Wells wins Colorado Springs US Cup

Todd Wells (Specialized Factory Racing) won the final round of the USA Cycling US Cup Pro Series presented by Sho-Air Cycling Group in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Saturday afternoon. In the final series standings, Geoff Kabush (Scott-3Rox) won the series title belt.

After a fast start, it was Colombian Colorado Springs local Hector Fernando Rivero who emerged first out of the tricky climb and bombed the downhill, followed by another local in Russel Finsterwald (SRAM/Troy Lee Design), Keegan Swenson and Max Plaxton (both Cannondale Factory Racing), and Todd Wells (Specialized Factory Racing). These five were quickly joined by another five to form a 10-man lead group that would stay together for most of the first lap.

Swenson, Finsterwald and Raphael Gagne (Rocky Mountain Factory Racing) then got a gap, with Plaxton, series leader Geoff Kabush (Scott 3 Rox Racing), Mitchell Hoke (The Pro’s Closet/Stan’s), and Kabush bringing up the chase group. Plaxton would be first to make contact until Wells took the lead to force the pace on lap two.

The surprise of the early moves was that series leader Kabush had missed out on the lead group in the early laps.

On lap three, Wells and Finsterwald pressed on to gain a lead and were subsequently joined by Plaxton and Gagne, all riders who either live at altitude or were recently at altitude in preparation for the Colorado Springs finale. The next time through, the two again forced a move, with Plaxton finally forced to chase it down. Plaxton had to this point been content to stay just off the third wheel, but when the move went, he was forced to come around fellow Canadian Gagne to pull it back.

Finally, Wells attacked hard on a false flat to go off alone. At the start of last lap, Wells flew through the start/finish in his best aero position with a minute lead. Plaxton and Finsterwald were left to chase in vain, as Wells showed no signs of tiring.

"I got a small separation on the fourth or fifth lap, and I was hoping Finsty would come back but I think it took a bit too much out of him," said Wells. "I knew Kabush needed to finish 11th or worse and he doesn’t finish 11th on even his worst day."

Finsterwald said, "I had high ambitions here as this course is only 30 minutes from my house. The goal was just to be at the front and push it hard to put pressure on everyone. Todd hit it super hard and I just had nothing in the tank to go with him."

With the Specialized riders clearly out front and headed toward the victory, Kabush seemed to have found another gear, steadily working his way up to give the calculators and spreadsheets a rest. The Canadian clawed his way past rider after rider to eventually take second with a sprint to the line with Gagne. Plaxton would finish in fourth, making it a very Canadian podium with riders in second, third and fourth. Filling out the day’s podium was Finsterwald who rode a gutsy race.

The day’s result would be the final standing of the top two overall, with Kabush (121 points) taking the overall win of series, just 12 points in front of Wells (109 points). Plaxton took third (92 points), Zandstra fourth (69 points) and Sho-Air / Cannondale’s Jeremiah Bishop rounded out the podium in fifth (62 points).

Kabush said, "I felt pretty steady but not super so I was being conservative for a few laps but by the middle of the race I felt stronger and stronger. I was surprised the gap got out to over a minute but I knew I could keep those guys in sight and I’d be ok."

"I'm really excited for my Scott 3 Rox Racing Team to take home the belt for this first US Cup. It’s great to see the excitement building for cross country racing here in the US, and I’m also excited to take home this title. It’s definitely great to take home a big check as well, so big thanks to Scott Tedro for putting all of this together."

