Cyclo-cross news & racing round-up for October 7, 2006
Edited by Steve Medcroft
Welcome to our regular roundup of what's happening in cyclo-cross.
Feel free to send feedback, news and gossip to mtb@cyclingnews.com
Crank Brothers US Gran Prix of Cyclocross kicks off Saturday
Lyne Bessette in 2005
Photo ©: Steve Medcroft
|
The 2006 Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross will kick off its
national series on the legendary fields of Stage Fort Park in Gloucester,
Mass. on October 7-8 with two days of world class racing at the Gran Prix
of Gloucester presented by SemEquip.
A true New England cyclocross classic, the Gran Prix of Gloucester guarantees
great courses and unpredictable weather, all in one of the countrys
true hot beds of cyclocross. These two days of intense racing are hosted
at Gloucester's Stage Fort Park -- voted one of the top venues for its
challenging course, dramatic waterfront location and event organization
in a recent VeloNews poll. New for 2006 will be a kids race held
on Sunday sponsored by Essex County Velo.
"We're excited to once again host two stops of the U.S. Gran Prix
of Cyclocross series, said Paul Boudreau, Race Director, Gran Prix
of Gloucester. Being a part of the series for the past two seasons
has helped the Gloucester cross events meet and exceed its goals
of bringing world-class racing to New England."
The Gran Prix of Gloucester races are part of the Crank Brothers US Gran
Prix of Cyclocross --the premier cyclocross series in the United States.
The six race series attracts the best racers from across North America
who compete for the series overall championship and an automatic USA Cycling
world championship berth.
Expected in the race are a growing number of elite-level domestic racers
out for a winter workout. In the men's field, Todd Wells (GT) will wear
the the stars and stripes as the current national champ. He''l be up against
2005 USGP series champion Barry Wicks (Kona), roadie and three-time USGP
'dross race winner Tim Johnson (Cannondale/cyclocrossworld.com), 2004
USGP series winner Ryan Trebon (Kona), mountain bike short track super
stud Adam Craig (Giant) and former USPRO champion Mark McCormack (Clif
Bar) among others.
In women's events, expect to see Canadian and 2005 USGP series winner
and retired roadie Lyne Bessette (CyclocrossWorld.com/SRAM), tqo-time
US National Champion Katie Compton (Spike Professional - who will be racing
her first full elite season of cross - see related interview), Wendy Simms
(Kona), US MTB national champion Georgia Gould (Luna), stalwart 'crosser
Anne Knapp (Kona) and regional breakout rider Maureen Bruno-Roy (Independent
Fabrication/Wheelworks) among others.
Check back on Cyclingnews for full results, photos and race reports
from Gloucester.
World Cup remains domain of Sven Nys
By Brecht Decaluwé
Sven Nys continued his supremacy in the world cup competition with a
win in Aigle, Switzerland. The first round for the world cup on a muddy
course was dominated by the Belgians Bart Wellens and Sven Nys. World
champion Erwin Vervecken was third, colouring the podium completely in
Belgian black-yellow-red.
Nys was very happy with his win: "It wasn't an easy victory,"
he said. "I had to fight until the end, but that allows me to enjoy
the win even more than usual." Last week the Belgian champion was
bothered by a few crashes and little injuries. "It was difficult
to know how strong I was. If I gain some more percentages, then I'll be
really happy."
Bart Wellens was the dark horse of the race as he was suspended in September
for his karate-kick during last season. Together with Nys, he was the
strongest rider in the race; that way he surprised many people. "It
could've been even better as I felt I was in control of the race. When
I wanted to attack during the last lap, I had a flat tyre."
It was bad luck for Wellens who wasn't able to sprint for the victory
in Aigle. The rider from the Fidea team expects that he'll be able to
match Sven Nys this year. "We'll see this movie of the race a lot
this year!" he commented.
