Cyclocross news & racing round-up for October 22, 2005
Edited by Steve Medcroft
Welcome to our regular round-up of what's happening in cyclocross.
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U.S. ‘crosser in brush with death
By Steve Medcroft
Mike Jankwoski
Photo ©: Steve Medcroft
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Cycling and training for cycling are dangerous enough that most of us
constantly aware of our surroundings when we're out on the road. But as
New Hampshire Cycling Club racer Mike Jankwoski recently found out when
he was sideswiped by a speeding motorcycle during a training ride, no
attempt to be safe is a guarantee of a trouble free ride.
Kankowski, 33, or Kerhonkson, New York , was riding in the Catskills
when he heard the unmistakable sound of a high-end motorcycle approaching
from behind at high speed. "I moved over to the right," he said about
the accident. "A split second later I felt something hit my left elbow."
That something was a racing-style motorcycle "something like a Suzuki
GSXR," Jankowski says.
Jankowski says the next thing he knew he had landed on his hip on a guardrail
and fell to the ground. "The portion of road I was on is a long, sweeping
left turn followed by a straight, then a sharp left and a stop sign. By
the time I sat up and got my bike off me I heard the sickening thud of
metal yielding to solid ground." The rider of the motorcycle had failed
to make the turn at the end of the road.
Jankowski says he was passed by a police car moments later, and went
over to the accident. The rider was dead by the time he arrived. "I described
what happened to me and what I heard (to the police). They made me go
to the body and what was left of the bike to make sure it was the same
guy." Jankowski says the police officers speed recorder showed the motorcycle
as traveling greater than 140mph.
The 33 year old B-category ‘cross and Cat 3 road racer rode home but
discovered he had fractured his hip in the accident after unusual bruising
appeared over the next two days. And although he was happy he only break
what he did, the shock of the freak accident temporarily killed his passion
for riding. "I've crashed before, many times, been hurt much worse a few
times, but this was different."
Jankowski says there were several things to learn from the accident.
"One, irresponsible behaviour on the road - no matter what we're piloting
- can have disastrous repercussions. Two, anything can happen to us even
when we're doing everything right; I was inches from a massive accident."
The shock is now wearing off, the injuries (which may take as long as
four to six more weeks to properly heal) are fading and Jankowski is finding
his way back to the bike. "I'm just now getting motivation back to train
again, after quite a few weeks. I was hoping to go to Colonie , New York
this weekend to race (Second Annual Colonie Cyclocross Race, October 23),
but my hip is too sore to dismount yet. I'm not sure if I'll even race
at all this year but I'm hoping to go to cross Nationals to be a spectator/photographer."
Superprestige #1: Wellens wins, but Nys is back
By Jeff Jones
Bart Wellens (Fidea) continued his good run of form by winning the first
round of the Superprestige series in Ruddervoorde, Belgium. On a fast,
dry circuit, Wellens was too good in the sprint against Sven Nys (Rabobank),
who was nevertheless satisfied with second place. In third was Wellens'
teammate Wim Jacobs, who rode well to finish just 9 seconds behind.
During the race, Nys tried several times to get away from Wellens, but
he could not and the odds were against him in a two man sprint. He also
fell on the stairs on the last lap, but was able to come back to Wellens.
"After Nys' fall, the best Wellens would have ridden away," said Wellens.
"But I took advantage of the sprint. I wasn't good enough to ride away
from him, and it didn't make sense for me to do a turn because my teammate
Jacobs was behind us. In this race, the teamwork was very important.
"It's clear that Nys and I are the best. This was the first of many
nice duels. You saw also that the public enjoyed it, what an atmosphere
here in Ruddervoorde."
The World Champion Nys was relatively content with his second place,
especially after his crash last weekend and subsequent balance problems.
"I don't feel desperate after this," he said. "I finished here in the
same time as Wellens, so I'm mentally ready for the following duels. I
had the feeling during the race that I could take the initiative, but
I didn't dare do it alone. This was a semi-road race and team tactics
play a much bigger part.
"When I fell, I was perhaps just on the verge of getting a gap, but
I was happy that I could come back. I really should work on my sprint,
that was a disaster. I'm like a snail."
Read the entire Ruddervoorde
Superprestige race report here.
Trebon, Bessette lead USGP after two races
USA Cycling
With two of the series' six races in the books, the 2005 Crank Brothers
US Gran Prix of Cyclocross is shaping up to a down-to-the-wire affair
for the overall crowns on offer. After sweeping the opening weekend of
races, in Portland, OR and Tacoma, WA, Lyne Bessette (cyclocrossworld.com-Louis
Garneau) holds an impressive lead in the Elite Women's division over Barbara
Howe (Velo Bella) and Ann Knapp (Kona). But with the overall series title
resting on each racer's best five finishes, a single off day from Bessette
could open the door to any number of challengers. Bessette also leads
the FOCUS First-Lap Competition.