Results

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Elite men
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Factory1:29:53
2Geoff Kabush (Can) Scott 3 Rox Racing0:00:21
3Raphael Gagne (Can)0:00:22
4Max Plaxton (Can) Cannodale Factory0:01:04
5Russell Finsterwald (USA) Sram/Troy Lee Design0:01:28
6Mitchell Hoke (USA) The Pros Closet0:01:53
7Derek Zandstra (Can) Scott 3 Rox Racing0:01:59
8Keegan Swenson (USA) Cannondale Factory0:02:24
9Cameron Jette (Can) Scott-3 Rox Racing0:02:44
10Rotem Ishay (Isr) Team Jamis Bikes0:03:57
11Sepp Kuss (USA) BMC Project Dirt0:04:08
12Troy Wells (USA) Team Clif Bar0:04:17
13Hector Fern Riveros (Col)0:04:29
14Jeremiah Bishop (USA) Sho-Air/Cannondale0:04:57
15Benjamin Sonntag (Ger) Stans No Tubes Elite0:05:23
16Antoine Caron (Can) Specialized Racing0:06:25
17Mitch Bailey (Can)0:06:37
18James Driscoll (USA) Cannondale-Cyclocross0:06:43
19Adam Morka (Can) Wfp Coaching/Trek0:07:03
20Chris Baddick (GBr) The Gear Movement0:07:07
21Kerry Werner (USA) BMC Project Dirt0:07:26
22Alex Grant (USA) Sho-Air/Cannondale0:07:36
23Justin Lindine (USA) Team Redline0:08:03
24Tom Sampson (USA) Adigga Racing0:08:21
25Braden Kappius (USA) Team Clif Bar0:10:09
26Casey Williams (USA) Whole Athlete0:10:38
27Joseph Maloney (USA) Ks Energy Services0:10:53
28Kalan Beisel (USA) Giant-Tuff Shed0:11:03
29Elliot Reinecke (USA) Focus Bikes0:11:08
30Bryan Alders (USA) Marin Bikes Factory0:11:09
31Richard Cyp Gorry (USA) Whole Athlete0:11:10
32Menso De Jong (USA) Team Clif Bar0:11:42
33Cameron Chambers (USA) Ethos Racing0:11:50
34Jason Siegle (USA) Sdg/Felt0:12:13
35Ryan Woodall (USA) The Pros Closet0:12:15
36Adrain Retief (NZl)0:16:29
-1lapSamuel Chovan (USA) Honey StingerRow 36 - Cell 2
-1lapStephan Davoust (USA) San Juan CyclesRow 37 - Cell 2
-1lapKacey Campbell (USA)Row 38 - Cell 2
-1lapChristhian Ravelo-Avila (Col) Colorado BikeRow 39 - Cell 2
-1lapTrevor Deruise (USA) Audi/SpecializedRow 40 - Cell 2
-1lapLevi Kurlander (USA) Fort Lewis CollegeRow 41 - Cell 2
-1lapRyan Geiger (USA) Topix-Frm FactoryRow 42 - Cell 2
-1lapShawn Milne (USA) Keoughp/B FeltRow 43 - Cell 2
-1lapRyan Petry (USA) Tribe MultisportRow 44 - Cell 2
-1lapAlexandre Vialle (Can) Espresso SportRow 45 - Cell 2
-1lapAlex Pond (USA) Steamboat VeloRow 46 - Cell 2
-1lapJoseph Clemenzi (USA) Sports GarageRow 47 - Cell 2
-1lapGaret Steinmetz (USA) Ethos RacingRow 48 - Cell 2
-1lapCole Oberman (USA) Rare Disease CyclingRow 49 - Cell 2
-2lapsRandy Flores (USA) High Desert BicyclesRow 50 - Cell 2
-2lapsRyan Standish (USA)Row 51 - Cell 2
-2lapsMatthew Turner (USA) Summit Utah DevoRow 52 - Cell 2
-2lapsBelanger Barre Mathieu (Can) Opus/OgcRow 53 - Cell 2
-2lapsGareth Feldstein (USA) Muscle MilkRow 54 - Cell 2
-2lapsJaime Miranda (Mex) Niner Mexico-BikeRow 55 - Cell 2
-2lapsJason Hanson (USA)Row 56 - Cell 2
