Berden (Raleigh/Clement) had a good ride on Sunday.(Image credit: Matt James)
Daniel Miller (Dogfish Racing) corners.(Image credit: Matt James)
Riders chasing Berden late in the day.(Image credit: Matt James)
One of the obstacles st Heman Park.(Image credit: Matt James)
Cody Kaiser (California Giant/Specialized) fighting for a podium finish.(Image credit: Matt James)
Troy Wells (Team CLIF BAR) working hard.(Image credit: Matt James)
Berden (Raleigh/Clement) on the way to another victory.(Image credit: Matt James)
McDonald (Team Rapha-FOCUS) finished 34 seconds down on Berden.(Image credit: Matt James)
Ben Berden (Raleigh/Clement) won both races on the weekend.(Image credit: Matt James)
Cody Kaiser (California Giant/Specialized) finished third.(Image credit: Matt James)
Riders could tackle the barriers on foot or by bike.(Image credit: Matt James)
McDonald (Team Rapha-FOCUS) went on to finish second.(Image credit: Matt James)
Eric Thompson (Mt. Borah Epic Team) tackling the course.(Image credit: Matt James)
Riders battle the course.(Image credit: Matt James)
Zach McDonald (Team Rapha-FOCUS) on foot.(Image credit: Matt James)
Robert Marion (Carpediem Racing) finished fifth.(Image credit: Matt James)
The course was fast and dry.(Image credit: Matt James)
The Gateway Cross place-getters salute the crowd.(Image credit: Matt James)
Ben Berden (Raleigh-Clement) attacked midway through Sunday's Gateway Cross Cup to win his second consecutive UCI race of the weekend. Berden's wins at both days of the Gateway Cross Cup will give him 70 points in the US Pro CX series, pulling him within 10 points of series leader Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus).
The men's peloton lined up in beautiful fall conditions for the second day of racing being held at Heman Park, located just outside St. Louis in University City, Missouri. Zach McDonald (Rapha-Focus) led early in the race, and proceeded to trade the lead with several other riders including Robert Marion (Carpediem Racing), Michael Van Den Ham (Cycle-Smart), and Berden. The large group of riders would stay together until Berden's attack several laps into the race.
Feeling confident after his victory Saturday night, Berden made the winning move with six laps to go. "At the start line I was the only one with file treads. I was surprised with that," said Berden. "I took it easy the first two or three laps, and then tried to push it a little bit, and then got a gap right away. I pushed for two or three laps, and Zach was like 15 or 20 seconds, and that's when I laid off the gas. It was enough to win. "
Behind Berden, the lead group started to disintegrate, and McDonald was the only rider to respond. McDonald was making progress on catching Berden when he was informed that he was being disqualified for going through, rather than over, an awkwardly set-up barrier.
"They left a gap by the barriers, so I was riding through the gap, and jumping the second barrier," said McDonald. "Apparently they didn't like that so they tried to DQ me from the race, but I just kept riding. And then Heenan (Rapha-Focus Team Manager Mike Heenan) argued, a lot of people were arguing, because I didn't break any rule that I'm aware of, and they decided to let me keep racing."
While McDonald was allowed to continue riding, he was forced to run the barriers twice the next lap as a penalty. The penalty disrupted his chase, and McDonald lost the momentum that was carrying him closer to Berden.
Berden rode in relative ease the next two laps as he cruised to his second consecutive win of the weekend. McDonald followed 34 seconds later in second place, and Cody Kaiser (California Giant-Specialized) rounded out the podium in third.
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Berden's wins in St. Louis will move him within 10 points of Jeremy Powers in the US Pro CX series. "I'm trying to make Jeremy Powers sweat a little bit," joked Berden. "But C1s count for triple points. It's a big difference, but small points also help."
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Full Results
1
Ben Berden (Bel) Raleigh-Clement
0:59:36
2
Zach McDonald (USA) Rapha-Focus
0:00:34
3
Cody Kaiser (USA) Cal Giant Berry Farms-Specialized
Row 2 - Cell 2
4
Ryan Knapp (USA) Pony Shop Cyclocross
0:00:35
5
Robert Marion (USA) American Classic Pro CX Team
0:00:36
6
Tristan Schouten (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
0:00:37
7
Mitchell Hoke (USA) Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
0:00:38
8
Isaac Neff (USA) Trek Cyclocross Collective
0:00:40
9
Michael Van Den Ham (Can) Cycle-Smart
0:01:03
10
Jacob Lasley (USA) Team Soundpony
0:01:20
11
Troy Wells (USA) Team Clif Bar
0:01:42
12
Rotem Ishay (Isr) Boo Bikes
0:01:45
13
Taylor Carrington (USA) Feedback Sports
0:01:46
14
Daniel Miller (USA) Dogfish Racing Team
Row 13 - Cell 2
15
Mike Garrigan (Can) Van Dessel
0:01:47
16
Craig Etheridge (USA) Raleigh-Clement-Hodala!
0:01:48
17
Tom Burke (USA) Wolverine Sports Club
0:02:04
18
Skyler Trujillo (USA) Boo Bikes
0:02:18
19
Travis Braun (USA) Magnus Cycling Jersey Squad
0:02:21
20
Shadd Smith (USA) Think Finance p/b Trek Bike Stores
0:02:22
21
Andrew Reardon (USA) Sophisticated Living-Bob's Red Mill
0:02:34
22
Eric Thompson (USA) Mt. Borah Epic Team
0:03:15
23
Dylan Postier (USA) Team Undiscovered
0:04:17
24
Joshua Johnson (USA) Giant Factory Off-Road Team
0:04:21
25
Anthony Dust (USA) Dogfish Racing Team
0:04:27
26
Skyler Mackey (USA) Team Soundpony
Row 25 - Cell 2
27
Eric Fischer (USA) Southern Gentlemen Racing p/b Voss Bike
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