THIS WEEK IN PRO CYCLING
'Cross Examination: Verge titles on the line; Kansas, 'Bama champs on deck
Verge titles on the line this weekend
Coming into the final weekend of the 2006 Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series, the race for the elite championships hangs in the balance.
Both races of the Rhode Island doubleheader, Saturday’s W.E. Stedman Grand Prix in South Kingston and Sunday’s Caster’s Cyclocross in Warwick, offer very different race experiences in which series titles will be decided. The W.E. Stedman course, a fast, open, and often blustery tour around the grounds at the Curtis Corner Middle School, favors sheer strength over technique while Sunday’s Caster’s track sends riders into extended beach runs and wooded sections in which momentum and balance play decisive roles. Mackenzie Dickey (Verge) holds a tenuous 8-point lead over triple event winner Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com) going into the Rhode Island showdown. Bessette needs to beat Dickey on both days to take the overall Verge NECCS elite women’s title, but Dickey feels at home on the South Kingston course, having won there in 2005. Four-time Verge NECCS elite men’s champion Mark McCormack (Clif Bar) looks well-positioned to take his fifth title coming into the final weekend. McCormack holds a 10-point lead over former jersey holder Matt White (FiordiFrutta) and a seemingly insurmountable 60-point margin over defending Verge champ Tim Johnson (Cannondale-cyclocrossworld.com).
Johnson and McCormack engaged in a classic battle royal at last year’s Caster’s race, with McCormack winning the day but Johnson getting the series overall.
Series champions will be crowned in nine divisions on Sunday, rewarding the most consistent riders through the seven-race series.
For more information, see www.necyclocross.com. —Chris Milliman
'Bama champs coming up
The final round of the Bamacross Series on December 17 will double up as the Alabama state championships.
Cullman Cycling Club is hosting the finale at Sportsman Lake Park.
The race offers double points toward the series individual and team championships as well as double purse for the men’s and women’s 1-2-3 divisions.
Mike Hurley (Alabama Masters), the leader in the series’ top division, faces strong competition from Troy Tucker (Half Fast) and Jerrod Dorminey (Cycle Escape) as well as Chad Hungerford who put in a strong challenge at the Montgomery round.
A kid’s race on a separate course will complete the event.
For more information, see www.cullmancyclingclub.com. —Bill St. John
Kansas champs to wrap up state series
The Cow Town Cyclocross Series concludes on Sunday with the Kansas State Cyclocross Championships at Leavenworth High School. Individual class wins, state titles and series crowns will all be up for grabs.
The course features more than 250 feet of climbing per 1.5 mile lap. “This event will truly test all the riders, and whoever is strongest will definitely earn the win,” said co-director Roger Harrison.
The series benefits organizations like Diamond Blackfan Anemia Foundation and volunteer groups like the Lantern Rouge Volunteer Group and VFW. The series was a great success and we look forward to holding it again next season.
“Cross is growing in our area and it is always a lot of fun to put on quality events for everyone. An added bonus is holding things like raffles that can raise money for organizations like DBA,” said co- director Chris Locke.
For more information, see www.kscycling.org. —David Wathen
Card, Schwartz repeat at Michigan champs
It was déjà vu all over again at the Michigan Cyclocross Championships on December 3 as two past winners repeated to win state titles in Waterford.
In the elite men’s race, Jon Card (Cane Creek) repeated his performance from 2003 to add another state title to his collection. In the elite women’s race, Anne Schwartz (Flying Rhino Cycling Club) continued her winning ways, notching her fourth state title in a row.
With the mercury pegged at 24 degrees, gusting winds and intermittent snow flurries, weather conditions made all the races mini-epics for the competitors.
The elite men’s race started off fast with the dominant Cane Creek team of Card, Jer Walker, Jeff Weinert and Rob Foshag using their “shock-and-awe” tactic to set up Card for the win — the seventh time the Cane Creek team has claimed the state title.
From the gun teammate Walker set a ferocious pace that immediately dropped most of the field. After three laps of insane tempo, the only riders left at the front were Walker, Card and Mike Wissink (Specialized).
As Walker sat up to recover, Card took off and immediately gained a one-minute lead on Wissink, and it was game over. Wissink held on for second place while Walker just barely held off a charging Tim Saari (Flying Rhino Cycling Club) to take third.
In the elite women’s race, Schwartz went wire-to-wire to take the win. This was her first race back from injury after missing much of the season and was a good confirmation that her fitness is on track leading up to nationals.
For more information, see www.tailwind.net or www.mbra.org.
Michigan State Cyclo-cross Championships
Waterford, MI. December 3
Elite men
1. Jon Card, Cane Creek, 56:39
2. Mike Wissink, Specialized, 57:28
3. Jer Walker, Cane Creek, 57:47
4. Tim Saar, Flying Rhino, 57:53
5. Rob Foshag, Cane Creek, 58:30
Elite women
1. Anne Schwartz, Flying Rhino, 50:55
2. Rachel Steele, Saturn of Toledo-Shell, 51:07
3. Danielle Musto, Slingshot Bikes, 53:44
4. Juli Bellerose, SalonXL-AAVC, 57:49
5. Anne Grofvert, Founders Ale Racing, 1 lap down
Other winners
Masters 35+: Eric Fernando, Sugoi-Hammer Nutrition, 47:24
Masters 45+: Dave Belton, Flying Rhino, 47:24
B Men: Eric Muehl, CycleFit, 46:23
Juniors 15-18: Tony Wieczorek, Sunrise Sports, 53:03
C Men: Matt Ashley, Flying Rhino, 28:16
C Women: Susan Shaw, CycleFit, 32:13
Juniors 14 and under: Joey Fornetran, Mapleleaf CC, 28:58
Berrigan, Sachs win Illinois titles
Corie Berrigan (Team Kenda Tire) and David Sachs (Vision Quest) won their respective races at the Illinois Cyclo-cross State Championships on December 3.
The fourth race in the Chicago Cyclocross Cup Racing Series was held on a chilly, blustery day at Chicago’s Montrose Park.
It marked a second title for Berrigan, who won the Wisconsin Cyclocross State Championship in 1998.
For more information, see www.chicrosscup.com.
Illinois Cyclo-cross State Championships
Chicago, IL. December 3
Elite men
1. David Sachs, Vision Quest
2. Brian Connant, Training Bible
3. Alistair Sponsel, Colavita
4. Lou Kuhn, Pony Shop
5. Chris Strout, Pony Shop
6. Chris Dimmick, Turin
7. Ryan Caliland, Vision Quest
8. Brian Haas, Albertos
9. Sean Metz, Turin
Elite women
1. Corie Berrigan, Team Kenda Tire
2. Holly Klug, Killjoy
3. Sam Schneider, Endeavor
4. Kris Over, Team Kenda Tire
5. Francine Haas, Albertos
6. Christine Raymo, SRAM
7. Kristin Lohn, Albertos
8. Jennifer Harrison, Planet X
9. Emily Macdonald, XXX Racing_AthletiCo
10. Michelle Ericsson, Capitol Velo Club
Other state champions
Juniors: Luca Lenzi, (IL), Vision Quest
Masters 35+: Bobby Williamson
Masters 45+: Josh Mallan, Pony Shop
Men 3: Joe Farris, Turin
Women 4: Jennifer Greenberg
Men 4: Ben Popper, XXX Racing AthletiCo
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