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Cross Vegas - C2
Las Vegas, USA, September 26, 2007
Trebon, Bessette say 'Viva Cross Vegas!'
By Mark Zalewski, North American Editor in Las Vegas, Nevada
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The inaugural 'Cross Vegas' cyclo-cross race held during the Interbike trade show was a big success, with more than 5,000 spectators making the hike up to North Las Vegas to watch some of the top 'cross racers in the country do battle on a unique turf course in the middle of the desert under the night lights. The soft and dragging turf made for a more difficult than expected race for everyone, with an elite group forming early and dropping a rider each lap. In the end, it was Ryan Trebon (Kona-Your Key Mortgage) and Christian Heule (Stevens) doing battle all the way into the final stretch, with Trebon getting revenge on Heule from last weekend's races in Washington state.
"I was thinking, 'Aw s&$%, he's going to out sprint me again!'" said Trebon regarding seeing Heule on his wheel in the end. "At least come around me and give me a chance this time!' I just had to keep going and get him on the final section. Luckily the sprint had a kick to it."
"Ryan is a very strong guy, always attacking," said Huele. "It's not my thing, but I know him from the races in Seattle. I knew he would be very strong now and I watched him the most. I also watched Jonathan Page, but I was surprised he could not hold us on the last lap."
"It is really like riding on three or four layers of carpet, and it's constant," said Page. "I was just following moves because I'm not on really good form -- it's pretty simple but not easy."
The racing began with 92 starters, all vying for the hole shot on the top part of the course which started with a hot lap of the finish loop before heading out to the main course, set mostly in a retention pond. The walls of the pond were the scene of the biggest challenges, with one of the uphill sections stacked with numerous barriers.
The first time into the up and down corners resulted a little congestion, but the top riders made sure to be at the front before all of this. After two laps, a group of 15 made the elite selection, including riders like Trebon, Huele, Page, Barry Wicks (Kona-Your Key Mortgage), Davide Frattini (Colavita-Sutter Home) as well as Tim Johnson and Jeremy Powers (cyclocrossworld.com).
As the minutes ticked off the hour-long race a few of the riders hanging onto the elites dropped off and a core group formed. Out of this group almost every rider put in an attack, either full or half-hearted. On more than a few occasions Trebon, Page and Heule would look at each other, wanting the other to do the work. With two laps to go, this group finally started to shed more elite riders such as Johnson, Frattini and Wicks.
"Barry was doing good sacrificing himself that lap to keep the us away from the others," said Trebon. "I think Page was watching me and Christian and I was watching both them.
Into the last lap it was down to four riders: Trebon, Heule, Page and Powers -- but with Heule and Trebon the obvious top two. Half-way through the lap it was Trebon putting on a variety of attacks, with Heule covering them all, but causing Page and Powers to lose contact.
Finally, on the longest uphill section, Trebon's attacking put the two off the front for good. "It was a headwind into the hill and then it got really soft going across, but it was the only park of the course where you could really get away," said Trebon."Through the pits the final time it was Trebon drafting Heule, continuing back up to the upper finish loop.
Around the final kilometre, it was Trebon and Heule keeping the pace up to make sure Powers and Page could not close the gap. Trebon was forced to lead, but this time, a little uphill kicker at 150 meters was enough for Trebon to beat the tough Swiss rider. "Second is not so bad but I'm not really happy with it," said Huele. "For me it would have been better to have 300 meters on the road to relax a little bit, but it was the same for everybody."
Bessette victorious in Cross Vegas
By Kirsten Robbins
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All eyes were on the Canadian national champion Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com) as she threw down an impressive solo finish ahead of her strongest rivals, US national champion Katie Compton (Spike) and Katrina Nash (Luna) in the most talked about cyclo-cross event of the season.
"I felt really good and I never thought I would be able to win," said Bessette. "I mean, I knew I could do this but it was a really hard course. This was not a fast course, it was very powerful and I think that is why. I'm just really excited that I won."