-2lapsMason Shea (USA)Row 57 - Cell 2
-2lapsDavid Flaten (USA) Giant Northeast ProRow 58 - Cell 2
-2lapsGraham Ruhmann (USA)Row 59 - Cell 2
-2lapsWohlschlaeger Craig (USA) Giant BicycleRow 60 - Cell 2
-3lapsCody Lacosta (USA) High Gear/CannondaleRow 61 - Cell 2
-3lapsNick Thomas (USA) Az DevoRow 62 - Cell 2
DNFPayson Mcelveen (USA) Usa U23Row 63 - Cell 2
DNSColin Osborn (USA) Honey StingerRow 64 - Cell 2
DNSRyan Trebon (USA) Sho-Air/CannondaleRow 65 - Cell 2
DNSBrodie Stringer (USA) Team BaghouseRow 66 - Cell 2
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Elite men final US Cup standings
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Geoff Kabush (Scott 3 Rox Racing)121pts
2Todd Wells (Specialized Factory Racing)109Row 1 - Cell 3
3Max Plaxton (Cannodale Factory Team)92Row 2 - Cell 3
4Derek Zandstra (Scott 3 Rox Racing)69Row 3 - Cell 3
5Jeremiah Bishop (Sho-Air/Cannondale)62Row 4 - Cell 3
6Raphael Gagne (Rocky Mountain Factory)61Row 5 - Cell 3
7Sergio Mantecon Gutie (Trek Factory Racing Team)57Row 6 - Cell 3
8Russell Finsterwald (Sram/Troy Lee Designs Race)56Row 7 - Cell 3
9Benjamin Sonntag (Stans No Tubes Elite Racing)53Row 8 - Cell 3
10Marco Aurelio Fontan (Cannondale Factory Racing)53Row 9 - Cell 3
11Manuel Fumic (Cannondale Factory Racing)53Row 10 - Cell 3
12Alex Grant (Sho-Air/Cannondale)50Row 11 - Cell 3
13Hector Fernando Rive48Row 12 - Cell 3
14Cameron Jette (Scott-3 Rox Racing)45Row 13 - Cell 3
15Keegan Swenson (Cannondale Factory Racing)44Row 14 - Cell 3
16Mitchell Hoke (The Pros Closet/Stans No Tubes)38Row 15 - Cell 3
17Adam Morka (Wfp Coaching/Trek Bikes)38Row 16 - Cell 3
18Spencer Paxson (Kona)38Row 17 - Cell 3
19Troy Wells (Team Clif Bar)37Row 18 - Cell 3
20Payson Mcelveen (Usa U23)35Row 19 - Cell 3
21Rotem Ishay (Team Jamis Bikes)33Row 20 - Cell 3
22Sepp Kuss (BMC Project Dirt)30Row 21 - Cell 3
23Daniel Mcconnell (Trek Factory Racing Team)30Row 22 - Cell 3
24Stephen Ettinger (BMC Mountain Bike Racing Team)29Row 23 - Cell 3
25Emil Lindgren (Giant Pro Xc Team)26Row 24 - Cell 3
26Kerry Werner (BMC Project Dirt)25Row 25 - Cell 3
27Kris Sneddon (Kona)25Row 26 - Cell 3
28Casey Williams (Whole Athlete/Specialized)23Row 27 - Cell 3
29Chris Baddick (The Gear Movement/Epic Pro)21Row 28 - Cell 3
30Sam Schultz (Sho-Air/Cannondale)21Row 29 - Cell 3
31Antoine Caron (Specialized Racing Canada)20Row 30 - Cell 3
32Ryan Woodall (The Pros Closet/Stans No Tubes)20Row 31 - Cell 3
33Joseph Maloney (Ks Energy Services)20Row 32 - Cell 3
34David Flaten (Giant Northeast Pro Team)20Row 33 - Cell 3
35Gareth Feldstein (Muscle Milk)20Row 34 - Cell 3
36Kalan Beisel (Giant-Tuff Shed)20Row 35 - Cell 3
37Braden Kappius (Team Clif Bar)20Row 36 - Cell 3
38Tom Sampson (Adigga Racing)20Row 37 - Cell 3
39Elliot Reinecke (Focus Bikes/Velo Hanger)20Row 38 - Cell 3
40Cole Oberman (Rare Disease Cycling)20Row 39 - Cell 3
