Recently on Cyclingnews.com |
 Giro finale Photo ©: Bettini |
MABRA 'Cross #5 - Tacchino Cyclo-cross - NE
Leesburg, Virginia, USA, November 4, 2007
Bishop and Haywood cross disciplines for wins
The BikeReg.com MABRAcross Series wrapped-up its weekend double header in the town of Leesburg, Virginia, with a strong batch of entrants that showed quality as well as quantity. Earlier in the day, during the first of the amateur classes, organizers received word that Trek / VW superstars Jeremiah Bishop and Sue Haywood had phoned and said they were coming to the race. What they didn't realize was that another 'cross superstar, Jonne Sundt (Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast) had decided that it was time to start his 2007 cyclo-cross program following a few recovery weeks from a long road season and was also headed to the course.
In all, well over 200 racers swarmed the hilly Ida Lee Park on a comfortable autumn day despite the fact that the race was the second half of a MABRA 'cross weekend doubleheader, and was over two hours away from the previous day's "Wayne Scott Memorial" race. An indication of the continued growth of the "fastest-growing cycling series in America" is that half of all entries were in the novice classes, with the men's Category 4 race accounting for 91 entries alone.
Stomp, think and the drama queen
The featured elite classes started with the women's race. Lining up beside Sue Haywood were some of the East Coast's fastest women, including three-time Verge MAC champion Betsy Shogren (Fort Factory Team), defending series champion Lisa Vible, Team Kenda Tire's Jennifer Maxwell, Vanderkitten's Mandy Lozano and Libbey Sheldon of Tokyo Joes. Roaring out of the prologue loop, Shogren and Maxwell had the advantage as they powered up the finishing hill straight to begin the first of their laps. By the time they entered the backside of the course, which is out-of sight from the main spectator area, Shogren had a decisive lead and Haywood, in her first cyclo-cross race in two years, was charging. And then things got weird.
"We were climbing the short, hard hill in the back," said Shogren after the race, "and I asked Sue what she thought the sound was that was coming from my bike." Haywood's quick assessment was that the sound was coming from Shogren's cassette – it wasn't. Moments later, Shogren's left crankarm came off, with her foot still attached. Shortly afterwards the rest of her crankset fell off. "It was pretty funny," said Shogren
With Shogren running a quarter of the lap (after first retrieving the crankarm!), Haywood powered away and by the time they came back into view, Haywood had a commanding lead with Maxwell, Lozano and Jessica Hill (Trail's End Cycling) forming the chase group. By the time Shogren ran to the pits, she was nearly half a lap behind. Up front, Haywood continued to grow her lead until the end of the race for a dominating win. Maxwell used a well-thought attack to separate herself from the other chasers and finished second. Eventually, however, the attention shifted back to Shogren.
Riding her singlespeed pit bike that was significantly over-geared for the hilly course, Shogren began reeling in the riders in front of her. No stranger to singlespeed riding (she finished 11th at this year's cross country mountain bike national championships on a singlepeed), Shogren was dubbed the "drama queen" by race announcer Ken Getchell as she methodically passed rider after rider, eventually finishing third just seconds behind Maxwell.
Goin' for it
With Jeremiah Bishop and Jonne Sundt on the starting line, none of the riders in the wlite men's field had any illusions about how difficult the race was going to be. But MABRA 'cross regular Greg Wittwer (FORT Factory Team) knew that it was going to be even more difficult the others thought because he had already decided that he was going to control the pace. "I haven't won a race yet this year, and this is the race I wanted to win!" he said afterward. From the start, Wittwer attacked and forced Bishop to respond. Meanwhile, a good portion of the field, including Sundt, was lying in a pile between the barriers following a chain reaction crash. No injuries occurred and not much time was lost, but Sundt lost many positions.
Up front Wittwer matched every one of Bishop's many accelerations. Riding above his usual level, Wittwer was determined not to let Bishop in front. Meanwhile, Sundt was laying down accelerations of his own as he ripped through the field. Eventually, Bishop did get into the lead, but Wittwer responded. After trading off the lead several times, Bishop was able to gap Wittwer just enough to prevent a counter attack. Once firmly in the lead, Bishop was able to extend the time gap. It appeared that Wittwer was closing in the final laps, but Bishop responded to take his first 'cross win of the year.
Sundt eventually caught third place rider Steve Cummings (Indiana Regional Medical Center). Racing in his first 'cross race of the year, Sundt said that he was surviving on his road fitness. "I don't have that top-end yet," he said. "It's hard to get that, because it hurts. Still, fitness and world-class technique help and Sundt was able to separate himself from Cummings for a third place finish.
