First Cyclo-cross news & racing round-up, Monday, November 9, 2009

• Previous Edition
• Next Edition

Date published:

November 9, 2009, 04:00

• Boulder Cup Cyclo-cross moves venues

  

  Article published:

  October 28, 2009, 21:22

  By:

  Sue George

  Winter storm forces move for November 1 race

  Organizers of the Boulder Cup cyclo-cross changed the race's location for this weekend's race. The Boulder Reservoir replaces the Harlow Platts Park location for Sunday, November 1, thanks to an early winter storm.

  The Front Range of Colorado was blanketed with heavy, wet snow on Tuesday night and Wednesday which forced the City of Boulder and organizers to move venues in an effort to avoid damage to the turf at Harlow Platts.

  Race director Chris Grealish described the move as the best alternative given the fragility of the turf at Harlow Platts. "The racers love Harlow Platts because of the challenging nature of the grassy terrain but we have an agreement with the City of Boulder to make a move if conditions there risk long-term damage to the park."

  The schedule of events for the event remains unchanged with racing takes place all day beginning with local amateurs at 8:00 am. The professional men and women will race during the afternoon beginning at 2:30 pm with the elite women followed by the elite men at 3:20 pm.

  For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.crosspartners.net.

  Follow Cyclingnews on Twitter for the very latest coverage of events taking place in the cycling world - twitter.com/cyclingnewsfeed.

• Nys to replace Vervecken on UCI 'cross commission

  

  Article published:

  October 31, 2009, 20:39

  By:

  Cycling News

  Belgian champion begins term in Nommay

  Belgian cyclo-cross champion Sven Nys will join the UCI's cyclo-cross commmission, replacing Erwin Vervecken in the role. Nys will attend his first meeting with the group in Nommay, France before the next round of the UCI World Cup.

  Nys will take over from the three-time world champion as the rider representative for the UCI on cyclo-cross, since Vervecken is retiring at the end of the season and will no longer be eiligible for that position.

   "I hope to make a contribution," Nys said. "Do I have issues I wish to raise? Sure. For example, I would like to know what the issue is with getting hand-ups in cyclo-cross. The rules need to make sense ..."

  Follow Cyclingnews on Twitter for the very latest coverage of events taking place in the cycling world - twitter.com/cyclingnewsfeed

• Wyman focused on closing gap to Vos

  

  Article published:

  November 2, 2009, 01:59

  By:

  Cycling News

  Compton also in British cyclo-crosser’s sights

  Great Britain’s Helen Wyman is determined to narrow the gap between her and the world’s top female cyclo-cross riders following her third place finish at the European Continental Championships. Wyman took the bronze medal after finishing 42 seconds behind Marianne Vos.

  “I have to put my head down now and work hard to close the gap to Vos and [Katie] Compton, and fingers crossed that can start in Nommay next week,” said Wyman. “Then I’m off on a training week in some warmer weather to get myself ready for the next part of the season.”

  Vos is one of the world’s top women’s cyclist, having claimed International Cycling Union (UCI) World Championships in cyclo-cross, road and track racing. America’s Compton is amongst the world’s best in her cyclo-cross discipline having dominated the discipline in her homeland and won several World Cup races in Europe. Compton will enter next weekend’s UCI World Cup race in Nommay, France as the defending champion.

  Wyman was delighted with her bronze medal in Hoogstraten, Belgium. The result was her first major championship medal. “I came really close to a medal in the Euro’s a few years ago, but a double puncture stopped that attempt,” she said. “I’m just so happy things have gone my way and I’m able to be on the podium in a major championship.

  “I have a great crew of people behind me as well as Kona, and it’s the work that these people put in that helps me keep improving year on year,” added Wyman. “Cyclo-cross is strange sometimes and I have been on the end of some fairly bad lack in the last couple of World Champs, so I’m really glad to have done this for everyone that kept believing in me.”

  As the current national champion Wyman is Great Britain’s top women’s cyclo-cross competitor. She has held the national title for four years.