41Craig Wohlschlaeger (Giant Bicycle)20Row 40 - Cell 3
42Bryan Alders (Marin Bikes Factory Team)20Row 41 - Cell 3
43Menso De Jong (Team Clif Bar Cylcing)20Row 42 - Cell 3
44Ryan Geiger (Topix-Frm Factory Race Team)20Row 43 - Cell 3
45Carl Decker (Giant Factory Team)20Row 44 - Cell 3
46Jason Sager (Backcountry.Com)19Row 45 - Cell 3
47Anton Cooper (Cannondale Factory Racing)19Row 46 - Cell 3
48James Reid (Trek Racing South Africa)17Row 47 - Cell 3
49Alexandre Vialle (Espresso Sport)15Row 48 - Cell 3
50Jason Siegle (Sdg/Felt)15Row 49 - Cell 3
51Matthew Turner (Summit Utah Devo)15Row 50 - Cell 3
52Miguel Valadez Ortiz (Bear Valley Bikes)15Row 51 - Cell 3
53Michael Hosey (Marin Factory)15Row 52 - Cell 3
54Tristan Uhl (787 Racing)15Row 53 - Cell 3
55Alex Wild (Trail Head Racing)15Row 54 - Cell 3
56Dan Wolf (Old Line Velo)15Row 55 - Cell 3
57Tj Woodruff (Backcountry.Com)15Row 56 - Cell 3
58William Melone (Riverside Racing)15Row 57 - Cell 3
59Ernest Watenpaugh15Row 58 - Cell 3
60Rocky Gingg (Momentum Endurance)15Row 59 - Cell 3
61Mitch Bailey14Row 60 - Cell 3
62Ryan Trebon (Sho-Air/Cannondale)14Row 61 - Cell 3
63Jeremy Martin11Row 62 - Cell 3
64Garet Steinmetz (Ethos Racing)10Row 63 - Cell 3
65Cody Lacosta (High Gear/Cannondale)10Row 64 - Cell 3
66Joseph Clemenzi (Sports Garage Cycling)10Row 65 - Cell 3
67Mason Shea10Row 66 - Cell 3
68Ryan Standish10Row 67 - Cell 3
69Stephan Davoust (San Juan Cycles/Steamworks)10Row 68 - Cell 3
70Levi Kurlander (Fort Lewis College)10Row 69 - Cell 3
71Colin Osborn (Honey Stinger/Bontrager)10Row 70 - Cell 3
72Brodie Stringer (Team Baghouse)10Row 71 - Cell 3
73Skyler Taylor (Bear Development Team)10Row 72 - Cell 3
74Madison Matthews (Toasted Head Racing/Gu Energy)10Row 73 - Cell 3
75Pete Macleod (Barfly)10Row 74 - Cell 3
76Drew Edsall (Pros Closet/Stans No Tubes)10Row 75 - Cell 3
77Stephane Roch (Swami's/Skliz)10Row 76 - Cell 3
78Joel Titius (Socal Endurance)10Row 77 - Cell 3
79Hal Helbock (Cytomax Khs)10Row 78 - Cell 3
80Evan Guthrie (Norco Factory Team)10Row 79 - Cell 3
81Eliel Anttila (Uc Berkeley)10Row 80 - Cell 3
82Anthony Stein10Row 81 - Cell 3
83Noah Tautfest (Bicycle Express/Kona)10Row 82 - Cell 3
84Peter Glassford (Trek Canada)10Row 83 - Cell 3
85Christopher Hamlin10Row 84 - Cell 3
86Julien Bourdevaire (Team Blackstar)10Row 85 - Cell 3
87Trey Jarno (Bear Valley Bikes)10Row 86 - Cell 3
88Sean Donovan (Khs/Cytomax/Esi)10Row 87 - Cell 3
89Patrick Chartrand (Rocky Mountain Factory Team)10Row 88 - Cell 3
90David (Tinker) Juarez (Sho-Air/Cannondale)10Row 89 - Cell 3
91Tyler Johnson10Row 90 - Cell 3
92Marc-Antoine Nadon (Scott 3 Rox Racing)10Row 91 - Cell 3
93Jett Chandler (Doug Chandler Performance)10Row 92 - Cell 3
94Barry Wicks10Row 93 - Cell 3
95John Nobil (Bear Valley Bikes)10Row 94 - Cell 3
96Quinn Moberg (Rocky Mountain Factory Team)10Row 95 - Cell 3
