2007 Carlisle Cross Classic - C2

Carlisle, Pennsylvania, USA, December 1, 2007

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Race 1 - December 2: Elite Women

Bruno-Roy benefits from Koksijde

By Kirsten Robbins in Carlisle, Pennsylvania

A successful trip to Europe to compete in the Koksijde World Cup round #4 brought Maureen Bruno Roy's (Independent Fabrications) game up a notch as she reaped the rewards of victory in the Carlisle Cross Classic's penultimate Verge Mid Atlantic Cyclo-cross Series, solidifying her series lead in the process. Catherine Walberg (Team Kenda Tire) and Betsy Schrogen (Ford) round out the podium in second and third place respectively.

"I think that racing in a really hard race before this was good for my performance today," acknowledged Bruno Roy with regards to her unplanned trip to Belgium last weekend. "I was in over my head in the world cup but I learned how to race past my ability which is great for the end of the season fitness."

The expenses to complete in the Portland USGP were more costly than flying to Belgium to race in the world cup and Bruno Roy admitted that not only did she saved on travel expenses but she gained more UCI points by placing twenty-sixth in the world cup than she would have racing in the east coast series while raising the bar in her late season fitness.

How it unfolded

After a great start, Bruno Roy established a healthy lead of ten seconds over the first hill and maintained it for the next five laps until the finish. Walberg used the lengthy hill to solidify her lead over a group of three chasing riders that included Schrogen and her Ford teammate Erica Yozell and Melanie Swartz (VeloBella).

"The race today was not suited to me at all with the wind, the flats and the turns," said Bruno Roy. "But I pushed hard on the hills and tried to hold the gap. I never felt like it was much of a gap or that I was riding away from the race. I think everyone behind was working just as hard."

Walberg was happy with her performance because she accumulated points toward a better start position in the US nationals championships, held in her home state of Kansas later this month. "The races out here are really good and the competition gives good practice," said Walberg. "I wish we had this kind of competition at home."

"I think Maureen obviously had a great start," continued Walberg. "Cross is really a matter of seconds and she established a nice gap and maintained it. This was really a true cross course in that there were a lot of technical twists on it."

Schrogen eventually separated herself from Yozell and Swartz who chased for several laps in pursuit of the last podium place but neither rider managed to close down those valuable seconds before the race's end

Results

1 Maureen Bruno Roy (If/Wheelworks/Sram Presented By General Catalyst)    40.00
2 Catherine Walberg (Team Kenda Tire)                                      0.34
3 Betsy Shogren (Fort Factory Team)                                        1.02
4 Erica Yozell Miller (Fort Factory Team)                                  1.19
5 Melanie Swartz (Velo Bella - Kona)                                       1.57
6 Cheryl Sornson (Trek Vw East Coast)                                      2.36
7 Lisa Vible (C3-Sollay.Com)                                               3.33
8 Beth Mason (C3-Sollay.Com)                                               4.41
9 Jessica Singerman (Wissahickon/Twin 6)                                   4.55
10 Diane Grim (C3-Sollay.Com)                                              5.10
11 Tammy Ebersole (Evolution Racing)                                       5.35
12 Amy Breyla (Fort Factory Team)                                          6.27
13 Kristine Church (Human Zoom/ Pabst Blue Ribbon)                         8.18
DNF Lesley Chown (St.Catharines C.C.)