Powers sprints to win
Wells comes a close second
Jeremy Powers (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com), assisted ably by teammate Tim Johnson, won the final round the US Gran Prix of Cyclocross (USGP) in Portland. Todd Wells (Specialized) rode an incredibly strong race, but took second place as Cannondale had two riders in the break.
Johnson, acting as team captain, sacrificed himself to assure Powers' win and crossed the line in third wearing a big grin.
Clouds rolled in just before the elite men's race, making a frigid day seem even more so. With a less technical course today plus faster conditions, nearly every race pundit seemed to be predicting a different winner. It was expected that Kona-FSA's Ryan Trebon who to no avail had done much of the work on Saturday, would be eager to go for the win.
Powers took the hole shot, closely followed by Troy Wells. Trebon seemed to have a poor start, and had to expend some major energy getting back near the front. Todd Wells took the lead on the back side of the course and was first over the barriers.
A lead group eventually formed that included Wells, Powers, and Johnson. After three laps, Trebon and Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) were 150 metres behind the leaders and not closing it down much.
It seemed that Wells and Powers were doing most of the work at the front and as Johnson let small gaps appear others may have been thinking he was in trouble, although that certainly wasn't the case.
With two laps to go, Wells was still leading followed by Powers and Johnson. A half lap later, Johnson attacked hard and it took Wells some time to respond. Wells then counter-attacked and opened nearly ten bike lengths. The road prowess of the Cannondale riders showed as they systematically hunted down Wells on the pavement.
With one lap to go, all three riders were together and Wells led them out for the last time. Powers, determined not to repeat his mistake of a day earlier, attacked Wells and made it to the final pavement first. While Wells made the sprint exciting, Powers easily held him off to take the victory. Johnson, his work done for the day, soft-pedaled in for third place.
Behind the leaders, Adam Craig (Giant) was moving up steadily in the field. With one lap to go, he got around Trebon and took fourth place. Trebon claimed the USGP series title after taking two wins this season.
The American racers will now head to Bend, Oregon, for the national championships. It should be noted that both Ryan Trebon and Adam Craig now call Bend their home. Cold temperatures and snow on the ground is expected to greet riders for next weekend's races.
Cyclingnews produced a series of five videos featuring Todd Wells during the USGP Portland weekend. Click here for all the video content.
Results
1 | Jeremy Powers (USA) Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com | 1:01:18 |
2 | Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Factory Racing | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
3 | Timothy Johnson (USA) Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | Adam Craig (USA) Giant MTB Team | 0:01:12 |
5 | Ryan Trebon (USA) Kona-FSA | 0:01:24 |
6 | Geoff Kabush (Can) Maxxis/Rocky Mountain | 0:01:54 |
7 | James Driscoll (USA) Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com | 0:02:15 |
8 | Christopher Jones (USA) Champion System | 0:02:35 |
9 | Daniel Summerhill (USA) Felt-VMG U23 | 0:02:53 |
10 | Troy Wells (USA) Team Specialized | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Justin Robinson (USA) California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Barry Wicks (USA) Kona-FSA | 0:03:28 |
13 | Chris Sheppard (Can) Santa Cruz/Shimano/WTB/Giro | 0:03:35 |
14 | Jerome Townsend (USA) Bikereg.com/Joe's Garage/IF | 0:03:43 |
15 | Chance Noble (USA) California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Carl Decker (USA) Giant MTB Team | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Adam Mcgrath (USA) | 0:04:25 |
18 | Erik Tonkin (USA) Kona-FSA | 0:04:30 |
19 | Benjamin Kubas (USA) | 0:05:18 |
20 | Benjamin Thompson (USA) | 0:05:44 |
21 | Brady Kappius (USA) | 0:05:46 |
22 | Ryan Knapp (USA) Bikereg.com | 0:05:47 |
23 | Brett Luelling (USA) | 0:05:48 |
24 | Craig Fowler (USA) | 0:06:09 |
25 | David Hackworth (USA) | 0:06:17 |
26 | Molly Cameron (USA) Portland Bicycle Studio | 0:06:22 |
27 | Donald Reeb (USA) | 0:06:43 |
28 | Eric Emsky (USA) | 0:06:48 |
29 | Eric Sheagley (USA) | 0:07:10 |
30 | Evan Plews (USA) | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Jeremy Ferguson (USA) | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | John Flack (USA) | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Joshua Berry (USA) | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Benjamin Popper (USA) HRS/Rock Lobster | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Katriel Statman (USA) | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Spencer Paxson (USA) Team S&M Young Guns | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Kevin Bradford-Parish (USA) | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Kevin Hulick (USA) | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 | Kris Holden (USA) | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 | Kyle Murphy (USA) | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Landon Ericksson (USA) | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 | Carson Miller (USA) Landrover-Orbea Cycling Club | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 | Matthew Fox (USA) | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | John Behrens (USA) Bailey Bikes | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 | Michael Hemme (USA) | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
46 | Mitchell Peterson (USA) Monaviecannondale.com | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | Nathan Bannerman (USA) | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Ryan Weaver (USA) | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Sean Babcock (USA) | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Shannon Skeritt (USA) | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Adam Mills (USA) KCCX-Verge | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Steve Fisher (USA) | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Travis Woodruff (USA) | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Troy Heithecker (USA) | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Christopher Ragusa (USA) CCB Volkswagen | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Will Ross (USA) | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Zachary Edwards (USA) | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
1 | Ryan Trebon (USA) Kona-FSA |
2 | Timothy Johnson (USA) Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com |
3 | James Driscoll (USA) Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com |
Videos: Todd Wells at USGP #8
Todd Wells (Specialized Factory Team) is coming into form just in time for US 'cross nationals. Cyclingnews produced three videos from the US Gran Prix of Cyclocross second day on December 6.
Wells' first video provides insight into his post-race rituals, the second video is a review of the second day of USGP racing, and the third video features comments from Wells' competitors.
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