  Follow Cyclingnews on Twitter for the very latest coverage of events taking place in the cycling world - twitter.com/cyclingnewsfeed

• Powers, Bruno Roy lead USAC 'cross standings

  

  Article published:

  November 3, 2009, 20:42

  By:

  Cycling News

  26 of 42 events on US national 'cross calendar completed

  As elite level 'cross racers have completed more than half of the North American cyclo-cross season, Jeremy Powers (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) leads the men's USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Calendar standings while Maureen Bruno Roy (MM Racing p/b Seven Cycles) tops the women's standings.

  Twenty-six of the 42 events on the calendar have taken place, including four this past weekend: the Blue Sky Velo Cup and Beacon Cross on October 31 and the Boulder Cup and HPCX on November 1.

  Tim Johnson (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) and Katie Compton (Planet Bike) won the Blue Sky Velo Cup in Longmont, Colorado and repeated their winning performances the following day at the Boulder Cup in Boulder, Colorado.

  On the east coast, Nicholas Weighall (California Giant Strawberries - Specialized) and Mary McConneloug (Kenda-Seven-NoTubes) took top honours at Beacon Cross in Bridgeton, New Jersey. The following day Valentin Scherz (Pro Cycles-Scott-Newwork) and Maureen Bruno Roy (MM Racing p/b Seven Cycles) earned victories at the HPCX in Jamesburg, New Jersey.

  USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Racing Calendar

  Men's Standings

  1	Jeremy Powers (USA) Cyclocrossworld.com / Cannondale	294	pts
  2	James Driscoll (USA) Cyclocrossworld.com / Cannondale	274
  3	Timothy Johnson (USA) Cyclocrossworld.com / Cannondale	252
  4	Ryan Trebon (USA) Kona-FSA	225
  5	Jonathan Page (USA) Planet Bike	170
  6	Dan Timmerman (USA) Richard Sachs/RGM Watches/Radix	167
  7	Christopher Jones (USA) Champion System	166
  8	Barry Wicks (USA) Kona-FSA	131
  9	Davide Frattini (Ita) Team Fuji	115
  10	Joachim Parbo (Den) CCV Leopard Cycles	99
  11	Geoff Kabush (Can) Maxxis/Rocky Mountain	97
  12	Erwin Vervecken (Bel) Revor Cycling Team	90
  13	Adam Myerson (USA) Cycle-Smart	81
  14	Luke Keough (USA) Team Champion System	75
  15	Christian Heule (Swi) Rendementhypo Cycling Team	74
  16	Nicholas Weighall (USA) California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized	72
  17	Joshua Dillon (USA) Richard Sachs/RGM Watches/Radix	70
  18	Valentin Scherz (Swi) Pro Cycles-Scott-NewWork	69
  19	Jesse Anthony (USA) Jamis	68
  20	Justin Lindine (USA) Bikereg.com/Joe's Garage/IF	67
  21	Andy Jacques-Maynes (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling	56
  22	Troy Wells (USA) Team Specialized	54
  23	Jerome Townsend (USA) Bikereg.com/Joe's Garage/IF	49
  24	Mark Lalonde (USA) Planet Bike	46
  25	Derrick St John (Can) Garneau Club Chaussure Ogilvy	40
  26	Brian Matter (USA) Gear Grinder	36
  27	Mike Garrigan (Can) La Bicicleta	32
  28	Ryan DeWald (USA) Battley Harley-Davidson	31
  29	Ryan Knapp (USA) Bikereg.com	30
  30	Weston Schempf (USA) C3 Athletes Serving Atheletes	29
  31	Justin Spinelli (USA) Svelte Cycles	28
  32	Michael Broderick (USA) Team Kenda/Seven/Notubes	26
  33	Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru/Gary Fisher	24
  34	Adam Craig (USA) Giant MTB Team	22
  35	William Dugan (USA) Team Type 1	22
  36	Carl Decker (USA) Giant MTB Team	20
  37	Adam McGrath (USA) Thule/Van Dessel	20
  38	Daniel Summerhill (USA) Felt-VMG U23	20
  39	Tyler Wren (USA) Boo Bicycles	17
  40	Richard Visinski (USA) Echappe Equipment Elite Team	16
  41	Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Factory Racing	16
  42	Jonathan Sundt (USA) El Gato	14
  43	Andrew Wulfkuhle (USA) C3-Athletes Serving Athletes	13
  44	Ben Berden (Bel) Revor Cycling Team	12
  45	Tim Van Nuffel (Bel) Rendementhypo Cycling Team	12
  46	Jake Wells (USA) MafiaRacing.com	10
  47	Molly Cameron (USA) Portland Bicycle Studio	8
  48	Kirt Fitzpatrick (USA) Sexual Camel	8
  49	Greg Wittwer (USA) Alan North America Cycling Team	8
  50	Travis Livermon (USA) Champion System/Cannondale	7
  51	Dave Hackworthy (USA) Ridley Factory Team	6
  52	Jake Keough (USA) Team Champion System	6
  53	Chris Sheppard (Can) Santa Cruz/Shimano/WTB/Giro	6
  54	Tristan Schouten (USA) Planet Bike	5
  55	Aaron Schooler (Can) Team H & R Block-Kona	4
  56	Nathan Wyatt (USA) Carolina Fatz pb Santa Cruz Bicycles	4
  57	Ryan Iddings (USA) LaPierre USA	3
  58	Zach McDonald (USA) Stevens	3
  59	Mitchell Kersting (USA) Rapid Transit Racing	2
  60	Gavin Mannion (USA) Hot Tubes Junior Development Team	2
  61	Dylan McNicholas (USA) CCB Racing	2
  62	Guillaume Nelessen (USA) Van Dessel Factory Team	2
  63	Matt Pacocha (USA) Hudz/Subaru	2
  64	Justin Robinson (USA) California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized	2
  65	Tyler Trace (Can) Trek Red Truck	2
  66	Adam Bergman (USA) Texas Roadhouse Cycling Team	1
  67	Ian Brown (USA) River City/Tonicfab.Com	1
  68	Tom Burke (USA) Specialized Bikes, Michigan	1
  69	Brandon Dwight (USA) Boulder Cycle Sport	1
  70	Craig Richey (USA) Blue Competition	1
  71	Joseph Thompson (USA) Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Cycling Team	1