Race Notes
- 18 Year old sensation Nick Bax (Hot Tubes) was hounded all race by impressive 17 year-old newcomer Stephen Koebl of Blue Competition Cycles. Koebl was competing in just his second cyclo-cross race, and his first at the Elite level.
- Gunnar Shogren (FORT Factory Team), won the elite masters category ahead of Randy Root (ABRT/Latitude) and points leader Marc Gwadz (DCMTB/City Bikes)
Results
Men Cat 1/2/3 1 Jeremiah Bishop (Trek / VW) 2 Greg Wittwer (FORT Factory Team) 3 Jonne Sundt (KBS Medifast) 4 Stephen Cummings (Indiana Regional Medical Center) 5 Jeffrey Buckles (Alan N. America) 6 John Brewer (Squadra Coppi/IM SAAB) 7 Dave Weaver 8 Nick Bax (Hot Tubes) 9 Stephen Koelbl (Blue Competetition ) 10 James W. Wagner 11 Justin Raynes (Bikes Unlimited) 12 Brian Fouche (AVL ) 13 Michael Hosana (Tripower) 14 David Duke (Page Valley Cycling) 15 Chris Mcgill (FORT Factory Team) 16 Jared Nieters (Haymarket Bicycle) 17 Eric Russell (Clif Bar) 18 Morgan Gerlak (C3 Sollary) DNF Todd Hesel (Hunt Valley Bicycles/Marathon Roofing) DNF Mark Kutney (Van Dessel Cycles) DNF Russell Landley (Sommertown) Women Cat 1/2/3 1 Sue Haywood (Trek / VW) 2 Jennifer Maxwell (Team Kenda Tire) 3 Betsy Shogren (Fort Factory Team) 4 Mandy Lozano (Vanderkitten) 5 Libbey Sheldon (Tokyo Joe's) 6 Jessica Hill (Trails End Cycling) 7 Terri Spanogle (NCVC/Inova Health System) 8 Lisa Vible (C3-Sollay.com) 9 Beth Mason (C3-Sollay.com) Masters Cat 1/2/3 1 Gunnar Shogren (FORT Factory Team) 2 Randall Root (ABRT/Latitude) 3 Marc Gwadz (DCMTB/City Bikes) 4 Todd Pittman 5 Fred Wittwer (Charlottesville Racing Club) 6 Chris Scott (Shenandoah Mnt Touring) 7 Michael Buchness (Pedal Shop/Old Dominion Brewing Company) 8 Jim Bronson (LSV Kelly) 9 Sean Mccormick (ETS/Silver Cycles) 10 Tony Bilotta (Van Dessel Factory Team) DNF Blair Saunders (Henry's) DNF Kris Auer (C3/Solay) DNF Erik Leaver (NCVC / Inova Health System) DNF Jay Downs (FORT Factory Team) Juniors U18 1 James Wittwer (Charlottesville Racing Club) 2 Sam O'Keefe (C3 Sollay) 3 Justin Mauch (NCVC/Inova Health System) Men Cat 3/4 1 Eric Linder (Marathon Roofing) 2 Taylor Jones (Inland Construction/AU Cycling) 3 Robert Campbell (NCVC/Inova Health System) 4 Andy Mckeegan (KBS / LSU) 5 Chris Mayhew (Wissatickon) 6 Kyle Murphy (The Bike Lane) 7 Kevin Horvath (Tri-Power) 8 David Crouse (The Bike Lane) 9 Steve Fife (ETS / Silver Cycles) 10 George Milinkovic (Squadra Coppi/IM Saab) 11 Alex Monte-Sano 12 Sean Yeager (Richmond Ciclismo) 13 Jonathan Houghton 14 Dave Chamblin (Sprint Club RVA) 15 Michael Scardaville (DCMTB/City Bikes) 16 Kenneth Mcdowell (ABRT / Latitude) 17 Matthew Donahue (DCMTB/City Bikes) 18 Andrew Troy (VCU Cycling Team) 19 Matthew Marchal (Team Altius) 20 Charly Hermanson (Kelly Benefits Strategies/LSV Amateur Cycling) 21 Ryan Newill (Squadra Coppi/IM Saab) 22 Syd Lea (T.E.A.M FUJI) 23 Joshua Goyet (VA Beach Wheelmen) DNF Morgan Gerlak (C3-Sollay.com) DNF Judd Walencikowski (team n-tieractive/Bike Doctor-Waldorf) DNF Nathan Wilson (NCVC/Inova Health System) DNF