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U.S Powerhouses Steal Java Johnny's - Lionhearts 'Cross

Katie Compton goes where no man had gone before
Photo ©: Jeffrey B. Jakucyk

On the day of the feast of the patron saint of cyclists, the Madonna del Ghisallo, Barry Wicks and Katie Compton powered their way to win handily, leaving the epic battles behind them for second. In both cases, a fire bolt start, exceptional handling, and unmatched strength saw the two to victory.

The battles on day one of the first ever Ohio UCI double 'cross weekend took place in Middletown, Ohio in an intimate setting on a gentleman's course: a 3.2 km loop with beautifully groomed grass, which the top competitors unanimously declared to be the perfect blend of fun, technical challenges and hard racing.

As 'cross fans might have predicted after last weekend's close duels with world champ Erwin Vervecken, Barry Wicks exploded off the line, lead through the first obstacle, an off-camber hairpin, and took command. From that point, he blasted the first few laps, with Danish national champion Joachim Parbo just seconds in arrears.

"It was super cool; I've never been to Ohio before. The crowd was awesome, and I saw a few topless guys on the course," Barry Wicks laughed. "The course was really good." The runner-up, Danish national champion Joachim Parbo, was not quite as optimistic about the course. "That was a fast course, and I had fast legs today. The problem is, it was really fast for me, I screwed up a little bit on the turns, that's why I lost it," said the Denmark native. "But I tell you – it was perfect – don't change a thing".

Through the almost-unridable 90° turn sandpit, Wicks laid down the power to cruise through, while Parbo dismounted. Finally, after much effort, Parbo caught Wicks on the backside climb; or perhaps Wicks allowed him to make contact, hoping for a partner against the breeze. But the connection was to be only for a half lap; back onto the pavement Wicks had again established a lead of five seconds.

This gap expanded, at fifteen seconds by the pavement on the fifth lap. With a two laps remaining, Barry Wicks had a solid twenty-one seconds' lead which proved indestructible, and which allowed him to soft-pedal across the line, upheld arms barely clearing the banner. Joachim Parbo held off a late-charging Brent Prenzlow, who managed to shake fourth place Brandon Dwight and surge to the final podium spot.

In the women's field, all went exactly as expected as reigning national champion Katie Compton left none of the first-time 'cross spectators wondering whether that stars and stripes jersey was for real. Compton lead at the end of the start stretch by 10 meters and never relinquished an inch of turf between herself and second.

Katie Compton, the silver medalist at last year's World Championships, said, "I thought the course was great, twisty, technical, fast, and really fun up and down sections."

To the crowds complete disbelief, when she hit the sand pit which not a single person had managed to ride all day long in the B and Masters events, Compton literally floated right through to the bend and powered the second stretch, an almost heavenly picture of power and grace on the bike.

A good battle for second ensued as Melissa Thomas, Sue Butler, and Wendy Williams kept within close sight of each other for the majority of the race. In the end, Katie finished strongly riding through the brutal sand every lap (the only woman to do so), finishing a full minute ahead of the competition. Behind her, Melissa Thomas took the silver in a close move at the final obstacle, beating out Wendy Williams by a mere three bike lengths.

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Jeffrey B. Jakucyk/homepage.mac.com/jjakucyk/

• Katie Compton goes where no man had gone before riding cleanly through the turn in the sand.
• Debbie Dust (Team Kenda Tire) tried it too.
• US Masters champion Catherine Walberg perseveres
• Elite Women's podium left to right Melissa Thomas (2nd), Katie Compton (1st), Wendy Williams (3rd).
• Elite Men's Start
• The little muur made for great fun early in the race but was a challenge for tired legs
• Barry Wicks put the heat on early and then cruised
• Charles Pendry (Inland Construction - BTD)
• Elite men's podium left to right Danish Champion Joachim Parbo (2nd), Barry Wicks (1st), Brent Prenzlow (3rd)
• Nick Tinsler (Dark Horse - Smitty's) did not have enough glue to stick the flat-out sweeper at the end of the start straight in the B men's race but luckily the pit was only another 200 meters on.
• The Ohio Valley 'cross scene is looking forward to the re-match of the Papa John's pizza dynamic junior duo of Clayton Omer (right) and Andrew Llewelyn two weeks hence in Louisville Kentucky when they get to face US Champ Danny Summerhill for the first time since the US National Championships last December.
• Rob Bush (Texas Roadhouse) displaying pretty technique over the double.
• A Team Chiropower rider took the commonest way through the sand.
• Another common way through the sand, Morgan Webb (Barabasol) recovered nicely to finish 10th in the elite masters category.
• Hamdrew Llewelyn with team-mate, wishing he was old enough to join the elite race.
• Mike Otting riding for Mercy Healthplex - 7 Hills Racing, getting to enjoy his handiwork after heroic efforts to build the race course.
• Morgan Webb (Barbasol) is happy to be done.
• 'Cross is family friendly - but don't forget the band-aids. Masters 45+ runner-up John Mandrola and son Will.
• A photo you might find if you looked up determination in the dictionary, Ryan Madis (Pista Elite) in the Sportsleader cyclocross challenge.
• The Sportsleader challenge gives kids an opportunity to practice the virtues of courage...
• ...and generosity.
• C Men through the sand.
• Queen City Wheels Development Director Dave Nissen through the sand in the B masters race.
• A Country Side Cycling rider in the B women's race leads Randy Morris competing in the beginner masters race through the sand.
• A jubilant Luke Haley of the new junior team Redzone out of Louisville Kentucky takes the Juniors 10-14 event.