Behind the Belgians Italian Enrico Franzoi and French Francis Mourey
both combining cyclo cross with road racing - showed they're ready
for a good season with a strong fifth and sixth place. The disappointment
of the day was Belgian Sven Vanthourenhout who was riding very strongly
in the previous races in September. American Jonathan Page, who was also
riding well in September couldn't start in Aigle as he crashed during
training on the technical course; a dislocated shoulder will keep him
away from the bike for a few days.
See full results for the Aigle
World Cup
Record Crowds, Big Win for Andy Jacques-Maynes
Andy Jacques Maynes (California
Giant Strawberry)
Photo ©: Hyun Lee
|
Record crowds, record beer consumption and a surprise winner were the
most talked about moments at the 2006 Clif Bar/Hagens Berman Starcrossed
Cyclocross race this year. A total of about 2500 spectators packed into
Redmond Washington’s Marymoor Park to see some great bicycle racing. The
Women’s race was taken by Canadian National Champion Wendy Simms who overcame
a three-way battle for the win.
The men’s main event was fast, painful, and exciting and it certainly
did not disappoint the rowdy pumped up crowds who had been feasting on
Pabst Blue Ribbon in the beer garden all day long. Just a few laps into
the race a select group of men pulled away from the rest of the field
to form the lead freight train that would never look back. This select
group included Andy Jacques-Maynes, Carl Decker, Jonny Sundt, Chris Mcgovern,
Dan Neyens, Morgan Schmitt, Geoff Kabush, and Russell Stevenson. Stevenson
pinned it from the start with Kabush, Sundt, Decker, and Jacques-Maynes
taking short lived attacks and flyers.
The surprising move of the day was by 21 year old Dan Neyens of the Hagens
Berman Cyclocross Team who was able to get a significant gap quickly but
a late race bobble ended this excellent move. With a few laps to go Decker
moved up with an eye on a late charge but Jacques-Maynes had other ideas
and was able to keep the wily Decker at bay and take the win. Kabush would
finish third, Chris Mcgovern fourth, and the resurgent Sundt would finish
5th after spending three long days setting up for the event.
For full results, photos and a the complete race report from Star
Crossed cyclo-cross, click here.
Bessette cruises, Trebon works in Southampton
Mackenzie Dickey (bicycle alley),
Maureen Bruno Roy (Independent Fabrications), Christine Vardaros (Lotto-Belisol
Ladie steam),
Photo ©: Marco Quesada
|
Lynn Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com) and Ryan Trebon (Kona) took victory
in the first races of their season, but each of them had different paths
to get there.
Fifteen women contested the 2.5 kilometer Southampton course, but it
was all Bessette from the opening gun. She was never challenged, as she
built up a lead of a minute to win wire to wire. The challenges were to
be found early on in the best of the rest, as Christine Vardaros (Lotto-Belisol
Ladiesteam), Maureen Bruno-Roy (Independent Fabrications), and Mackenzie
Dickey starting trading positions trying to chase down Bessette. Vardaros
eventually went clear of the trio and Bruno made a vailant effort to catch
back on but couldn't do so and had to settle for third.
Southampton turned on spectacular
Photo ©: Marco Quesada
|
Unlike the women's race, the men found a group of riders that couldn't
get rid of each other, despite several mechanical failures and crashes.
After the first lap a group of seven formed the front, including Kona
stars Trebon and Barry Wicks, Tim Johnson (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com),
defending champion Mark McCormack (Clif Bar), Jesse Anthony (Clif Bar),
Matt White (Fiordifrutta), and Ben Jacques-Maynes (Cyclocrossworld.com).
Despite Trebon dropping his chain and Wicks crashing in the woods, the
seven could not break the rubber band holding them together.
Finally half-way through the race Trebon was able to bust the front group
up while taking only Johnson with him. McCormack had the hard task of
trying to make the bridge with Wicks in tow not willing to do anything
towards the effort. The rest of the race saw Trebon and Johnson right
on each other right to the finish, with Trebon using his height to his
advantage at the end with a final kick that Johnson could not match. McCormack
was eventually able to fend off Wicks but was relegated to the final spot
on the podium for the day.
For full results and photos from Whitmore's
Super Cross Cup #1, click here. See also Whitmore's
Super Cross Cup #2.