Joseph Ashman DNF Joseph Kotun (Lanterne Rouge) DNF Joel Moats (Yellow Breeches Racing) DNF Robb Hampton (ETS-Silver Cycles) DNF Bryan Burns (Haymarkey Bicycles) Men 55+ 1 Nunzio Dibiasi (Yellow Breeches Racing) 2 James Wagner (Clean Currents p/b Don Beyer Volvo) 3 James Carlson (Potomac Velo Club) DNF Rob Lea (T.E.A.M Fuji) DNF Ben Williams (Annapolis Bicycle Racing Team/Team Latitude) Masters Cat 3/4 1 Roger Masse (All American Bicycle Club) 2 Scott Gibbons (racing union) 3 Ron Huebner (Potomac Velo Club) 4 Barry Holman (Team Fuji) 5 Mark Russell (Independent Fabrication) 6 Albert Greene (Yellow Breeches Racing) 7 Matt Michel (NCVC / Inova Health System) 8 Scott Thompson (Squadra Coppi/IM Saab) 9 Karl Kensinger (NCVC/Inova Health System) 10 Jeff Anderson (HPC/List) 11 John Rogers (Clean Currents p/b Don Beyer Volvo) 12 Thor Engblom (NCVC/Inova Health System) 13 Darren Bernard (Haymarket Bicycles) 14 Chip Sovek (Potomac Velo Club) 15 Norman Kreiselmeier (Team Army) 16 Cary Hunter (Potomac Velo Club) 17 Bryan Billington (Racing Union) 18 Bruce Buckley (The Bike Lane) 19 Marc Fvazer (Kelly Berefits / LSU) 20 Chris Schaefer (Yellow Breeches Racing) 21 Joseph Kotun (Lanterne Rouge) 22 Mark Drajem (DCMTB/City Bikes) 23 Geoffrey Heintz (The Children in the Shoe) 24 Chris Huhn (Evolution Cycling) 25 Thom Moore (Potomac Velo) 26 Tony Thompson (3D Fitness WWVC) 27 Michael Taylor (Yellow Breeches Racing) 28 Ronnie Irvine (Team Fugi) 29 James Mcneely (Squadra Coppi / IM Saab) 30 Steve Breeden (Winchester Wheelmen) 31 Ken Woodrow (Squadra Coppi/IM Saab) 32 Michael Kinney (Potomac Velo club) DNF Michael Kolb (Chrsitiana Care PT+/FSVS) DNF Bernard Mcdonald (C3/Sollay.com) DNF Kenneth Mcdowell (ABRT/Latitude) DNF Brian Wieczorek (Freddie Fu Cycling Team) DNF David Wiesenhahn (WWVC / 3D Fitness and Health Cycling Team) DNF Kent Baake (Citybikes / Metro Gutter & Home Svcs.) Men Cat 4 1 Christopher King (Route 1 Velo / Capitol Hill Bikes) 2 Matt Parse (Route 1 Velo / Capitol Hill Bikes) 3 Darren Biggs (DCMTB\City Bikes) 4 Ryan Bannon (The Bike Lane) 5 Dave Parse (Route 1 Velo/Capitol Hill Bikes) 6 James Johnson (Germantown/Avalon/Fix Bikes) 7 Corey Twyman (Hub Racing) 8 Jackson Barr (NCVC/Inova Health System) 9 Stephen Wahl (AVC/ Team Hagerstown-Washington Co) 10 Loren Vandivere (The Bike Lane) 11 Rodges Ankrah (Route 1 Velo /Capitol Hill Bicycles) 12 Steven Kendall (NCVC/INOVA Health System) 13 Kevin Lynch (unattached) 14 Ronald Barry (All American Bicycle Club) 15 Ryan Douglas (Route 1 Velo/Capitol Hill Bikes) 16 Steven Burke (Hunt Valley Bicycles/Marathon Roofing) 17 Benjamin Bassett 18 Todd Bickling (Team N~tieractive/Bike Doctor-Waldorf) 19 Kevin Dillard (C3-Sollay.com) 20 David Battan (Squadra Coppi/IM SAAB) 21 Matthew Hennessy (Team BBC) 22 John Bavier 23 Brian Geary (All American Bicycle Club) 24 Norman Brach (C3-Sollay.com) 25 Scott Cernich (Route 1 Velo/Capitol Hill Bikes) 26 Ryan Delaney (Potomac Velo Club) 27 Jeff Peel 28 Todd Gue (dhbd /bicycle place velo) 29 Gary Morris (Lanterne Rouge) 