  Women's Standings

  1	Maureen Bruno Roy (USA) MM Racing p/b Seven Cycles	200	pts
  2	Katherine Compton (USA) Planet Bike	160
  3	Laura Van Gilder (USA) C3 Athletes Serving Athletes	140
  4	Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Chix	125
  5	Susan Butler (USA) Monavie-Cannondale.com	124
  6	Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Chix	104
  7	Natasha Elliott (Can) Garneau Club Chaussure Ogilvy	99
  8	Mary McConneloug (USA) Team Kenda/Seven/NoTubes	98
  9	Deidre Winfield (USA) C3 - Athletes Serving Athletes	97
  10	Amy Dombroski (USA) Richard Sachs/RGM Watches/Radix	94
  11	Amanda Carey (USA) Kenda/Trainwitheric.com	87
  12	Alison Dunlap (USA) Luna Chix	81
  13	Rebecca Wellons (USA) Team Plan C	67
  14	Andrea Smith (USA) Minuteman Road Club	55
  15	Meredith Miller (USA) California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized	50
  16	Barbara Howe (USA) Vanderkitten	48
  17	Alison Sydor (Can) Rocky Mountain-Maxxis	44
  18	Kelli Emmett (USA) Giant Bicycles	36
  19	Helen Wyman (GBr) Kona-FSA	34
  20	Nicole Thiemann (USA) Human Zoom/Pabst Blue Ribbon	33
  21	Kristin Gavin (USA) Human Zoom/Pabst Blue Ribbon	28
  22	Kari Studley (USA) Velo Bella	26
  23	Arley Kemmerer (USA) Hub Racing	24
  24	Kristin Wentworth (USA) Planet Bike	18
  25	Linda Sone (USA) Planet Bike	17
  26	Anna Barensfeld (USA) Minuteman Road Club	12
  27	Lyne Bessette (Can) October Factory Racing	12
  28	Lea Davison (USA) Maxxis/Rocky Mountain	12
  29	Kaitlin Antonneau (USA) Planet Bike	11
  30	Crystal Anthony (USA) Minuteman Road Club	9
  31	Sara Bresnick-Zocchi (USA) Pedalpowercoaching.com/Landry's Bicycles	9
  32	Alison Powers (USA) Team Fuji	9
  33	Wendy Williams (USA) Hudz/Subaru	9
  34	Kimberly Flynn (USA) Vantaggio/Specialized	8
  35	Carolyn Popovic (USA) Cape Atlantic Racing/beaconcycling.com	8
  36	Linnea Koons (USA) October Factory Racing	7
  37	Jenni Gaertner (USA) Vertical Earth	6
  38	Jennifer Maxwell (USA) ATAC Sportswear p/b The Bike Rack DC	6
  39	Vicki Thomas (Can) Ottawa Cross	6
  40	Emily Van Meter (USA) Hudz/Subaru	6
  41	Erica Yozell Miller (USA) VisitPA.com	6
  42	Heather Irmiger (USA)	4
  43	Lisa Strong (USA) Natural Grocers	4
  44	Sally Annis (USA) Hub Racing	3
  45	Katrina Baumsteiger (USA) Team Rambuski Law	3
  46	Nicole Borum (USA)	3
  47	Elizabeth Frye (USA)	3
  48	Devon Haskell (USA) Velo Bella	3
  49	Alice Pennington (USA) Veloforma	3
  50	Sarah Stewart (Can) Total Restoration Cycling Team	3
  51	Ann D'Ambruoso (USA) Minuteman Cycling Club	2
  52	Sarah Maile (USA) Ventana	2
  53	Rhonda Mazza (USA) Team S&M	2
  54	Karen Potter (USA) Zanconato	2
  55	Lauri Webber (USA) Secret Henry's Team	2
  56	Emma Bast (USA) Cycle-Smart / NCC	1
  57	Kristi Berg (USA) Redline Bicycles	1
  58	Kristal Boni (USA) Blue Sky Velo	1
  59	Patty Buerkle (USA)	1
  60	AnnaJean Dallaire (USA) Cannondale Factory Racing	1
  61	Karin Holmes (USA) Sunapee S&W	1
  62	Ashley James (USA)	1
  63	Kacey Manderfield (USA)	1
  64	Perri Mertens (USA) Embrocation Cycling Journal / Mad Alchemy	1
  65	Lenore Pipes (USA)	1
  66	Cris Rothfuss (USA) Seven Cycles	1

  Follow Cyclingnews on Twitter for the very latest coverage of events taking place in the cycling world - twitter.com/cyclingnewsfeed

• Kupfernagel prepares for return in Nommay

  

  Article published:

  November 3, 2009, 21:33

  By:

  Cycling News

  Former world 'cross champion makes season debut this weekend

  German Hanka Kupfernagel will make her return to the UCI cyclo-cross circuit at the Nommay World Cup in France this coming weekend.

  After a successful cyclo-cross season which saw her win the overall UCI World Cup and lead the UCI rankings, the five-time world champion (cyclo-cross, 2000, 2001, 2005 and 2008, road time trial 2008) missed most of the summer due to injuries from a crash sustained in June at the Tour de PEI in Canada.

  Interviewed on her personal web site, www.hanka-kupfernagel.de, she explained that although she did not break any bones in the crash, she suffered from headaches and problems with her cervical spine.