Bessette admitted that the secret to her success was because of her track focus in an ongoing bid for the 2008 Olympic pursuit. "I did a lot of track this year and almost nothing on the road and I think that's what helped me," said Bessette. "I have more power and I can hold on to the tempo when she bursts. I used to fall back and then catch back up all the time, but tonight I didn't. I am also really fresh, and I think that helped a lot too."
Bessette and Compton frequently find themselves competing against one another during the North America cyclo-cross season and Compton admitted to Bessette's improvement since last season. "Lyne is definitely riding stronger now than she has in the past and her power is looking really good."
The two national title holders separated themselves from the rest of the field on the first lap leaving Katrina Nash and her team-mate Georgia Gould (Luna) to chase in no man's land and multiple groups scattered behind. "I'm pretty excited because I think the race went really well," said third placed rider Katrina Nash. "I lost their wheels on the first lap because I didn't have a good position at the start. There was no catching them -- they were flying. The gap was slowly getting a little bigger and my legs were slowly getting more and more tired."
Bessette saw her opportunity to escape Compton with two laps to go and jumped ahead through the barrier-littered section of the circuit. "I saw that she was a little slower than me on the uphill parts," said Bessette. "She was pulling really strongly and I felt really good behind her. I didn't really attack I just went a little harder through the barriers."
Though Compton has competed in several cyclo-cross events prior to Cross Vegas, she regarded the unique venue as a being more difficult that it looked. "The course was really hard because it's on the grass and so you're constantly pushing on the pedals," said Compton. "It looks flat but there are a lot of false flats and few places to recover."
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by
Jonathan Devich/
- The women start.
- The women head through the barriers.
- Riders cross the infield of the soccer complex.
- Lynne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com) leads the group.
- Katarina Nash (Luna) heads up one of the climbs.
- A Kona rider hammers on the climb.
- Riders head up through the barriers and back down to the infield.
- Georgia Gould (Luna) hammers along.
- Kerry Barnholt (Tokyo Joes-Van Dessel) makes her way up the steep section.
- Lynne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com) keeps the pressure on at the front.
- "The King" made an appearance at the podium.
- Jonathan Page (Sunweb-Pro Job) takes to the line.
- Mark McCormack (Clif Bar) had some fans on the start line.
- Riders leave the start with the Las Vegas strip in the distance.
- Jonathan Page (Sunweb-Pro Job) leads the front group.
- Another group on a little roller.
- A couple riders head through the start area.
- Cross Vegas got going under a full moon.
- Davide Frattini (Colavita-Sutter Home) tried a late race attack on the lead group.
- Rolling through one of the technical sections.
- Another group tries to bridge up.
- Exciting cross racing under the lights and full moon, it doesn't get any better.
- Mark McCormack (Clif Bar) rounds a turn.
- Ryan Trebon (Kona) takes the first Cross Vegas win.
- Ryan Trebon (Kona) cruises over the finish line.
- The final podium.
- Even "the king" had a great time.
Images by Dave McElwaine/www.trailwatch.net
- Mellissa Thomas (Maxxis)
- The Velo Bella team get ready to race.
- Lynne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com)
- Chris Rothfus (Northeast Bicycle Club/Cycle Loft)
- Katie Compton (Spike) waits at line.
- Georgia Gould (Luna) NMBS Cross Country Champion.
- Katerina Nash (Luna) NMBS Short Track Cross Country Champion.
- Women's Call-up.
- Georgia Gould (Luna) did not have a great start.
- Lynn Bessete and Katie Compton opened an early lead.
- Mary McConneloug (Kenda/Seven) and Wendy Simms (Kona) chasing.
- Lynn Bessette and Katie Compton running the barriers.
- Katie Compton (Spike) running over the barriers.
- Katerina Nash (Luna) running over the barriers while in third place.
- Georgia Gould (Luna) cornering hard in fourth place.
