Gateway Cross Cup: Driscoll wins on day 1

Competitors at the 2014 Gateway Cross Cup in St. Louis, Missouri saw an entirely new course from years past and unseasonably warm temperatures that sought to test the rider’s limits and provide dynamic racing to both the men’s and women’s fields.

The men’s field leapt off the line at blistering speeds and took to the hilly, undulating course with a fury meant to break the race to pieces as quickly as possible. The opening laps saw a driving pace at the front due to the efforts of Cody Kaiser, Troy Wells, Zach McDonald and the Raleigh Clement duo of Ben Berden and Jamey Driscoll.The relentless pace forced many riders off the back as a group of fifteen pried themselves loose in the early stages of the race.

With the fast dry conditions, Wells sensed the need for an attack and surged to the front in the fourth lap, whittling the lead group down to five with McDonald, the Raleigh riders and Brian Matter hanging on. A couple of laps later, Driscoll and Berden set a pace that pulled them clear of the break and it looked like they would ride together for a Raleigh Clement one-two.

Berden ultimately lost the front and was caught by Matter while Driscoll built a commanding lead. Berden held on for second with a late surge, as Matter took third. McDonald appeared to wilt in the heat and dropped down the lead group, eventually finishing 11th.

Zaveta secures solo victory

As explosive as the men’s race was, the women’s race was as much a war of attrition as the top of the field fought the gruelling course and searing heat.

Courtney McFadden and Nicole Duke both drove the pace early on and split the field into groups from the start. A lead group of five formed with last year’s winner Amanda Miller, Duke, McFadden, Erica Zaveta and Samantha Schneider of IS-Corp all in the mix.

Dangling just behind, Caroline Mani of Raleigh Clement tried to keep the leaders in sight while local rider Sunny Gilbert of Michelob Ultra Big Shark hung gamely between.

As the lead group fragmented and faded, the steady diesel approach of Gilbert and Mani paid off as both made contact with the front group and put themselves into podium position. Gilbert took the lead for half a lap before being overtaken by Zaveta who soloed in for the win ahead of Gilbert and Mani.

The Gateway Cross Cup continues tomorrow with day two at Queeny Park in St. Louis. If day one was any indication, the field will have as much competition from the course and the unseasonable heat as from their competitors.

