Powers powers to Gloucester victory

Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) took his first major cyclo-cross victory of the season on Sunday as he won the second day of racing at the Gran Prix of Gloucester, round two of the Shimano New England Pro Cyclocross Series (NEPCX). Powers trailed Tim Johnson (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld) by 30 seconds with two laps to go, but the Rapha-Focus rider stormed across the gap and dropped Johnson for the win. Johnson, who led for most of the race, finished second while Ben Berden (Ops Ale-Stoemper), who rode consistently throughout the race, finished third.

Light rain made the elite men's race a bit treacherous at times and here were considerably more crashes than on Saturday. A newly designed course with longer straights seemed to favor power riders, while a new beach section with stairs was a big hit with the hundreds of spectators.

The men began the race on a slick uphill paved section of the course. Shimano NEPCX series leader Christian Heule (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld) took the hole-shot with France's Nicolas Bazin (Big Mat-Auber 93) in close contention. At the first major run-up, Heule set the pace with Bazin close behind. However, once they got on their bikes, Johnson quickly motored away from the group.

The gap to Johnson grew quickly and it appeared that he might run away with the event. Powers sat in a chase group that included Ian Field (Hargrove Cycles), Berden, Bazin, Heule, and Jamey Driscoll (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld). At times the group could be seen looking at each other as if to say "won't you please chase Johnson"?

While various riders took up the lead, it became apparent that Heule and Powers were the only ones with the horsepower to make a serious move.

Finally, with two laps to go, Powers decided he needed to do something. "I was biding my time at first," said Powers. "Bazin was really strong at first and I thought he was going to take some pulls on the long straights…but as soon as the time gap got over 20 seconds I started to get really nervous."

Powers added, "I knew what I was dealing with (Johnson) so it was time to go. Once I was unleashed from Christian then it was full on the gas."

Johnson credited his preparation for his improved performance today. "I did everything right before the race to give myself a fighting chance. When Jeremy is on one of his best days it's really hard to beat him. Today he was flying."

Johnson, who has won at Gloucester many times, added "I did everything I could but couldn't hold the lead. This is the course that I know better than any other course around."

Powers summed things up: "It was hard today. It was really windy…I'm very happy for this win. It means a lot to me."

Most of the American riders will now head to the USGP in Fort Collins for round two of that series. Powers and others will then travel to the first round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup in the Czech Republic the following weekend.