- Alison Sydor (Rocky Mountain) in sixth place.
- Kelli Emmette (Giant) part of main chase group during the whole race.
- Mary McConneloug (Kenda/Seven) racing well in fifth place.
- Katie Compton (Spike) and Lynn Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com) leading the race.
- Lynne Bessette (Cycloscrossworld.com) taking the win.
- Georgia Gould (Luna) and Alison Sydor (Rocky Mountain) post race.
- Chris Rothfus (NEBC/Cycle Loft) and Mary McConneloug (Kenda/Seven).
- Women's podium (L-R): Katie Compton, Lynn Bessette, Katerina Nash, Elvis (we're pretty sure he didn't finish fourth in the women's race).
- Jonathan Paige (SunWeb)
- Barry Wicks (Kona)
- Tim Johnson (Cannondale)
- Mark McCormack (Cliff Bar)
- Adam Craig (Giant)
- Call-Up
- Ryan Trebon leading at barriers
- Barry Wicks in leading group at the barriers
- Geoff Kabush (Maxxis)
- Ryan Trebon leading race (Kona)
- Tim Johnson attacking (Cannondale)
- Seven-Time National Champion Jesse Anthony (Jamis)
- Rabid Fans were in abundance
- Barry Wicks (Kona) had been dropped but came back to attack leaders
- Ryan Trebon attacking over and over again (Kona)
- Tim Johnson was dropped in the last couple laps (Cannondale)
- Jon Paige (Sunweb) did not make the podium
- Matt Tallouse (Kona) sans mustache
- Christian Heule (Stevens)
- Men's Podium (left to right- Christian Heule (Stevens) 2nd, Ryan Trebon (Kona) 1st, Jeremy Powers (Cyclocrossworld.com) 3rd
Images by Mark Legg Images
- Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) welcomes Lyne Bessette to the startline.
- All smiles before the race.
- The Canadian/American tandem of Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com) and Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) ride by the pits on the first lap shortly before they leave the field behind.
- Kelli Emmitt (Giant) attacking out of the saddle on the first lap.
- Lyne Bessette (CyclocrossWorld.com) and Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) easily separated themselves from the race to fight for the top spot on the podium.
- Georgia Gould (Luna) fresh from a long trip for the Olympic test event in China.
- Kelli Emmitt (Giant) feeling the love from the velcro effect of the grass parcours.
- Melissa Thomas (Maxxis) powers away on her new Litespeed with colour coordinated tires.
- Lyne Bessette (CyclocrossWorld.com) leads Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) out of the corner.
- Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) rode the race with a new wheel sponsor Rol Wheels for the new season.
- Spike Shooter vice-president Brian Maslach was on hand to see his athlete race Cross Vegas.
Results