Global cyclo-cross racing round-up
- Cross im Park, Ger (C2), October 3: Brief
results
- Cyclo-Cross World Cup #1, Swi (CDM), October 1: Full
results & report
- Star-Crossed Cyclocross, USA (C2), October 1: Brief
results, photos & report
- Whitemore's Super Cross Cup #2 - C2, October 1: Full
results, report & photos
- Whitemore's Super Cross Cup #1 - C2, September 30: Full
results, report & photos
- Ed Sander Memorial Cyclocross - NE, October 1: Full
results, report & photos
- Budvar Cup #2, Cze (C2), September 28: Full
results
- Charm City Cyclocross, USA (NE), September 24: Full
results & report
- Vermont Gran Prix of Cyclocross, USA (C2), September 24:
Full results &
report
- Kinetic Systems - Tailwind Cyclo-cross #1 & #2, USA
(C2), September 23-24: Race
2, Race 1
- Full results, report & photos
- Stevens Cup #1 & #2, Ger (C2), September 23-24: Race
2, Race 1
- Full results
- Budvar Cup #1, Cze (C2), September 24: Full
results
The cyclo-cross bikes of Interbike
by Mark Zalewski, North American Editor in Bootleg Canyon, Nevada
Geoff Kabush got his new cross
bike
Photo ©: Mark Zalewski
|
The two-day warm-up to Interbike, know casually by most as 'dirt demo,'
was the usual ruckus of dirt, bikes and more dirt. Companies brought out
their newest wares for dealers and other industry people alike to spin
around for a few minutes. The biggest representation this year was by
Cannondale, who is forgoing a traditional Interbike booth and spending
the money on the demo days. Cannondale's Scott Struve told Cyclingnews
that it just makes more sense for them this year, as they are following
the model of other companies that bring dealers to their own site to unveil
new product lines outside of the busy days of Interbike. "We have 230
bikes out here," he said. "That is what the dealers really want to do,
ride the bikes."
One noticeable difference this year compared to the recent past was
the presence of cyclocross bikes. Many vendors had cross machines available
for testing, including Scott USA, Felt, Blue and Raleigh. Raleigh's ride
is billed as an introductory model at just US$1,200. Norm Krisher, Raleigh's
marketing coordinator said that the idea was to offer the best frame and
fork possible and make the rest upgradable to lower the initial cost.
"We are really trying to design it to be an affordable bike that can be
used for things other than cross racing. We wanted to get the best frame
and fork possible and make it completely upgradable. You can race it right
out of the box or make changes to the components."
On the higher end of the spectrum is Geoff Kabush's new Van Dessel --
painted in bright orange to match his Maxxis team kit. Kabush was not
loaning his bike out for test rides as he just got it himself today. "I
just put the bar tape on and got the position dialed in," he said. Kabush
also said that he had some input in the design process. "I had a bit on
input on the dimensions because I am a little large -- I got the top tube
lengthened by a centimeter so it fits me better. Other than that it is
stock geometry. It's the nicest cross bike I have ever had."
For the complete look at the cyclo-cross
bikes of Interbike, click here.
Beacon Cross rescheduled
Round #3 of the Verge MAC Cyclocross Series, the UCI C2 Beacon
Cyclocross has been rescheduled for Sunday October 29, 2006
one day later than its previously published date.
According to event promoter Wade Hess, Due to an event at the Bridgeton
City Zoo I have been force to change the date of the Beacon Cross Race.
If I did not change the race date, then the race course would have been
drastically changed. So -- the new race date is Sunday Oct 29. Nothing
else has changed but the date; the race course will still be the same
as it has been for the past 2 years. It's still a MAC race and it's still
a UCI race.
Georgia Cyclocross Series
The Georgia Cross Series announced its full calendar last week with a
slate of seven races. Last year was one of our biggest years and
we plan to build on that success again this year said series director
Shey Lindner. Racer turnout grew by 20% in 2005 and support from
our sponsors has dramatically increased this year. Racing begins
October 15th in Conyers, GA.
