross)                                     
29 Perri Mertens (Embrocation Racing/Cambridge Bicycle)            
30 Patty Buerkle (Vanderkitten)                                    
31 Kristine Church (Human Zoom/ Pabst Blue Ribbon)                 
32 Rebecca Blatt (Team Kenda Tire)                                 
33 Kristy Swope (EPS/CSS/Riptide cycling'A')                       
34 Tara Parsons                                                    
35 Diane Grim (C3-Sollay.com)                                      
36 Julie Kuliecza (ALAN North America Cycling)                     
37 Jill Waggett (Guy's Racing)                                     
38 Heidi Von Teitenberg (C3-Sollay.com)                            
39 Tammy Ebersole                                                  
40 Whitney Kroll (Cane Creek)