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Frischknecht, Hall Collect Wins at Bianchi ‘Cross
San Mateo -The first half of California’s UCI cyclo-cross doubleheader thisweekend belonged to Gina Hall and Thomas Frischknecht with Hall runningaway from the Women’s field to score a solo victory while the three-timeSwiss Olympian sat with a high-powered trio and forged ahead just on thefinal lap of the 3,200 meter course.

Held under dry skies, the course had alternating soft and firmsections at they immediately entered a eucalyptus forest after the startloop and the opening 1500 meters. When they emerged form the forest thefield encountered the Giro barricades but from then on the course was virtuallyflat – but not necessarily fast with chip bark bogs to negotiate.

Right after the start under the Red Bull arch Ben Jacques-Maynes forcefullytook the lead and by the time the pack escaped the forest, a 6 rider groupwas formed. Not everyone escaped unscathed – Kona lost Barry Wicks fromthe leaders when his chain jammed and he watched nearly the entire fieldpass him while cursing the heavens. Frischi, Todd Wells, Ryan Trebon, Jacques-Maynes, Eric Tonkin, Jackson Stewart were the initial leaders and attrition ledto a trio of leaders in the finale - Frischi, Trebon and Wells. Itwas the Swiss MTB World Cup and World Champ using some Swiss ‘cross genesto overpower Wells and Trebon in the last lap. After the race Frischi wasrelating a few stories when he used to watch his dad race – Peter was amultiple Worlds medalist during the Swiss stranglehold on ‘cross in the70’s and ‘80’s

Hall is in top form

For Sunday’s CCCP – Cyclo Cross @ Coyote Point – the starting fieldwill include both previous winners of the sand encrusted course – Frischiin 2002 and Wells last year. Although summer high tides have robbed someof the beach of the usual sand, there’s still enough to create a 50 meterdismount section – for all except Wells who last year was the only riderall day who could hop into the sand, maintain speed and continue riding– a decided advantage. Round 1 of the weekend goes to Frischi – Round 2will be the chance for revenge. It will be a chance for redemption forWicks and the Kona team who placed all 3 team members in the top 10 todaywith a magnificent performance by Wicks to come through the entire fieldafter lap 1 to nearly make the podium at the finish.

Last year at this time the rumors of Gina Halls impending retirementwere all over Portland and the Nationals and they turned out to be justthat: rumors. Hall is peaking at the right time to grab another WorldsCap with the US team as the season barrels along towards the US Mud Championshipsin Portland next weekend. Hall established an immediate lead on the firstlap and was never countered by the Velo Bella team who still filled 3 ofthe podium’s 5 steps. Canada’s Wendy Simms, a member of their Worlds Teamin 2004, grabbed the other non-Bella podium position.

Elite Men
1 Thomas Frischknecht SwissPower 54:43
2 Todd Wells Hyundai/GT :03
3 Ryan Trebon Kona :03
4 Ben Jacques-Maynes Sierra Nevada 1:32
5 Jackson Stewart Clif Bar 1:43
6 Barry Wicks Kona 1:47
7 Erik Tonkin Kona 1:50
8 Justin Robinson Family Cycling Ctr 3:05
9 Travis Brown TREK 3:12
10 Aaron O’Dell Rock Lobster 3:12Elite Women
1 Gina Hall Missing Link/Bianchi 39:44
2 Barbara Howe Velo Bella :52
3 Christine Vardaros Velo Bella :53
4 Wendy Simms Frontrunner1:06
5 Melodie Metzger Velo Bella 1:08
6 Sarah Kerlin Velo Bella 1:11
7 Allison Baumhefner Hunter/ABS 1:18
8 Stella Carey Kelly Bikes 2:08
9 Hillary Daniels Hunter 2:51
10 Erin Kassoy Velo Bella 4:10