Last weekend's Elite Men's winners, Ryan Trebon (Kona) and Mark McCormack
(Clif Bar), are separated by a scant 10 points in the series standings.
Trebon's Kona teammate, Barry Wicks, rests in third in series points and
also leads the FOCUS First-Lap Competition. Wicks, fourth place Tim Johnson
(Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau), and fifth place Adam Craig (Giant)
are all within 10 points of each other in the standings.
Defending Under-23 National and US Gran Prix Champion Jesse Anthony
(Clif Bar) maintains a healthy lead in the U-23 category. In the tightest
category so far, Bjorn Selander (Alan Factory) and Alex Howes (TIAA-CREF)
exit the first weekend tied for the series lead in the Junior Men. Selander
and Howes swapped wins in Tacoma and Portland, respectively, with each
finishing third in the race the other won. But, Selander leads the Junior
FOCUS First-Lap Competition.
The 2005 Crank Brothers US Gran Prix continues October 29-30 with the
Michelob ULTRA Grand Prix of Cyclocross from Stage Fort Park, Gloucester,
Mass.
Points Standings after 2 of 6 Series Races:
Elite Men:
1. Ryan Trebon/Kona, 90
2. Mark McCormack/Clif Bar, 80
3. Barry Wicks/Kona, 66
4. Tim Johnson/Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau, 60
5. Adam Craig/Giant Bicycles, 57.
Elite Women:
1. Lyne Bessette/ Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau, 100
2. Barbara Howe/Velo Bella, 74
3. Ann Knapp/Kona, 70
4. Rhonda Mazza/S&M-Vailla, 53
5. Georgia Gould/Kona, 49
Under-23 Men:
1. Jesse Anthony/Clif Bar, 100
2. Morgan Schmitt/Redline, 63
3. Troy Wells/TIAA-CREF, 57
Junior Men:
1. Alex Howes/TIAA-CREF, 84
2. Bjorn Selander/Alan Factory, 84
3. Danny Summerhill/TIAA-CREF, 80
The remaining Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross Series schedule
for 2005:
Race 3: October 29 - Michelob ULTRA Grand Prix of Gloucester #1, Stage
Fort Park, Gloucester, MA.
Race 4: October 30 -Michelob ULTRA Grand Prix of Gloucester #2, Stage
Fort Park, Gloucester, MA.
Race 5: November 19 - Surf City Cyclocross (30th Anniversary), Watsonville
Fairgrounds, Watsonville, CA.
Race 6: November 20 - Clark Natwick Grand Prix, Golden Gate Park, San
Francisco, CA
A home game: the Barbara Howe diary
Barbarella in action
Photo ©: Greg Snead
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October 16, 2005 - This week there was no travelling; my own team hosted
a race in Santa Cruz. This particular race was the first Surf City Revival
Race, a popular race series not held for the last year. As a tribute to
Norcal 'cross races past there was also a 30 minute Jungle Cross race.
Jungle Cross used portions of the normal course as well as long bushwhacks
through poison oak infested underbrush. With homemade pies for prizes,
Jungle Cross was a hotly contested race.
Several participants were also getting an early start on Halloween. Not
only was there a woodland fairy complete with golden wings but also a
dedicated racer in a full gorilla suit. The gorilla suit is all the more
impressive due to the fact that the weather was in the mid 80's. Needless
to say the gorilla took lots of feeds. The course itself had excessive
forced dismounts (5 runups one log), lots of dust, the chicane of despair,
some bumpy turf, and more dust. We had over 40 women racing, not bad for
a local race. Several of the women were first timers and had attended
a 'cross clinic the day before.
Read the entire Barbara
Howe diary here.
Global 'cross racing round-up
- Iron Cross (NE), October 16: Full
results & report
- Beacon 'cross, USA (C2), October 16: Full
results
- Int. Radquer Fehraltorf, Swi (C2), October 16: Full
results
- UK National Trophy #2, GBr (C2), October 16: Full
results
- Wouden Cyclocross, Ned (C2), October 15: Full
results
- Downeast Cyclo-cross/Verge NECCS #1, USA (C2), October 15:
Full results &
report
- Cross - Budvar Cup #4, Cze (C2), October 15: Full
results
- Kermiscross Ardooie, Bel (C2), October 13: Full
results & photos
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