  After plenty of physiotherapy and an extended break from racing, the 35-year-old spent time in October training in Mallorca in good weather to prepare for her return to top level competition this weekend.

  "I didn't want to take part in a competition until I'was all fit again," Kupfernagel said.

  The slow start meant that she has postponed her goal of seeking another world cup overall title in cyclo-cross. Instead, she will look to the World Championships in Tabor in January, and even further down the road to 2011, when 'cross worlds will be held in her home country at St. Wendel, Germany.

• Defending champions Driscoll, Elliott and Van Gilder return to Northampton

  

  Article published:

  November 5, 2009, 20:34

  By:

  Peter Hymas

  Cycle-Smart International, US's oldest UCI 'cross race, celebrates 19th edition

  All eyes will be on New England this weekend as the only UCI-sanctioned 'cross action in the US takes place at the Cycle-Smart International in Northampton, Massachusetts on November 7-8. In its 19th edition, the Cycle-Smart International is also the oldest UCI 'cross race in the country and serves as rounds nine and ten for the Verge New England Championship Cyclo-cross Series.

  Veteran course designers JD Bilodeau and Adam Myerson have put together a fast, technical, traditionally New England-style course in the Look Park venue. The hallmarks of this course - the steep run up and ride up - will make an appearance, as well as the drop off and several raised train track crossings. New for this year, the finish will be moved to the lower level, near the main parking, bringing the action into plain view and making the race much more spectator friendly.

  "The venue is two-tiered where there are two plateaus with a steep change in elevation between them. We've moved more of the action, the expo area, the parking and the start-finish line all down on the lower plateau," Myerson told Cyclingnews. "It should be good for everybody because it makes everything more compact. It will be better for spectating as spectators can stand up on the upper plateau and be able to see all the action."

  Unlike previous editions of the Cycle-Smart International, this year there are no other UCI races in the US to draw riders to other parts of the country. "Every weekend this year there's a conflict, there's a UCI race on the East coast and a UCI race on the West coast," said Myerson. "We moved one week later so we didn't conflict with Boulder, we've always conflicted with Boulder, and now that we don't conflict with Boulder we don't conflict with anyone.

  "We're going to have a few more guys travelling from out of the region than we might normally. Adam Craig is going to show up and that's really good for us. We've had a situation where the Cyclocrossworld guys aren't racing in their home races because they're off somewhere else racing. We're really psyched that Jeremy Powers is going to be home, Jamey Driscoll is going to be home. We're actually going to have all of the best New England riders here racing."

  The weather forecast for the weekend should create ideal conditions for the more than 1100 racers expected to participate in the weekend's full race schedule. "We're supposed to get a little bit of snow Thursday and Friday night but it looks like it's going to be great weather on the weekend with [temperatures in the] 50s and sunshine both days," said Myerson. "It's comfortable weather, good for spectating, good for racers and also I expect we'll have a really fast course. If we get a little bit of moisture and then warm weather it will pack down and make for a fast race."

  With eight of the 14 races complete in the Verge New England Cyclo-cross Championship Series, Dan Timmerman (Richard Sachs/RGM Watches/Radix) holds a commanding 116-point lead over Luke Keough (Team Champion System) in the Elite men's standings. Timmerman has won four of the eight races contested so far, including a sweep of the Downeast Cyclo-cross weekend in New Gloucester, Maine on October 24-25, and has earned 340 points in the series.

  With a maximum of 120 points up for grabs, 60 points for winning each day, it's likely that Timmerman will retain his series into the next round on November 28-29, but he'll be facing some stiff competition each day from the Cyclocrossworld.com/Cannondale duo of Jamey Driscoll and Jeremy Powers. Driscoll, the defending champion from both days of last year's Cycle-Smart International, has yet to step on the top of the podium in any of the four Verge races he's contested, but the only riders to have bested him, Jonathan Page (Planet Bike) and teammate Tim Johnson (Cyclocrossworld.com/Cannondale) will be absent from the starting grid.