Results

Elite Men
 
1 Barry Wicks (USA) Kona                                    1.03.22
2 Joachim Parbo (Den) CCV Cyclo-Cross                          0.23
3 Brent Prenzlow (USA) Alan North America Cycling              0.25
4 Brandon Dwight (USA) Boulder Cycle Sport                     0.48
5 Molly Cameron (USA) Vanilla bicycles-Stumptown coffee        1.08
6 Michael Gallagher (USA) U S Armed Forces                     1.15
7 Ryan Leach (USA) Meredith Group - GPOA                       1.33
8 Steve Tilford (USA) HRRC/The Trek Stores/KCXNationals.com    1.36
9 Tristan Schouten (USA) Planet Bike                               
10 Adam Mcgrath (USA) Team Maxxis                              2.15
11 Nathan Chown (Can) handlebars CC/kona Canada                    
12 Taylor Carrington (USA) Turin - Powerbar                        
13 Charles Pendry (USA) Inland Construction - BTD              2.36
14 Marko Lalonde (USA) Bob Brown Cycles/Bareknuckle Brigade    3.03
15 Jeff Weinert (USA) Team Giant                               3.05
16 Mark Legg (USA) Spike Shooter                               3.21
17 Michael Wissink (USA) Specialized                           3.26
18 John Stevens (USA) Barbasol                                 3.28
19 Mike Sherer (USA) Metlife/Pony Shop                         4.08
20 Oscar Clark (USA) Land Rover/The Briar Rose                 4.10
21 Kyle Douglas (Can) 3 Rox Racing-Scott                       4.12
22 John Behrens (USA) Bailey/Black Mountain Bicycles           4.25
23 Ryan Gamm (USA) Abercrombie & Fitch                         4.28
24 Tim Barrett (USA) Team Myogenesis                           4.33
25 Paul Martin (USA) Texas Roadhouse Cycling                   4.38
26 Travis Livermon (USA) Cycling Spoken Here                   4.43
27 Joshua Johnson (USA) Big Shark Racing                       4.51
28 Kyle Jacobson (USA) ISCorp                                  4.53
29 Robert Foshag (USA) Saturn Of Toledo                        5.15
30 Mark Batty (Can) TeamRace.com                               5.23
31 Derek Laan (USA) Turin Bicycling Society                    5.47
32 Lucas Livermon (USA) BTD/Inland Construction                5.56
33 John Minturn (USA) Meredith Group - GPOA                    6.05
34 Chris Saunders (Can) Coach Chris.ca / Ted Velikonja         6.24
35 Justin Hines (Can) Rapid City Cycle                         6.32
36 MATT Ratroff (USA)                                          6.46
37 Brandon Jessop (USA) BioWheels Racing                       7.01
38 Brent Evans (USA) color me safe racing                      7.05
39 Donald Galligher (USA) DRT Consulting                       7.24
40 Ryan Myers (USA)                                                
DNF Ryan Williams (USA) SPIN Bike Shop                             
DNF Jonathan Card (USA) Saturn Of Toledo                           
DNF Brian Nieport (USA) Anthem                                     
DNF Kevin Attkisson (USA) Texas Roadhouse Cycling                  
DNF Ryan Rish (USA) Abercrombie & Fitch                            
DNF Gordon Daniell (USA) Barbasol/Rapid Transit Racing             
DNF Isaac Neff (USA) Alderfer Bergen Cycling Team                  
DNF Andrew Messer (USA) Ridley                                     
DNF Kieran Sikdar (USA) BikeSource/Ohio Orthopedic                 
DNF Scott Ogilvie (USA) Mesa Cycles                                
DNF Ian Manning (Can) 3 Rox Racing- Scott                          
DNF Ryan Knapp (USA) Ridley Factory Team                           
DNF Nathan Wyatt (USA) Sram/Santa Cruz/Caroina Fatz                
DNF Rob Selle (USA) Team O2 / Cadieux BC                           
DNF Rick Toler (USA) Team Kreitler Rollers                         
DNF Skiles Keith (USA) Texas Roadhouse Cycling                     
 
Women
 
1 Katie Compton (USA) Spike Shooter                           39.17
2 Melissa Thomas (USA) Team Maxxis                             0.34
3 Wendy Williams (USA) River City Bicycles                     0.35
4 Sue Butler (USA) River City Bicycles                         1.09
5 Annajean Dallaire (USA) Barbasol / Rapid Transit             2.40
6 Anne Schwartz (USA) Flying Rhino Cycling Club                2.44
7 Catherine Walberg (USA) Team Kenda Tires                     3.09
8 Amanda Sin (Can) 3 Rox Racing                                3.44
9 Debbie Dust (USA) Team Kenda Tire                            4.09
10 Kim Sawyer (USA) BMW-Bianchi                                4.44
11 Rachel Steele (USA) Bicilibre                               4.57
12 Kathryn Roszko (USA) BikeReg.com                            5.16
13 Anne Conroy (USA) Revolution Racing                         5.27
14 Heidi Von Teitenberg (USA) C3-Sollay.com                    5.49