Full Results

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1Jeremy Powers (USA) Team Rapha-Focus1:03:38
2Timothy Johnson (USA) Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld0:00:15
3Ben Berden (Bel) Ops Ale-Stoemper0:00:23
4Christian Heule (Swi) Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld0:00:26
5James Driscoll (USA) Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld0:00:53
6Nicolas Bazin (Fra) Team Big Mat-Auber 930:01:36
7Zach McDonald (USA) Team Rapha-Focus0:01:59
8Justin Lindine (USA) Bikereg.com-Joe's Garage0:02:05
9Tristan Schouten (USA) Cyclocrossracing.com p/b Blue Bicycles0:03:14
10Dylan McNicholas (USA) Cyclocrossworld.com0:03:29
11Mike Garrigan (Can) Lapierre Canada0:03:41
12Jeremy Durrin (USA) J.A.M. Fund - NCC0:03:50
13Lukas Winterberg (Swi) Philadelphia Cyclocross School0:04:02
14Jerome Townsend (USA) SmartStop-Mock Orange Bikes p/b Ridley0:04:12
15Barry Wicks (USA) Kona0:04:31
16Matthew O'Keefe (USA) Cyclocrossworld.com0:04:38
17Manny Goguen (USA) BikeReg.com - Joe's Garage0:04:45
18Luke Keough (USA) Champion System p/b Keough Cyclocross0:04:48
19Tim Van Nuffel (Bel) DCM-GB Vorselaar0:04:57
20Evan McNeely (Can) EMD Serono-Specialized0:05:02
21Joachim Parbo (Den) Challenge Tires0:05:17
22Adam Myerson (USA) SmartStop-Mock Orange Bikes p/b Ridley0:05:25
23Joshua Dillon (USA) RGM Watches-Richard Sachs0:05:40
24Lukas Müller (Swi) Philadelphia Cyclocross School0:05:45
25Travis Livermon (USA) SmartStop-Mock Orange Bikes p/b Ridley0:06:03
26Craig Richey (Can) Renner Custom - Raleigh0:06:12
27Anthony Clark (USA) J.A.M. Fund - NCC0:06:28
28Mark Batty (Can) SpiderTech Powered By C100:06:39
29Edward King (USA) Liquigas-Cannondale-iamtedking.com0:06:43
30Nicholas Keough (USA) Champion System p/b Keough Cyclocross0:06:49
31Osmond Bakker (Can) Jet Fuel-La Bicicletta0:06:58
32Ryan Leech (USA) Hilton Head Cycling0:07:01
33Stephen Cummings (USA) C3-Athletes Serving Athletes0:07:04
34Conor O'Brien (Can) EMD Serono Specialized0:07:09
35Alec Donahue (USA) Joe's Garage0:07:15
36Eric Brungger (Swi) Philadelphia Cyclocross School0:07:17
37Philip Wong (USA) Essex County Velo0:07:29
38David Wilcox (USA) Cycle-Smart0:07:37
39Pete Ostroski (USA)0:07:49
40Robert Marion (USA) American Classic - Blue0:08:04
41Jeffrey Bahnson (USA) Van Dessel Factory Team0:08:14
42Daniel Chabanov (USA) RGM Watches-Richard Sachs0:08:20
43Greg Whitney (USA) Ride Studio Café0:08:26
44Jesse Keough (USA) Champion System p/b Keough Cyclocross0:08:37
45Thierry Laliberté (Can) Xprezo - Borsao0:08:53
46Synjen Marrocco (USA) CCB Racing Team0:09:00
47Andrew Wulfkuhle (USA) C3-Athletes Serving Athletes0:09:21
48Colin Reuter (USA) crossresults.com p/b JRA Cycles0:09:25
49Nathan Underwood (Can)0:09:45
50Jean-Philippe Thibault-Roberge (Can) Trek-Bontrager0:09:55
51Donny Green (USA) Cycle-Smart0:09:57
52Patrick Bradley (USA) Philadelphia Cyclocross School0:10:21
53Jonathan Hamblen (USA) SmartStop-Mock Orange Bikes p/b Ridley0:10:35
54Stephen Pierce (USA) Embrocation Cycling Journal0:10:46
55Kiernan Orange (Can) Ride with Rendall-1lap
56Cary Fridrich (USA) Embrocation Cycling JournalRow 55 - Cell 2
57Gunnar Bergey (USA) C3-Athletes Serving AthletesRow 56 - Cell 2
58Zach Semian (USA) Van Dessel Factory Team-2laps
59Wayne Bray (USA) Embrocation Cycling JournalRow 58 - Cell 2
60Joshua Thornton (USA) GG Events LLCRow 59 - Cell 2
61Pierre Vanden Borre (USA) Embrocation Cycling JournalRow 60 - Cell 2
62Michael Wissell (USA) B2C2 - BolocoRow 61 - Cell 2
63Austin Roach (USA) MetLife Cycling TeamRow 62 - Cell 2
64Ryan Dromgoole (USA) PACCRow 63 - Cell 2
65Thomas Sampson (USA)Row 64 - Cell 2
66Joshua Friedman (USA) New Haven Bicycling Club/The Devil's Gear Bike ShopRow 65 - Cell 2
67Michael Wilder (USA) PACC-3laps
68Alistair Sponsel (USA) Cabinet Racing - Van DesselRow 67 - Cell 2
69Corey Knowles (USA) Team ROG-4laps
DNFJesse Anthony (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies-OptumHealthRow 69 - Cell 2
DNFLeonardo Sandoval (USA)Row 70 - Cell 2
DNFDaniel Zotter (USA)Row 71 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Garrett (USA) Velo Club LaGrange - Herbalife LaGrangeRow 72 - Cell 2
DNFIan Field (GBr) Hargroves CyclesRow 73 - Cell 2
DNFChristian Favata (USA) RGM Watches - Richard SachsRow 74 - Cell 2
DNFShaun Adamson (Can) Cycle-SmartRow 75 - Cell 2
DNFMarc-Andre Daigle (Can) Garneau Club Chaussure - Norton RoseRow 76 - Cell 2
DNFShawn Milne (USA) Kenda Pro Cycling p/b GeargrinderRow 77 - Cell 2
DNSJustin Spinelli (USA) Luxe WheelworksRow 78 - Cell 2
DNSShawn Harshman (USA) Boulder Cycle SportRow 79 - Cell 2
DNSDavid Adams (USA) Carbon RacingRow 80 - Cell 2
DNSPeter MacLeod (USA) Canton VeloRow 81 - Cell 2
DNSThomas Young (USA) CyclocrossworldRow 82 - Cell 2
DNSChristopher Jones (USA) Team Rapha-FocusRow 83 - Cell 2
DNSZoltan Tisza (Hun) Champion System RacingRow 84 - Cell 2
DNSKevin Sweeney (USA) crossresults.com p/b JRA CyclesRow 85 - Cell 2
DNSAdam Sullivan (USA) Embrocation Cycling JournalRow 86 - Cell 2
DNSRyan Kelly (USA) crossresults.com p/b JRA CyclesRow 87 - Cell 2
DNSKarl Hoppner (Can) EMD Serono SpecializedRow 88 - Cell 2

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