French champ rallies in Redmond

Francis Mourey (Française des Jeux) put American cyclo-cross to the test with an outstanding performance at the nation's season opener StarCrossed p/b Stanley held in Redmond, Washington on Saturday night. The French national champion won a two-man sprint ahead of Ryan Trebon (KONA-FSA) while defending champion Christian Huele (Rendementhypo Cycling Team) rounded out the podium in third.

"Star Crossed was a great event, very wet but a lot of fun with great crowds," said Jonathan Page (Planet Bike) who placed fifth on the day. "I overcame a lot of obstacles today but for the first race it was a very exciting one."

The men started their 60-minute StarCrossed race under the dark evening skies at the King County's Marymoor Park and Velodrome. The event marked the first of eight rounds in the North American Cyclo-cross Trophy (NACT) series.

Among the stellar line up was Mourey, Trebon and Huele, plus Page, Barry Wicks (KONA-FSA), Troy Wells, Derrick St-John (Garneau Club Chaussure Ogilvy), Adam Craig (Giant) and Geoff Kabush (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain). Noticeably absent from the field was the Cannondale-Cyclorossworld.com trio who were competing in various other races around the country including the USA Cycling Pro Championships held in Greenville, South Carolina.

Mourey showed his European 'cross pedigree when he opened up a sizable lead in the first 10 minutes of the race. Some 20 seconds back, Page dug deep to reduce the margin to the leader. Trebon found the legs to catch and pass Page for second place, both on the hunt to reel in Mourey. When the trio finally united starved-for-cross fans turned wild under the beer tent at the sight of a tactical start to the first race of the season.

Mid-race, Trebon did much of the work for he and Mourey to establish a slim lead ahead Page. Several laps later, Craig and Huele assumed the third and fourth place spots in the chase for the two leaders. Trebon orbited the final lap with Mourey in tow. The Frenchman made his winning move in the final hundred metres on the Velodrome in a two-up sprint to the line.

Nash opens NACT series with a win

Katerina Nash (Luna) kicked off her cyclo-cross season with a solo victory at Starcrossed p/b Stanley, the world-class 'crosser finishing with nearly a 40-second margin ahead of Wendy Simms (KONA-FSA) in second and Sue Butler (Hudz-Subaru) in third.

The twilight event marked the first of eight rounds in the North American Cyclo-cross Trophy (NACT) series as Nash's win gave her the early series lead.

Fifty of the nation's top cyclo-cross specialists lined up under buckets of rain to start their 45-minute race. Highlighting the call ups was former Canadian national champ Wendy Simms (KONA-FSA) who has returned to competition after taking time season off to welcome her first child into the world.

Defending champion Helen Wyman was not on the start line but last year's runner up Sue Butler (HUDZ-Subaru) was ready for a battle against Nash, defending NACT winner Natasha Elliott (Garneau Club Chaussure Ogilvy), Kari Studley (Redline), Wendy Williams (River City Bicycles) and Barbara Howe (Ibis and the Danger Twins).

Butler is known for her aggressive starts and set the tone of the race early on by forging a path through the slippery mud that only Nash, Studley and Simms could follow. Nash muscled past the small group and gained a solo lead roughly 20 minutes into the race. She had an outstanding season last year, winning the Roubaix World Cup in France and placing fourth at the UCI World Championships in the Czech Republic.

Nash extended her lead to roughly 30 seconds ahead of Simms and several additional seconds to Butler. Behind the three leaders a group of top ten contenders rallied together to Howe, Elliott, Studley, Williams, Devon Haskell (Bike Station Aptos), Mical Dyck (Trek Canada / Terrascape Racing), Linda Sone (Planet Bike) and Alice Pennington (Team S&M).

Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Francis Mourey (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux1:00:15
2Ryan Trebon (USA) Kona0:00:02
3Christian Heule (Swi) Champion System LBS0:00:43
4Adam Craig (USA) Giant0:00:51
5Jonathan Page (USA) Planet Bike0:00:58
6Barry Wicks (USA) Kona0:01:01
7Derrick St John (Can) Garneau Club Chaussure Ogilvy0:01:33
8Nicholas Weighall (USA) California Giant/Specialized0:01:58
9Jake Wells (USA) Hudz-Subaru0:02:10
10Craig Richey (Can) Cyclocrossracing.Com P/B Blue0:02:48
11Carl Decker (USA) Giant0:02:59
12Troy Wells (USA) Cliff Bar0:03:02
13Aaron Schooler (Can) Team H&R Block0:03:03
14Sean Babcock (USA) Kona0:03:05
15Tyler Trace (Can) Trek Red Truck0:03:20
16Steve Fisher (USA) Rad Racing / Hagens Berman Llp0:03:41
17Frank Spiteri (USA) Peninsula Velo/Pomodoro0:03:43
18Molly Cameron (USA) Castelli Usa0:03:44
19Tim Van Nuffel (Bel) Van Goethem-ProraceRow 18 - Cell 2
20Jonathan Baker (USA) Hudz-Subaru0:03:46
21Spencer Paxson (USA) Team S&M Young Guns0:04:06
22Adam Mcgrath (USA) Feedback Sports/Van Dessel0:04:11
23Geoff Kabush (Can) Maxxis-Rocky Mountain0:05:00
24Michael Gallagher (USA) Cyclorossracing.Com P/B Blue0:05:04
25Davy Yeater (USA) River City Bicycles0:05:27
26Nicholas Berry (Can) Mighty Riders0:05:35
27Aaron Tuckerman (NZl) Corsa Concepts0:05:47
28Nathan Bannerman (USA) Cyclocrossracing.Com P/B Blue0:06:05
29 -1 lapKevin Noiles (Can) La Bicicletta Pro ShopRow 28 - Cell 2
30 -2 lapsKyle Mcgilvray (USA) Old Town BicycleRow 29 - Cell 2
31Eric Emsky (USA) Blue Competition CyclesRow 30 - Cell 2
32 -3 lapsAaron Bradford (USA) Www.Aaronbradford.ComRow 31 - Cell 2
33John Bailey (USA) Bailey BikesRow 32 - Cell 2
34 -5 lapsLandon Erickson (USA) StanleyRow 33 - Cell 2
35John Behrens (USA) Bailey BikesRow 34 - Cell 2
36Ben Rathkamp (USA) FanatikRow 35 - Cell 2
37Jesse Doll (USA) Montanacyclocross.ComRow 36 - Cell 2
38Darren Marino (USA) UnattachedRow 37 - Cell 2
39Eric Colton (USA) The TeamRow 38 - Cell 2
40 -6 lapsGregory Osborn (USA) La VelocityRow 39 - Cell 2
41Michael Pease (USA) Collision One/Bicycle CentersRow 40 - Cell 2
42Andy Bestwick (USA) Allegiant Airlines/Pain Md'SRow 41 - Cell 2
43Kamden Reedy (USA) Web-OpRow 42 - Cell 2
44Derek Yarra (USA) Box Dog BikesRow 43 - Cell 2
45 -7 lapsAlan Adams (USA) Hagens-Berman CyclingRow 44 - Cell 2
46Jeff Anderson (USA) Team StanleyRow 45 - Cell 2
DNFRyan Iddings (USA) RedlineRow 46 - Cell 2
DNFDrew Mackenzie (Can) Island Racing ClubRow 47 - Cell 2
DNFScott Chapin (USA) Bay101/Hrs/RocklobsterRow 48 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Benno (USA) Veloce RacingRow 49 - Cell 2
DNFJohn-Christian Flack (USA) Olympia Orthopaedic AssociatesRow 50 - Cell 2
DNFMatthew Fox (USA) Sunnyside SportsRow 51 - Cell 2
DNFBen Chaddock (Can) Rubicon-OrbeaRow 52 - Cell 2
DNFAlex Work (USA) Bay 101/Hrs/Rock LobsterRow 53 - Cell 2
DNFBrue Syvertsen (USA) MurderRow 54 - Cell 2
DNFSteven Hunter (USA) Embrocation Cycling JournalRow 55 - Cell 2
DNFRyan Weaver (USA) River City BicyclesRow 56 - Cell 2
DNFPhil Grove (USA) Hammer NutritionRow 57 - Cell 2
DNFSean Worsech (USA) Rad Racing / Hagens Berman LlpRow 58 - Cell 2
DNFBenjamin Kubas (USA) Tai Cycling Team/Genr8/Smith OpticsRow 59 - Cell 2
DNSChris Sheppard (Can) Rocky Mountain/Shimano/GiroRow 60 - Cell 2
DNSBen Thompson (USA)Row 61 - Cell 2
DNSChris Mcgovern (USA) Calnorte/CycleutionRow 62 - Cell 2
DNSSloane Anderson (USA) Proair/HfaRow 63 - Cell 2
DNSRyan Miller (USA) Pacific Power - Blue SkyRow 64 - Cell 2
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Elite Women
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team0:41:24
2Wendy Simms (Can) Kona0:00:19
3Susan Butler (USA) Hudz-Subaru0:00:38
4Mical Dyck (Can) Trek Canada / Terrascape Racing0:00:48
5Natasha Elliott (Can) Garneau Club0:00:59
6Devon Haskell (USA) Bike Station Aptos0:01:31
7Wendy Williams (USA) River City Bicycles0:01:42
8Kari Studley (USA) Redline0:01:52
9Alice Pennington (USA) Team S&M0:01:58
10Barbara Howe (USA) Ibis And The Danger Twins0:02:13
11Sarah Maile (USA) Ventana Mountain Bikes0:02:16
12Kathy Sherwin (USA) Hudz-Subaru0:02:20
13Jessica Cutler (USA) Cucina Fresca0:02:27
14Kelly Benjamin (USA) Kccx0:03:14
15Serena Bishop (USA) Sunnyside Sports0:03:15
16Jennifer Gaertner (USA) Riverstone Cda0:03:30
17Tina Brubaker (USA) Veloforma0:04:01
18Kristin Jo Markham (USA) Olympia Orthopaedics Associates0:04:40
19Joele Guynup (Can) Island Racing Club/Everti Bicycle0:05:06
20Linda Sone (USA) Planet Bike0:05:08
21Brandee Era-Miller (USA) Olympia Orthopaedic Associates0:06:14
22Kelly Jones (Can) North Shore Sports Medicine0:06:16
23 -2 lapsElizabeth Allbut (USA) Team BeerRow 22 - Cell 2
24 -3 lapsKaren Oppenheimer (USA) Bend Memorial Clinic/Total CareRow 23 - Cell 2
25Angela Mysliwiec (USA) Old Town BicyclesRow 24 - Cell 2
DNSSarah Jordan (USA) Bay 101 / Hrs / Rock LobsterRow 25 - Cell 2
DNSAli Ritter (USA) Hagens BermanRow 26 - Cell 2

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