  While Timmerman has some breathing room at the top of the standings, the riders in second through sixth overall all lie within 34 points of each other. Keough, with 224 points, holds only a one-point lead over third-placed Josh Dillon (Richard Sachs/RGM Watches/Radix) and a four-point advantage over Johnson in fourth. Jerome Townsend (Bikereg.com/Joe's Garage/IF) holds fifth, 19 points behind Keough while Driscoll enters the weekend in sixth overall, 34 points behind Keough.

  In the Elite women's standings, Maureen Bruno Roy (MM Racing p/b Seven Cycles) leads the Verge series with 366 points. Bruno Roy has won three of the eight Verge races she's entered, including a sweep of the Downeast Cyclo-cross weekend in New Gloucester, Maine on October 24-25.

  Bruno Roy will face a strong field in Northampton with Canada's Natasha Elliott (Garneau Club Chaussure Ogilvy) slated to compete, second overall, 46 points behind Bruno Roy, and a three-time Verge series winner this season. Elliott is the defending champion from the Cycle-Smart International's opening day last year, narrowly beating Laura Van Gilder, and finished second the following day to Van Gilder.

  Laura Van Gilder (C3 Athletes Serving Athletes) once again returns to Northampton and should be a strong contender each day along with Andrea Smith (Minuteman Road Club) and Rebecca Wellon (Team Plan C), fourth and fifth overall respectively in the women's Verge series.

  Follow Cyclingnews on Twitter for the very latest coverage of events taking place in the cycling world - twitter.com/cyclingnewsfeed

• Compton prepares to defend World Cup lead in Nommay

  

  Article published:

  November 6, 2009, 14:14

  By:

  Laura Weislo

  First American ever to wear leader's jersey hopes for rain in France

  Katie Compton will toe the line in Nommay, France as the first American ever to wear the jersey of World Cup leader, but despite this honour, she is hopful the kit will be obscured by mud by the end of the race.

  "It feels great to wear the World Cup leader's jersey. It willl be a privilege to be on the start line as the first America to wear that jersey. I hope to keep it for more than one race!" Compton told Cyclingnews on Friday.

  "I think the conditions will have the greatest effect on what the course is like. I'm hoping for rain and/or snow so that it will be a tough, technical race. Fast races are fun, but muddy ones are better."

  Compton dominated the first round of the series in Treviso last month, besting Dutchwoman Daphny Van Den Brand and France's Christel Ferrier-Bruneau with apparent ease. However, this weekend she will face the two rivals who relegated her to third at the World Championships last season, Marianne Vos and Hanka Kupfernagel.

  After a late start in 'cross following a strong road season, World Champion Vos has already shown herself this season by winning the European Championships in Hoogstraten, Belgium last week. Kupfernagel, on the other hand, has yet to show her form, but Compton knows the German cannot be discounted.

  "Hanka has only raced a local race, but she is always strong and I don't expect that to be different on Sunday. Vos is riding really well this year and as World Champ will want to put on a good show. She is a smart and fast racer so she will also be a tough one to beat.

  "We can't forget about Daphny either, she is a strong technical rider and has the ability to win this weekend, too."

  Compton undoubtedly has a mental advantage on her competition. She remains undefeated in any contest so far this season and is looking to continue her streak in Nommay.

  It will be the first time the World Cup leader's jersey will appear in a race since last year's round in Tabor when Van Den Brand, winner of the series opener in Kalmthout, wore it before Kupfernagel took over for the remainder of the season. As the reigning World Champion, the German's rainbow bands took precedence.

  Compton hopes to keep a hold on the leader's jersey for a bit longer. "If I can win this weekend, it'll give me a nice lead in the World Cup going into the next race."