97Charles Jenkins (Khs/Cytomax/Esi)10Row 96 - Cell 3
98Christopher Wieczore (Total Cyclist)10Row 97 - Cell 3
99Jakub Valigura (92Fifty' Cyclery)10Row 98 - Cell 3
100James Driscoll (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.)8Row 99 - Cell 3
101Richard Cypress Gorr (Whole Athlete Specialized)5Row 100 - Cell 3
102Shawn Milne (Keoughp/B Felt)5Row 101 - Cell 3
103Samuel Chovan (Honey Stinger/Bontrager)5Row 102 - Cell 3
104Jason Hanson5Row 103 - Cell 3
105Trevor Deruise (Audi/Specialized)5Row 104 - Cell 3
106Mathieu Belanger Barr (Opus/Ogc)5Row 105 - Cell 3
107Graham Ruhmann5Row 106 - Cell 3
108Raphael Campbell5Row 107 - Cell 3
109Jaime Miranda (Niner Mexico-Bikes & More)5Row 108 - Cell 3
110Randy Flores (High Desert Bicycles Team)5Row 109 - Cell 3
111Alex Pond (Steamboat Velo)5Row 110 - Cell 3
112Cameron Chambers (Ethos Racing)5Row 111 - Cell 3
113Adrain Retief5Row 112 - Cell 3
114Ryan Petry (Tribe Multisport)5Row 113 - Cell 3
115Justin Lindine (Team Redline)5Row 114 - Cell 3
116Christhian Ravelo-Avil (Colorado Bike Service/Santa)5Row 115 - Cell 3
117Nick Thomas (Az Devo)5Row 116 - Cell 3
118Jack Hinkens (BMC Mtb Development Team Us)5Row 117 - Cell 3
119Jordan Kahlenberg (Giant Mid-Atlantic)5Row 118 - Cell 3
120Ignacio Torres (Turbo Bicycles)5Row 119 - Cell 3
121Keck Baker5Row 120 - Cell 3
122Carson Lange5Row 121 - Cell 3
123Brian Barrow5Row 122 - Cell 3
124Brady Stewart5Row 123 - Cell 3
125David Vaughn5Row 124 - Cell 3
126Timothy Rugg5Row 125 - Cell 3
127Martin Cox (Endurancefac)5Row 126 - Cell 3
128Alex Muecci5Row 127 - Cell 3
129Andrew Dahlheim5Row 128 - Cell 3
130Steve Tilford5Row 129 - Cell 3
131Marco Antonio Escarc (Alu Bike-Krbo Cycling Team)5Row 130 - Cell 3
132Jose Escarcega (Alu Bike-Krbo Cycling Team)5Row 131 - Cell 3
133Lucas Newcomb (Bear Development Team)5Row 132 - Cell 3
134Aaron Oakes (Bicycle Express)5Row 133 - Cell 3
135Jarred Jordan5Row 134 - Cell 3
136Sergio Hernandez (Incyle-Predator Components)5Row 135 - Cell 3
137Juan Carlos Nunez Gal5Row 136 - Cell 3
138David Pinedo (Ellin Cycling Team)5Row 137 - Cell 3
139Michael Broderick (Kenda/Stans No Tubes)5Row 138 - Cell 3
140Ryan Cook5Row 139 - Cell 3
141Garnet Vertican (Bear Valley Bikes)5Row 140 - Cell 3
142Evan Mcneely (Norco Factory Team)5Row 141 - Cell 3
143Cody Kaiser (Muscle Milk/Specialized)5Row 142 - Cell 3
144Stuart Gonzalez (Bear Valley Bikes)5Row 143 - Cell 3
145Bryan Horsley5Row 144 - Cell 3
146Connor Bell (Rocktown Racing)5Row 145 - Cell 3
147William Curtis (Team Santa Cruz-X Fusion)5Row 146 - Cell 3
148Christopher Kelly (Evergreen Cycling)5Row 147 - Cell 3
149Cody Cupp5Row 148 - Cell 3
150Bryson Perry (Dna Cycling)5Row 149 - Cell 3
151Anibal Valadez (Ellin Cycling Team)5Row 150 - Cell 3
152Miguel Ramos (Bh/Smith Optics)5Row 151 - Cell 3

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