Georgia Cyclocross Series schedule:
October 15, 2006 - Conyers
October 22, 2006 - Augusta
October 29, 2006 Fort Yargo
November 5, 2006 - Monroe
November 12, 2006 - Marietta
December 3, 2006 Macon, State Championships
December 10, 2006 - Jackson, Series Finale
Chicago Cyclocross Series dates announced
(Chicago, Illinois - September 25, 2006) - The Chicago Cyclocross Racing
series starts Sunday, October 15 and runs through Sunday, December 3.
The first race of the series of will be presented by North Branch Cycling
Club of Chicago, Illinois and sponsored by Main Street Bicycles of Carpentersville,
Illinois and is to be held at Carpenter Park in Carpentersville, Illinois.
Chicago Cyclocross Series schedule:
Sunday, October 15, Carpenter Park, Chicago
Saturday, November 4 - Campton Cross, St. Charles
Sunday, November 12 - Jackson Park, Chicago
Sunday, December 3 - Montrose Park, Chicago
Velo Bella - Kona for 2006/07
Ann Fitzsimmons
Photo ©: Russ and Nancy Wright
|
The Velo Bella - Kona women are back for another year of flinging dirt
and spreading mayhem across the cyclocross circuit. And, now theyve
gone bi -coastal. For the third year in a row, the nations largest
all female cyclocross team will spread the Bella vibe around the Crank
Brothers US Grand Prix of Cyclocross, US Cyclocross Nationals and
at over 60 local races across the US.
Velo Bella is dedicated to providing a place for women to ride
their bikes, race their bikes, and above all, get muddy in a skinsuit,"
said Team Co Founder, Sabine Dukes. "With continued membership growth
across the US, we felt it necessary to create a bi-coastal cyclocross
team to mentor and inspire our members wherever they are. That and there
just isnt enough mud here in California.
The 2006 Elite Velo Bella-Kona Cyclocross Team will consist of ten riders
from around the United States. Sarah Kerlin (Capitola, CA) was the 2004
US National Cyclocross Champion in the 30-34 agre group, and 2004 US National
Team member. Barbara Howe (Larkspur, CA) has won numerous UCI races here
in the US and was a National Team Member in 2004 and 2005. Ann Fitzsimmons
(Morgan Hill, CA) rose through the Velo Bella ranks as a beginner a few
years ago to place 12th at the 2005 US National Cyclocross Championships.
Team veterans Erin Kassoy (Palo Alto, CA), Shannon Holden (Spokane, WA)
and developmental racer Marian Jamison (Reno, NV) complete the West Coast
squad.
The East Coast squad is led by Anna Milkowski (New Haven, CT), who placed
highly at UCI road and cyclocross races, including taking 11th at the
2005 US National Cyclocross Championships. Melanie Swartz (Reston, VA)
is a rising star in the Mid-Atlantic region and ranked sixth in US for
UCI points in cyclocross during 2005. Veteran Bella Jennifer Tilley (Lawrence,
Kansas), Dee Dee Winfield (Charlottesville, VA) and developmental racer
Stephanie White (2004 US Junior National Champion, 15-18) from Bedford,
NH complete the eastern squad.
Sonic cyclo-cross team for 2006/07
The Sonic cyclocross squad announced its roster for its fifth season
of competition this week as well as the launch of a new, four-member U23
program.
Matt Shriver, who finished 10th overall in the 2005 USGP series, returns
for 2006. Brent Bookwalter will once again parlay his road fitness into
a mixed cyclocross and collegiate mountainbike racing schedule for the
fall. In 2005, Bookwalter won the Collegiate Men's cyclocross national
championship and then one hour later was a player in the race for the
U23 national title, eventually finishing third. Chris McGovern and Andy
Applegate round out the Sonic squad.
The Sonic U23 program is comprised of David Fleischauer, a member of
the 2003 US national team, Luke Brechwald, Joey Rodgerson, and Tela Crane.
Previous News Next
News
(All rights reserved/Copyright Knapp Communications Pty Limited 2005)
| |