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

Elite women's results