Elite men 1 Ryan Trebon (USA) Kona-Your Key Mortgage Team 58.28 2 Christian Heule (Swi) Stevens Bicycles 3 Jeremy Powers (USA) Cyclocrossworld.Com 0.02 4 Barry Wicks (USA) Kona-Your Key Mortgage Team 5 Jonathan Page (USA) Sun Web / Pro Job 0.08 6 Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis 0.24 7 Jonathan Baker (USA) Primus Mootry 8 Davide Frattini (Ita) Colavita/Sutter Home Presented By Cooking Light 9 Tim Johnson (USA) Cyclocrossworld.Com 0.25 10 Christopher Jones (USA) Nerac Pro Cycling 0.34 11 Michael Muller (Swi) Inovex 1.40 12 Mathew Touloose (Can) Team Maxxis 13 Matt Shriver (USA) Jittery Joe'S/Sonic Cyclocross 1.51 14 Jesse Anthony (USA) Jamis Bicycles 2.09 15 Mark Mccormack (USA) Team Clif Bar Cyclocross 2.55 16 Colby Pearce (USA) Cody Racing 17 Todd Wells (USA) Gt 3.02 18 Derek Hermon (USA) Bear Valley Bikes 19 Matthew White (USA) Fiordifrutta Elite Cycling Team 3.29 20 Kris Sneddon (Can) Kona-Your Key Mortgage Team 3.32 21 Andy Jacques-Maynes (USA) California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized 3.37 22 Jim Bryan (GBr) Ace Racing Team 3.42 23 Brandon Dwight (USA) Boulder Cycle Sport 3.53 24 Whitey Debroux (USA) Einstein Bros / Mob Cyclery 4.00 25 Joachim Parbo (Den) Ccv-Cicli Protek 4.05 26 Carl Decker (USA) Team Giant 4.12 27 Ryan Leach (USA) Gpoa-Cannondale 4.16 28 Cody Peterson (USA) Scott Bicycles 29 Jake Wells (USA) Mafiaracing.Com 30 Kevin Bradford-Parish (USA) Redline Team 4.26 31 Tristan Schouten (USA) Planet Bike 32 Sam Krieg (USA) Sienna Dev'T 4.35 33 Daniel Neyens (USA) Hagens Bergman Cycling Team 4.45 34 Adam Craig (USA) Team Giant 4.54 35 Troy Wells (USA) Team Clif Bar Cyclocross 36 John Behrens (USA) Black Mountain/Bailey 37 Paul Brooks (USA) Kodakgallery.Com/Sierra Nevada Pro Cycling Team 38 Nicholas Stevens (GBr) Waltworks/Fuentesdesign/Americanclassic/Panaracer 39 Evan Plews (USA) Capitol Subaru Cycling/Scottusa 5.05 40 Bjorn Selander (USA) Ridley 5.17 41 Frederick Bottger (USA) Team Bearclaw 5.30 42 Matt Pachoca (USA) Velo News 5.35 43 Aaron Odell (USA) Hrs Rock Lobster Cycles 6.12 44 David Wyandt (USA) Hrs-Rocklobster 45 Ernesto Marenchin (USA) Asylum Cycles 6.34 46 Adam Myerson (USA) Nerac Pro Cycling 6.46 47 Danny Summerhill (USA) Clif Bar Development Cross Team 6.58 48 Molly Cameron (USA) Vanilla Bicycles-Stumptown Coffee 7.10 49 Damian Schmitt (USA) Sunnyside Sports 7.29 50 Justin Robinson (USA) California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized 7.38 51 Ryan Iddings (USA) Lapierre Usa 7.40 52 James Schneider (USA) Jittery Joe'S/Sonic Cycling 8.25 53 Scott Keller (USA) Tribe Multisport 8.36 54 Ali Goulet (USA) Ridley Factory Team One lap down 55 Mark Legg (NZl) Spike Shooter 56 Ian Brown (USA) River City/Tonicfab.Com 57 Rob Evans (USA) Stolen Underground 58 Jon Cariveau (USA) Moots 59 Jon Gallagher (USA) Cole Sport 60 Gannon Omyall (USA) California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized 61 Adam Mcgrath (USA) Team Maxxis 62 Evan Hyde (USA) Nashvillecyclist.Com P/B Bike Pedlar 63 Chance Noble (USA) California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized 64 Nat Ross (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher Two laps down 65 Bryan Fawley (USA) Bicycle Sport Shop 66 Jason Lowetz (USA) Teambearclaw DNF Michael Cody (USA) Bikereg.Com DNF Steve Tilford (USA) Hrrc/Trek Bike Store DNF Christopher Horner (USA) DNF Tyler Johnson (USA) Alan North American Cycling Team DNF Donald Reeb (USA) Cmg Racing/ Bike N Hike DNF Chris Dimmick (USA) Team Turin DNF Joel Mischke (USA) Basalt Bike & Ski DNF Patrick