30 michael Yriart (trails end cycling) 31 Stephen Riskus 32 Jake Danoff (DCMTB/City Bikes) 33 Alan Leung (Squadra Coppi/IM Saab) 34 Chris Zangmeister (All American Bicycle Club) 35 John Heywood (1412 Velo Club) 36 Timothy Paul 37 Justin Gordon (Power) 38 John Glodek (NCVC/INOVA Health Systems) 39 Leon Chou (Prince William Elite Racing) 41 Larry Mauch (National Capital Velo Club/Inova Health System) 42 David Lee 43 Jeffrey Cundiff (UNAT) 44 Michael Giancoli (Hub United) 45 Jason Pearlman (The Bike Rack) 46 Aaron Ghais (ALL-AMERICAN BICYCLE CLUB) 48 Rod Erickson (Evolution Cycling Club) 49 Eric Ciccoretti 50 Will Saunders (HPC List) 51 Adam Lewandowski (The Bike Lane) 52 Dave Parramore (Cadence Cycling) 53 Mike Davis (Conte's Bikes) 54 steve Harouff (Bianch mid atlantic) 55 Joseph Mplin (Landerne Rogue) 56 Jonathan Nguyen-Weaver (Carytown Bicycle Company) 57 Douglas Owens (NCVC/Inova Health System) DNF Chris Gurr (AMVC) DNF Jonathan Ivins (Squadra Coppi/IM Saab) DNF T G Labrecque DNF Joe Metro (Squadra Coppi/IM Saab) DNF Christopher Gould (Racing Union) DNF Mark Fitzwater (Secret Henry's Team) DNF Kevin Stapleton (Racing Union) DNF Mike Schiavo (Lanterne Rouge) DNF James Mcneely (Squadra Coppi / IM Saab) DNF Dale Holmes (Proteus) DNF Tim Blanchard (The Children in the Shoe) DNF Daniel Gilman DNF Charles Barnes (Lanterne Rouge) DNF George Blankenship DNF Brett Davis (Evolution Cycling) DNF Bradley Kendall (NCVC Inova Health Systems) DNF Steve Prevost DNF Bill Davis (Potomac Velo Club) DNF James Saunders (Route 1 Velo/Capitol Hill Bikes) DNF Robert Colby (NCVC/Inova Health Systems) DNF Joseph Ventosa (proteus bicycles) DNF Read Porter DNF Nathan Ayers (The Bike Stop) DNF Nathan Wilson (NCVC/Inova Health System) DNF Mark Silva (The Bike Rack) DNF Robert Sherfy (VT CYCLING) DNF John Maisto (Bicycle Place Velo Club) DNF Josh Eazetl (Bianch mid atlantic) DNF Darry Kelton DNF wayne Lerch (The Bike rack) DNF Paul Petrausks DNF Mike Tuncer (BPVC) DNF Erin Arnold DNF Lynl Tuessler (Carri) DNF Paul Mcintyre (Bicycle Outfielders) DNF Mark Werner (Bicycle Outfielders) Women Cat 3/4 1 Jean Colsant (Squadra Coppi) 2 Christina Briseno (Route 1 Velo/Capitol Hill Bikes) 3 Cynthia Anderson (AMVC) 4 Lynda Artusio 5 Tracy Lea (T.E.A.M. FUJI) 6 Cynthia Johnson (Artemis) 7 Lindsey Hillesheim (Squadra Coppi) 8 ilana Knopf (DC MTB team) 9 Heather Ross (The bike rack) 10 laurie Johnston (bianchi mid atlantic) 11 Marisa Peacock (Velo Bella) 12 Karen Ashbrook-Barnes 13 Christie Finney (The Children in the Shoe) 14 Constaince Mack 15 Christina Huebner (Potomac Velo Club) 16 zoraida Rodriquez (MBW bike team) 17 patricia Yriart (trails End Cycling) Juniors U16 1 Steven Kendall (NCVC/INOVA Health System) 2 Justin Mauch (NCVC/Inova Health System) 3 Jackson Barr (NCVC/Inova Health System) 4 Dan Adler (Trails End Cycling) 5 Avery Wilson (NCVC/Inova Health System) 6 Emily Huebner (Potomac Velo Club) 7 Zeke Rogers (Clean Currents p/b Don Beyer Volvo) 8 Jake Thompson (Squadra Coppi/IM Saab) 9 Nicholas Battan (Squadra Coppi)
