2007 Carlisle Cross Classic - C2

Carlisle, Pennsylvania, USA, December 1, 2007

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Race 2 - December 2: Elite Men

Donahue's career highlight

By Kirsten Robbins in Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Cold conditions but sunny skies greeted riders at the Verge Mid Atlantic Cyclo-cross Series' penultimate race in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Alec Donahue (Joe's Garage) celebrated a paramount victory in his cycling career after he rode away from a four-man battle to take a solo victory. Second placed today, Charles Pendry (Inland Construction) pulled through with a long overdue podium placing after he won a bunch sprint ahead of third placed Jon Hamblen (RGM Watches-Richard Sachs) and 2006 MAC series winner, Wes Schempf (C3-Sollay).

"There were a lot of attacks on the back section," said Donahue in regards to the final three-lap showdown between the four leading riders. "I started attacking over the run up in the back and when I had a gap I kept the pressure on through all the corners and stayed away from Pendry, Hamblen and Schempf."

With many of the east coast's top gun cross riders competing in the final USGP round in Portland, Oregon, there was plenty of opportunity to claim some much needed UCI points, that would secure riders a better start position for the upcoming US national championships to be held in Kansas later this month.

How it unfolded

Fast out of the gates, the mass of riders headed into the difficult twists and turns laced across the circuit. Several riders took unnecessary risks that resulted in crashes, while other suffered the unlucky fate of flat tyres which would end their race all together.

A strong group of eight riders emerged from the steep run up that included Steve Tilford (Verge), Michael Gallegher (US Army), Ryan Leach (GPOA-Cannondale) and Matt White (Fiordifrutta) along with Wren, Frattini, Pendry and Hamblen.

White was one rider who flatted early on and while riding down toward the pits rolled the tire completely. "I'm a bit frustrated because I've had these kinds of things happened to me all season," said White while standing in the pits watching the last few laps. "Basically I haven't shown up in the results for most of the races I've started because of crashes or mechanicals."

On the third lap, it looked as though the Colavita/Sutter Home duo; current Verge MAC series leader Davide Frattini and his team-mate Tyler Wren had first and second solidified with a healthy lead until both riders hit a jagged pavement section that caused double flats and the pair wound up behind the group that was previously chasing them with three laps to go.

Race winner Donahue, acknowledge the pair's misfortune as a 'race reset' of sorts, one that gave him the opportunity to continue his quest for victory after two crashes that marred the beginning of his race. "I crashed a couple of times in the first laps and I was trying to make up time by going fast through the corners and then I crashed again and had to make back more time," said Donahue.

"A lot of corners and I was taking them on the inside and very risky," said Donahue. "I need UCI points which is why I always start at the back and it takes me longer to catch the guys at the front."

Donahue muscled his way from last place back into the lead group that now included riders Hamblen, Pendry and Schempf and the four passed the Italian series leader running toward the pits. "This course had a lot of terrain change from pavement to gravel," said Donahue. "I think Frattini and White were the guys who should have won today, probably the best guys here but both of them got unlucky and flatted. But that's the thing about cross, you gotta have air in your tires and sometimes you gotta get lucky."

Second placed on the day, Charles Pendry learned from the other's mistakes and chose to ride smooth around the circuit. According to Pendry, he used his consistent tempo and tried not to make the same mistakes the others were making. "I rode my own race today," said Pendry. "Hamblen and I were sharing the work when we were chasing the two Colavita riders. But once they flatted, we slowed down a bit when Wes and Donahue caught up."

"Wes lead out the pavement section and then Hamblen and I sprinted around him," added Pendry with regard to the sprint finish for second. "I don't consider my self a good sprinter at all so I was happy to be able to come around him."

Results

1 Alec Donahue (Joe's Garage)                                             55.45
2 Charles Pendry (Inland Construction - Btd)                               0.11
3 Jon Hamblen (Rgm Watches - Richard Sachs)                                    
4 Wes Schempf (C3-Sollay)                                                  0.12
5 Davide Frattini (Colavita/Sutter Home Presented By Cooking Light)        0.43
6 Nathan Chown (Handlebars Cc/Kona Canada)                                     
7 Michael Gallegher (Us Army Cycling)                                          
8 Jacob Fetty (Myogenesis/Thebikegame Dot Com/Hamblen Rules)               1.03
9 Ryan Leach (Gpoa-Cannondale)                                             1.05
10 Stephan Kincaid (Ekracing/Rite Aid Pro Cycling)                         1.19
11 Stephen Cummings (Indiana Regional Medical Center / Fuji Bikes!)        1.40
12 Bill Elliston (Indiana Regional Medical Center/Fuji)                    1.49
13 Tyler Wren (Colavita / Sutter Home Presented By Cooking Light)          1.52
14 Nathan Wyatt (Carolina Fatz/Sram/Santa Cruz Bicycles)                   2.03
15 Greg Wittwer (Fort Factory Team)                                        2.08
16 Peter Rubijono (Cambridge Bike/Igleheart Frames)                        2.31
17 Todd Cassan (Westwood Velo)                                             3.21
18 Ernesto Marenchin (Asylum Cycles)                                       4.15
19 Michael Yozell (Fort Factory Cyclocross Team)                           5.15
20 Gregory Lindstrom (Hunt Valley Bicycles/Marathon Roofing)               5.43
21 Andrew Wulfkuhle (C3/Sollay.Com)                                        6.19
 
One lap down
 
22 Nicholas Shaffer (Human Zoom/ Pabst Blue Ribbon)                            
DNF Matt White (Fiordifrutta)                                                  
DNF Steve Tilford (Kccx/Verge/Eriksen Cycles)                                  
DNF Chris Mcgill (Fort Factory Team)                                           
DNS Matthew Ferrari (Mt Nittany Wheelworks)