Elite men's results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1James Driscoll (USA) Raleigh / Clement1:01:51
2Ben Berden (Bel) Raleigh / Clement0:00:15
3Brian Matter (USA) Team Wisconsin / Clif Bar0:00:29
4Travis Livermon (USA) Mock Orange Pro CX0:01:07
5Troy Wells (USA) Team Clif Bar0:01:26
6Tristan Uhl 787 Racing(USA)0:01:31
7Mitchell Hoke (USA) The Pro's Closet CX0:01:45
8Jake Wells (USA) Stan's Notubes Elite CXRow 7 - Cell 2
9Lewis Gaffney (USA) American Classic Pro Cyclocross Team0:01:56
10Benjamin Sonntag (Ger) Team Clif Bar0:02:30
11Zach Mcdonald (USA) KCCX0:03:04
12Christopher Jones (USA) The Athletic0:03:10
13Adam York (USA) Cyclocross Network Racing0:03:25
14Robert Marion (USA) American Classic Pro Team0:03:38
15Steve Fisher (USA) Raleigh/Fsa CX0:03:46
16Maxx Chance (USA) The Pro's Closet CX0:03:58
17Nicholas Lemke (USA) Hifi/Thefeed/Crafthairstudio0:04:24
18Ian Mcphearson (USA) The Pro's Closet CX0:04:37
19Ian Haupt (USA) Milwaukee Bicycle Company0:04:38
20Cody Kaiser (USA) Langetwins/Specialized0:05:23
21Braden Kappius (USA) Team Clif Bar0:05:33
22Spencer Downing (USA) Hoke Racing Llc0:05:36
23Andrew Reardon (USA) Sonic Cycling0:05:38
24Kyle Russ (USA) Brazen Dropouts0:05:58
25Gabriel Varela (USA) Vertical Earth0:05:59
26Michael Dutczak (USA) South Chicago Wheelman0:07:23
27Gerald Drummond (USA) De Pijp RacingRow 26 - Cell 2
28Zachary Carlson (USA) Rbm/MatrixRow 27 - Cell 2
29Joshua Johnson (USA) Michelob Ultra - Big Shark RacingRow 28 - Cell 2
30Alex Ryan (USA) Mock Orange Bikes Pro CX TeamRow 29 - Cell 2
31Travis Braun (USA) Revolution CyclesRow 30 - Cell 2
32Josh Bauer (USA) Twin SixRow 31 - Cell 2
33Maxwell Ackermann (USA) Iscorp Cycling TeamRow 32 - Cell 2
34Mark Norton (USA) Ks Energy Services/Team WisconsinRow 33 - Cell 2
35Taylor Squillaci (USA) Get Out!Row 34 - Cell 2
36David Reyes (USA) Heritage Race ClubRow 35 - Cell 2
37Jay Strothman (USA) Off The Front RacingRow 36 - Cell 2
38Craig Wohlschlaeger (USA) Giant Southwest RacingRow 37 - Cell 2
39Kailin Waterman (USA) Voler/Hrs/RocklobsterRow 38 - Cell 2
40Adam Finck (USA) Team Velocity Bike ShopRow 39 - Cell 2
41Andrew Giniat (USA) On The RouteRow 40 - Cell 2
42Brett Heuring (USA) Dogfish Racing/Team NoahRow 41 - Cell 2
43Michael Saunders (USA) DogfishRow 42 - Cell 2
44Nathan Brown (USA) CycletonRow 43 - Cell 2
45Matthew Kelley (USA) Quantum Mesa CyclesRow 44 - Cell 2
46Kevin Bradford-Parish (USA) Set Coaching/SpecializedRow 45 - Cell 2
47Dylan Postier (USA) Evoke RacingRow 46 - Cell 2
48Jim Wood (USA) Alki/Rubicon RacingRow 47 - Cell 2
49Travis Werts (USA)Row 48 - Cell 2
DNFEric Thompson (USA) Mt. Borah Epic TeamRow 49 - Cell 2
DNFJp Brocket (USA) Ethos RacingRow 50 - Cell 2
DNFIsaac Neff (USA)Row 51 - Cell 2
DNFSkyler Mackey (USA) SoundponyRow 52 - Cell 2
DNFJacob Lasley (USA) Team SoundponyRow 53 - Cell 2
DNFTyler Cloutier (USA) Cutaway P/B Blackhand Coffee CoRow 54 - Cell 2
DNSRyan Knapp (USA) Pony Shop CyclocrossRow 55 - Cell 2

Elite women's results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Erica Zaveta (USA) Amy D. Racing1:46:20
2Sunny Gilbert (USA) Michelob Ultra/Big Shark0:00:21
3Caroline Mani (Fra) Raleigh / Clement0:01:02
4Amanda Miller (USA) Boulder Cycle Sport/Yogaglo0:01:20
5Nicole Duke (USA) Marin Bikes/Spy0:01:50
6Emily Kachorek (USA) Squid0:02:12
7Amanda Carey (USA) Team Rhino Rush0:02:53
8Carol Jeane Sansome (USA) County Cycles Masters CX P/B Trek0:03:16
9Samantha Schneider (USA) Iscorp0:04:00
10Katherine Kelter (USA) Team Colavita/Parisi Coffee0:04:12
11Ksenia Lepikhina (USA) Sdg-Bellwether P.B. Krema Peanut Butter0:04:22
12Jennifer Nichols (USA) Birmingham Velo/Infinity Racing0:04:27
13Samantha Runnels (USA) Atc RacingRow 12 - Cell 2
14Mackenzie Woodring (USA) Foundry Cycles0:05:16
15Nicole Brandt (USA) La Grange0:05:27
16Laurel Rathbun (USA) Raleigh / Clement0:06:26
17Rachel Dobrozsi (USA) Red Zone Elite U230:06:34
18Sarah Szefi (USA) Psimet Racing0:07:08
19Katie Isermann (USA) Psimet Racing0:07:28
20Katherine Santos (USA) Red Zone Elite U230:07:38
21Mackenzie Green (USA) Red Zone Elite U230:07:54
22Heidi Wood (USA)0:08:19
DNFElizabeth So (USA)Row 22 - Cell 2
DNFCourtenay Mcfadden (USA) GE Capital/American ClassicRow 23 - Cell 2
DNSLindsay Zucco (USA) Psimet RacingRow 24 - Cell 2

 

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Latest on Cyclingnews