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'Cross Examination: Chicago, Nashville series winding down; Winfield, Fiordifrutta sweep NCGP
Chi’ series concludes December 3
The fourth and final race of the Chicago Cyclocross Cup racing series on December 3 will double as the Illinois State Cyclocross Championship. The race will be held at Montrose Park; lead sponsor is Turin of Evanston.
The course makes use of the many natural and manmade areas of the park. Riders can expect a well-rounded course using pavement, gravel track, grass and sandy areas with off-camber and running sections mixed into each lap.
Race flyers and information for the 2006 Chicago Cyclocross Cup can be found at www.chicrosscup.com.
Nashville series headed for the barn
The 2006 Nashville Cyclo-Cross Series will wrap up December 9 at Madison’s Cedar Hill Park. The course includes one run-up, two sets of natural barriers and one pair of temporary barriers. It is roughly 75 percent grass and 25 percent pavement, with small sections of mud, sand, and dirt.
The series beneficiary is House of Mercy Inc., a house for homeless mothers and their kids. Series sponsors include: BioLube, Bongo Java Coffee, Circle A Cycles, Clif Bar, De La Paz Coffee, DeFeet, Gran Fondo Cycles, Sean Letterman Photography, Lightning 100-Team Green, Louis Garneau, NashvilleCyclist.com, Pacenti Cycle Design, Richmond Re-Cycles, L.H. Thomson Company, Unconventional Medicinals, White Industries, and WickWear Sports.
For more information, see www.nashvillecyclo-crossseries.com.
Winfield, Fiordifrutta sweep NCGP
Deidre Winfield (Velo Bella) and Team Fiordifrutta swept the North Carolina Grand Prix UCI races November 18-19 at Jackson Park in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
Winfield won both days, while Fiordifrutta’s Michael Cody and Matt White split the honors, with Cody winning on Saturday and White taking the top spot on Sunday.
The weekend was part of the North Carolina Cyclocross Series.
On Saturday, White took the hole shot, with Cody following, and the two proved untouchable, with White conceding the victory (and its UCI points) to Cody. Jon Hamblin (RGM-Richard Sachs) dangled just behind for the first few laps, then had to settle into a lonely ride for third place.
In the women’s race, Winfield took the hole shot and never looked back. Kelly Jones (Sugoi Factory) crossed second with Melanie Swartz (Velo Bella) third.
On Sunday, Hamblin was first off the line only to see White make a huge move, building a 22-second lead over an eight-man chase group on the opening lap.
Cody leapt out of the chase, followed by Tristan Schouten (Trek-VW), Adam Myerson (Nerac), Charlie Storm (Inland Construction) and Hamblin. Schouten finally closed the gap, and he and Cody worked together until the final lap, when the Trek-VW rider made a move in the woods, leading into the last few technical sections and holding on for second with Cody third.
In the women’s race, Winfield was a marked rider. Amy Wallace (RGN-WAT) and Kelly Jones (Sugoi Factory) stuck to her on the first half of the first lap, joined by Mandy Lozano (Cheerwine).
But Winfield jumped on a long climb in the woods, dubbed "The Wall," taking Wallace with her. The Velo Bella rider made her final move on the second lap coming out of the woods and would not be touched again.
Wallace dropped back to Jones and Lozano, and the three rode together until Lozano got caught up in some course tape. Jones and Wallace took advantage of the mishap, working together until the final trip up the wall, where Wallace escaped to take second with Jones third.—by Janet Trubey
Other winners on day 1:
Men 2-3: Madison Sicgrist
Men 4: Peter Mathern
Women 3-4: Carla Swart
Juniors 10-14: Chase Pilcher
Juniors 15-18: Cory Rimmer
Masters 35+: Robert Bobrow
Masters 45+: Randy Shields
Other winners on day 2:
Men 2-3: Oscar Clark
Women 3-4: Hope Ann Snyder-Walsh
Men’s 4: Craig Henly
Juniors 15-18: Jacob Wood
Juniors 10-14: Chase Pilcher
Masters 35+: Jason Morgan
Masters 45+: Randy Shields
Jensen rules Nebraska weekend
Brian Jensen (Jelly Belly) made it look easy at the Nebraska Cyclocross Championship weekend November 18-19, winning both days at Lincoln’s Pioneers Park. Now the Lawrence, Kansas, rider hopes someone takes notice.
"I’m still looking for a team for next year," Jensen said after changing out of his team kit for the podium presentation. The 2006 season was his first as a professional after winning 20 races as an amateur in 2005. Sunday’s race was his third cyclo-cross victory of the season to go along with nine wins on the road.
"I don’t have the skills for cyclo-cross when it comes to the turns so I was lucky we had a straightaway where I could make up time on the asphalt," Jensen said. "Each race, I seem to be getting a little bit better."
Jensen beat Trek-VW’s Bill Stolte by 30 seconds Sunday and by 32 seconds on Saturday when the fast, dry 1.5-mile course included 12 trips up "Hooligan Hill."
"Bill’s a good rider and he’s never easy to beat," Jensen said. "He had a bit of a mishap Saturday early on so I got a gap and was able to hold him off."
Sunday’s race doubled as the Nebraska State Cyclocross Championship. Lincoln rider Tony Wilhelm (Trek-VW), who finished fourth overall at 47 seconds behind Jensen, won the gold medal. It was a remarkably stronger performance than Saturday when he faded from third to 12th in two laps. Lincoln Plating-LeMond’s Aaron Pool took the silver and Troy Krause of Slimenundgrossen-Trek Of Kansas City won the bronze.
The Nebraska women’s crown went to Lincoln Plating-LeMond’s Sydney Brown, who also won on Saturday. The Lincoln native only took up cycling in July but has won 11 races since, including the Nebraska state road title.
"You get a little success so you want a little more so you work a little harder," Brown said. "I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of support from family, friends, and especially my team. Everyone has been so willing to share their knowledge and even equipment with me." —by Sean Weide
Other state champions:
Cat. 3-4: Kevin Limpach
Cat. 4: Bill Becker
Junior Men: Eric Brown
Masters 35+: Marc Walter
Masters 45+: Randall Crist