  Follow Cyclingnews on Twitter for the very latest coverage of events taking place in the cycling world - twitter.com/cyclingnewsfeed

• Daunting schedule doesn't deter Driscoll

  

  Article published:

  November 9, 2009, 03:31

  By:

  Kirsten Robbins

  USGP leader looks ahead to Mercer Cup

  Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com rider Jamey Driscoll has taken the North American cyclo-cross scene by storm this season, becoming a regular face on the podium around the country. His frequent success has landed him in the leader’s jersey of the most prestigious series in the United States - US Grand Prix of Cyclo-Cross (USGP).

  His expertise on the bike is widely known. However, what most people don’t know about this young and modest athlete is how well he juggles professional racing with being a full-time student of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Vermont.

  “It’s definitely a challenge to do it all,” said Driscoll. “Fortunately, I’m just racing on the weekends so that makes it slightly more doable than doing weeklong stage races on the road. It means that I have to plan ahead.”

  Driscoll is committed to his studies from Monday to Friday and competes in a full schedule of UCI-ranked cyclo-cross events on weekends. The events locations span across the US and Canada thus, he typically misses Monday class to travel home from the races.

  When asked how he balanced the two professions Driscoll said with a laugh, “I don’t know if my schedule is balanced in terms of the amount of effort that I put into each activity respectively.”

  “I don’t want to brag or anything, but engineering is no slouch degree and I’m probably scraping along the bottom of where I should be,” he continued. “It’s hard but I’m struggling along. I’m having a good time racing my bike and having the USGP jersey is feeling pretty good.”

  USGP dream heads to the Mercer Cup

  The USGP series continues with rounds five and six next weekend at the Mercer Cup held in New Jersey. Driscoll aims to increase his lead however, he is confident that the leader’s jersey will stay amongst one of the three teammates.

  “This series has a lot of history and I’m honoured to lead it,” said Driscoll. “I don’t think it will just be me and him [Ryan Trebon] battling next time. My teammates are also pretty close so hopefully we have power in numbers and it works in our favour.”

  Driscoll’s USGP lead came as a pleasant surprise given that he had a mediocre start to the series with a couple of seventh places in the first two rounds at the Planet Bike Cup held in Wisconsin. He picked up his game and took double second places in the next two rounds at the Derby City Cup, held in Louisville Kentucky.

  His results moved him into a tie with the previous series leader and US National Champion, Ryan Trebon (Kona), although the jersey was granted to Driscoll by virtue of his higher placing in the fourth round event. An unfortunate accident caused Trebon to pull out of the fourth stop in the series at the Derby City Cup.

  “I actually didn’t know that I was that close to Trebon but I think it’s because he didn’t get in the points today,” Driscoll explained. “He definitely beat me by a few positions both days in Madison and yesterday he got even more points on me. I didn’t know I was the leader until Bruce [Fina] told me at the finish line. I guess we are tied.”

  Driscoll kicked off the season with the biggest win of his career at CrossVegas, North America’s marquee cyclo-cross event. His achievements this season extend to podiums in various events such as Rad Racing and Grand Prix of Gloucester, plus doubles at the Toronto International Cyclo-Cross, Blue Sky Velo and the Boulder Cup.

  “I’m happy about my performances this year,” added Driscoll. “Last year I had a few speckles of good races and this year I’m doing that a lot more consistently which is awesome. I didn’t fully expect it but I can kind of tell my fitness judging by the road seasons because that’s primarily fitness that increases.”

  Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com teammates Tim Johnson, last year’s USGP overall winner, and Jeremy Powers noticed Driscoll’s talent for cyclo-cross following his strong performances during the previous year. The trio has reeled in a total of 15 season victories this far in 2009/10.

  Driscoll captured his team’s latest win at the CycleSmart International held in Northampton, Massachusetts on Sunday. He attributes his success to the help of veteran teammates Johnson and Powers. “There is so much to learn from these guys because they have so much experience racing here and in Europe,” said Driscoll. “Just the one year of racing with them builds on itself and it’s very good to have them around.”

  Driscoll also recently signed a contract to race with the National Racing Calendar (NRC) number one ranked team Jamis-Sutter Home presented by Colavita Pro Cycling team for the 2010 road season.