Clarke, Crowell claim Downer classic

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Jacquelyn Crowell (Team Type 1), in a flashback to Stage 2 at the Thiensville Fiddleheads Coffee Criterium, blew away the day’s field for Stage 10 win at the ISCorp Downer Classic, which featured massive primes for the Pro fields.

Out by her lonesome, Crowell put forth a tremendous effort on her breakaway ride to take the win, while her teammate Kori Seehafer won the field sprint for second with Jennifer Purcell (Team Hotel San Jose) in third.

Fresh from the Nature Valley Grand Prix, Clarke and Menzies turned Downer Avenue upside down on Saturday. For much of the race, a breakaway of 10 dominated but with just over 20 laps to go, the break started coming apart with riders scattered everywhere as the field chased hard. The breakaway began to teeter-totter with losing time then gaining time.

But the schizophrenic pattern halted as attention was temporarily diverted to the infamous Ben’s Ultimate Crowd Prime at lap 13. Menzies launched a gargantuan effort, which yielded a $5,000 deposit into his wallet and seemingly the determination to keep the fight for victory alive. Outside of Menzies, Rubicon Orbea was the main house cleaner of primes in the Pro race, which totaled more than $10,000 for the day thanks largely to title sponsor ISCorp and the Downer Avenue Merchants Association.

Then a lull formed but all in attendance knew the storm would soon kick in. With 10 to go, the field started to blow up, with separation on the front apparent. Bryce Mead (Texas Roadhouse) took a solo dig which did little to motivate the field as everyone fell in to evaluate positioning as the sun set. Minutes later, Frankie Dierking (Team Wisconsin/MC2) fired a bullet, which was answered in part by Hartley and then Pat Lemieux (Texas Roadhouse) but with three to go, the field came back together and entering the final lap, the trains were forming on the front for the set-up as 1-2-3-4 was booked by Rubicon Orbea, with UnitedHealthcare sitting in 5-6-7-8. Coming to the line, it was all Clarke as the Tasmanian Menzies, still pumping from the earlier prime win, finished a close second, with Mike Northey (Rubicon Orbea) rounding out the podium.

Heading into the final stage of Tour of America’s Dairyland on Sunday, just eight points separate Kenda Pro Cycling-GEARGRINDER teammates Stemper and Hartley, with Stemper currently wearing the golden beauty. Mike Sherer (Verizon U25-ABD) sits in third.

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