Collier (USA) Scott Bicycles DNF Charles Coyle (USA) Success Living Presented By Parkpre DNF Luca Damiani (Ita) Colavita/Sutter Home Presented By Cooking Light DNF Antonio Cruz (USA) Discovery Pro Cycling Team DNF Henry Kramer (USA) California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized DNF Andy Bestwick (USA) Allegiant Air Team Pain Md DNF Michael Hosey (USA) Soulcraft DNF Samual Ames (USA) Simply Fit/Action Sports DNF Pete Lopinto (USA) Kodakgallery.Com/Sierra Nevada Pro Cycling Team DNF Kevin Attkisson (USA) Texas Roadhouse Cycling DNF Robert Downs (USA) Planet Bike DNF Hunter Pronovost (USA) Anthem-Cccc DNF Darren Lightfield (USA) Team Tamarack Resort DNF Jason Sager (USA) Monavie/Cannondale DNF Dean Poshard (USA) Hrs Rock Lobster Cycles DNF Gary Hanson (USA) Factory Giant Team DNF John Bailey (USA) Bailey Bikes DNS Brent Prenzlow (USA) Alan North America Cycling Team DNS Phil Grove (USA) 53X11 Coffee DNS Jordan Kobert (USA) Gs Ciao DNS Tim Johnson (USA) Cyclocrossworld.Com DNS Chris Sheppard (Can) Elite women 1 Lyne Bessette (Can) Team Cyclecrossworld.Com 45.31 2 Katie Compton (USA) Spike Shooter 0.37 3 Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Women's Mtb Team 1.13 4 Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Women's Mtb Team 1.22 5 Alison Sydor (Can) Rocky Mountain Haywood 1.37 6 Kelli Emmett (USA) Team Giant 7 Wendy Williams (USA) River City Bicycles 8 Mary Mcconneloug (USA) Kenda/Seven Cycles 9 Shelley Olds (USA) California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized 1.51 10 Wendy Simms (Can) Kona-Yor Key Mortgage Team 2.49 11 Rachel Lloyd (USA) Proman/Paradigm 2.51 12 Barbara Howe (USA) Velo Bella/Kona 3.20 13 Sue Butler (USA) River City Bicycles 3.35 14 Ann Trombley (USA) Excel Sports 15 Melissa Thomas (USA) Team Maxxis 16 Kerry Barnholt (USA) Tokyo Joes/Van Dessel 3.39 17 Kelly Jones (Can) Sugoi/Cannondale/Bontrager 5.57 18 Megan Elliott (USA) Unattached 6.10 19 Carolyn Popovic (USA) Team C.I.C.L.E. Presented By Voler 6.12 20 Lana Atchley (USA) Unattached 21 Megan Monroe (USA) Bmc-Sports Garage 22 Cris Rothfuss (USA) Nebc/Cycle Loft/Devonshire Dental 23 Melodie Metzger (USA) California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized 24 Shannon Gibson (USA) Velobella-Kona 6.23 25 Anna Milkowski (USA) Velo Bella/Kona 7.22 26 Jennifer Tilley (USA) Velo Bella/Kona 7.29 27 Tiffany Pezzulo (USA) Ivory Homes 7.58 28 Natasha Cowie (USA) Velo Bella/Kona 8.02 29 Kris Walker (USA) Krieg Cycling.Com 8.09 30 Catherine Walberg (USA) Mesa Cycles Racing Team 8.46 One lap down 31 Christie Pleiss (USA) Team C.I.C.L.E. Presented By Voler 32 Dorothy Wong (USA) Team C.I.C.L.E..Presented By Voler 33 Mandy Eakins (USA) Team C.I.C.L.E. Presented By Voler 34 Catherine Johnson (USA) Organic Athlete DNF Mandy Lozano (USA) Vanderkitten Women's Professional Cycling Team DNF Josie Beggs (USA) California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized DNF Jennifer Bodine (USA) Velo Bella/Kona DNF Tonya Bray (USA) Team C.I.C.L.E. Presented By Voler DNF Amy Dombroski (USA) Velo Bella/Kona DNF Kari Studley (USA) Velo Bella/Kona
