Weekly Update Oct 19-25, 2007
Seven Americans competed in the first of this season’s nine UCI Cyclo-cross World Cups on October 21 in Belgium. Jonathan Page (Northfield, N.H./Sunweb-Projob) was the top American finisher in the elite men’s race with an 11th-place finish behind winner Zdenek Stybar (CZE). Ryan Trebon (Ventura, Calif./Kona-Yourkey) was the next-best American in 42nd, followed by Jonathan Baker (Boulder, Colo./Vitamin Cottage) in 51st. Katie Compton (Colorado Springs, Colo./Spike Shooter) continued her streak of impressive international showings with a second-place effort in the women’s contest. Compton was beat to the line by only three seconds by The Netherlands’ Dephny Van Den Brand. Christine Vardaros (Mill Valley, Calif./Vanderkitten) came in 22nd for the U.S., while Sarah Kerlin (Capitola, Calif./Velo Bella-Kona) crossed the line in 29th. The only junior competing for the U.S., Ian Boswell (Bend, Ore./Hagens Berman) came in 41st in that category. The second round of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup is scheduled for this Saturday, October 27 in Tabor, Czech Republic.
Jonathan Page (Northfield, N.H./Sunweb-Projob) was the sole American to compete in the UCI Category-2 De Nacht van Woerden in The Netherlands on October 23. Page finished sixth out of the 60+ rider international field as Erwin Vervecken (BEL) took home the win.
The Category-1 Granogue Cross in Wilmington, Del. kicked-off last weekend’s action on the USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Calendar on Saturday. On one of the most challenging courses in North America, Tim Johnson (Middleton, Mass./Cannondale-Leer-Cyclocrossworld) took the victory in the elite men’s race over Jeremy Powers (Niantic, Conn.) and Barry Wicks (Corvallis, Ore./Kona-Yourkey) respectively. In the women’s contest, Kerry Barnholt (Boulder, Colo./Tokyo Joe’s-Van Dessel) took the early lead in the women’s race and held off a chasing Rebecca Wellons (Woburn, Mass./Ridley Factory Team) for the win while Megan Monroe (Boulder, Colo./BMC-Sports Garage) placed third.
Jeremy Powers (Niantic, Conn./Cyclocrossworld.com) improved upon Saturday’s second-place finish, taking the lead from the gun the following day in another USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Calendar race, the Wissahickon Cross in Philadelphia, Pa. Powers took the victory over Tim Johnson (Middleton, Mass./Cannondale-Leer-Cyclocrossworld), and Chris Jones (Redding, Calif./Nerac) respectively. In the women’s race, Kerry Barnholt (Boulder, Colo./Tokyo Joe’s-Van Dessel) took her second victory in as many days after riding to a solo victory ahead of Rebecca Wellons (Woburn, Mass./Ridley Factory Team) and Megan Monroe (Boulder, Colo./BMC-Sports Garage).
On the West Coast in Lake View Terrace, Calif., the USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Calendar continued with the Category-2 Dam Cross on October 21. The 60% grass course combined with strong winds made for a challenging race. The women’s race began the day with Rachel Lloyd (Fairfax, Calif./Proman-Paradigm) pulling off the victory, beating Barbara Howe (Larkspur, Calif./Velo Bella-Kona) and Melodie Metzger (Berkeley, Calif./Cal Giant-Specialized) who finished second and third respectively. In the elite men’s race that followed, Tristan Schouten (Sheboygan, Wis./Planet Bike) took the win ahead of Brent Prenzlow (Carlsbad, Calif./Alan North America Cycling) and Mike Easter (Ventura, Calif.) respectively.
With 14 races now complete, the current USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Calendar standings are as follows:
Women’s Individual Standings
1. Katie Compton (Colorado Springs, Colo./Spike Shooter) 95
2. Lyne Bessette (CAN/cyclocrossworld.com) 90
3. Kerry Barnholt (Boulder, Colo./Tokyo Joe’s-Van Dessel) 80
4. Anna Milkowski (Housatonic, Mass./Velo Bella-Kona) 67
5. Wendy Williams (Portland, Ore./River City Bicycles) 63
Men’s Individual Standings
1. Barry Wicks (Corvallis, Ore./Kona-Yourkey) 214
2. Jeremy Powers (Niantic, Conn./Cyclocrossworld.com) 152
3. Tim Johnson (Middleton, Mass./Cannondale-Leer-Cyclocrossworld) 147
4. Ryan Trebon (Ventura, Calif./Kona-Yourkey) 120
5. Chris Jones (Redding, Calif./Nerac) 101
