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US Cyclo-cross Championships - CN
Providence, RI, USA, December 15-17, 2006
Main Page Results & report Previous Race Next Race
Race 7 - December 16: U-23 Men
Complete live report
12:29 EST
Riders are out on the course warming
up for the U23 race.
12:53 EST
The under 23 men are now staging.
We've got about five minutes until the start.
12:57 EST
The start finish staging area is a
gradual sloping uphill, 200m from the start. Riders are lined up by their UCI
points this year. They stage 12 wide per row, with five rows deep here in the
U23 field. That's not too big. Yesterday in some of the masters' races, there
were 12 or 13 rows of riders. There are 130 riders signed up for the elite men's
race later today, so that will be a big field.
12:57 EST
We are two minutes until the start.
12:58 EST
One favorites for today is Jamie Driscoll,
winner of USGP series this year. Other favorites are Jessie Anthony and Bjorn
Selander.
12:59 EST
Selander is a first-year U23 rider,
recently moved up from the junior ranks.
12:59 EST
The U23 have started!
13:00 EST
Joey Thompson and Jesse Anthony are
hitting it hard off the line.
13:00 EST
Anthony is leading with Selander and
Thompson on his wheel.
13:00 EST
Selander is now leading.
13:01 EST
Selander, Anthony, Thompson, and Driscoll
are staying at the front on this first lap.
13:04 EST
In this field, Selander has the third
highest number of UCI points, a remarkable accomplishment for a first year under
23 making the transition from the junior ranks.
13:04 EST
Anthony arrives at the top of the
hill first. About ten guys are off the front. But it's still anyone's race.
13:04 EST
Cowbells are ringing around the course.
13:05 EST
Anthony is driving the group along
with Selander. Others are hurting to stay on.
13:06 EST
They'll soon finish the first lap.
Interestingly, there are still ten riders in contention, which is unusual. No
one is dominating yet.
13:06 EST
This race is clearly faster than the
rest of the races so far today.
13:07 EST
Anthony has gone clear off the front
by about 20 bike lengths.
13:09 EST
Now they're all back together again,
with a group of 9 riders.
13:10 EST
No one is giving up here. No one is
letting anyone get off the front. They're on lap #2 right now. The group of
nine is still all together with a gap to the rest. There is no clear leader
yet.
13:11 EST
It's still a gorgeous day here with
50 to 55 degrees and some wind.
13:12 EST
Anthony and Driscoll are pulling away
right now. Thompson is chasing.
13:13 EST
Anthony is a six-time national champion.
He's been largely unbeatable at nationals, except last year, he was defeated
by Troy Wells in the U23 race.
13:14 EST
Anthony hasn't had the best season
this year, but he is riding strong today.
13:15 EST
Apparently, there are some sections
of the course with glass on them. That increases the odds of a flat.
13:15 EST
Anthony and Driscoll have about 50
bike lengths advantage on the rest at the moment.
13:16 EST
4 laps to go now.
13:20 EST
They are on a world cup pace right
now. If this is any indication of what the elite men's race will be like, we'll
be seeing some even faster racing later today.
13:21 EST
Going into 4 to go: Jesse Anthony
(Team Clifbar) and Jamie Driscoll (FiordiFruitta) are 10 sec ahead of chase
group with five riders: Nicolas Weithall (Alan Factory Team), Chance Noble (California
Giant Strawberries/Specialized), Joey Thompson (Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory),
Bjorn Selander (Alan Factory team), Morgan Schmidt (Hagens-Berman Cycling).
That group has 20 seconds over the rest of the field.
13:21 EST
Next time they come through, they'll
get 3 to go.
13:21 EST
Anthony has gone off the front. Driscoll
is dropping off.
13:22 EST
We'll see if Driscoll can respond
to Anthony.
13:23 EST
Anthony has been racing long and strong
all season long on the road.
13:24 EST
Jesse Anthony is maintaining his lead--he's
still off the front solo. Driscoll is in second, still digging deep.
13:26 EST
Anthony is gasping for air, but riding
in a high gear. Driscoll looks a little more comfortable at the same pace. So
based on how the riders look, it's too early to say if Anthony can hold it.
13:26 EST
With 3 to go: Jesse Anthony (Team
Clifbar) ahead of Jamie Driscoll (FiordiFruitta) by 5 seconds. Chase group is
10 seconds behind Driscoll: Nicolas Weithall (Alan Factory Team), Chance Noble
(California Giant Strawberries/Specialized), Bjorn Selander (Alan Factory team),
Morgan Schmidt (Hagens-Berman Cycling).
13:28 EST
Schmidt is working his way off the
front of the 4 man chase group behind Driscoll.
13:29 EST
Schmidt is in third at the moment.
Anthony and Driscoll are still in 1st and 2nd.
13:30 EST
Next time, Anthony leads through the
finish, he'll get two laps to go.
13:34 EST
With 2 to go: Jesse Anthony (Team
Clifbar) led Jamie Driscoll (FiordiFruitta). At 25 secon is Morgan Schmidt (Hagens-Berman
Cycling). At 30 sec is Chance Noble (California Giant Strawberries/Specialized)
and Bjorn Selander (Alan Factory team). Nicolas Weithall (Alan Factory Team)
was dropped.
13:34 EST
Anthony is looking more secure now
in his lead. Driscoll is more obviously suffering now.
13:35 EST
Schmidt (3rd) is coming on strong.
Noble is faltering while Selander is starting to close in on Schmidt.
13:35 EST
Next time they come through the finish,
they'll get one lap to go.
13:36 EST
Anthony is out of the saddle out of
the U-turn...he's looking good and extending his lead.
13:36 EST
Driscoll has been caught by Schmidt,
who is riding very strong now. Now Schmidt is in 2nd and Driscoll is in 3rd.
13:37 EST
Driscoll is faltering. We're not sure
if he has a mechanical problem.
13:37 EST
Jesse Anthony is off the front and
will soon be getting the bell with 1 to go.
13:38 EST
Selander is attacking Driscoll now.
13:38 EST
Driscoll may have gone too hard to
early.
13:40 EST
Looks like Anthony has got the race
assuming no mechanicals or crashes. He's got 28 seconds with one to go.
13:41 EST
He's followed by Morgan Schmidt (Hagens-Berman
Cycling) and two seconds behind him : Jamie Driscoll (FiordiFruitta) and Bjorn
Selander (Alan Factory team).
13:41 EST
Driscoll is recovering some. So we
may be shaping up for a three-way sprint for second.
13:41 EST
Selander, Schmidt, and Driscoll are
all together now, riding in that order.
13:42 EST
Selander is doing everything he can
to drop the other two. Driscoll is hanging on tough, last in that group of three.
13:42 EST
Of the group of 3 following Anthony,
Schmidt is looking the strongest on this final lap of the men's U23 race.
13:43 EST
Selander is making a huge attack.
13:43 EST
Schmidt is counter attacking.
13:43 EST
Driscoll can't hang.
13:44 EST
Anthony is being very careful to not
make mistakes or celebrate too soon. He's got to keep it together until the
finish.
13:44 EST
Crowds are six-deep at the fences
around parts of the course.
13:45 EST
The final sprint is into the wind
and up hill--the battle will be for second.
13:46 EST
Schmidt is on the attack. Driscoll
is hanging on just barely. Selander is still there, too, in the chase group
for 2nd.
13:46 EST
The group for second is sprinting
for the run-up.
13:47 EST
Here comes Jesse Anthony for the win!
He crosses the finish line alone, with a convincing lead.
13:47 EST
Schmidt attacks to the finish and
takes 2nd.
13:47 EST
Selander takes 3rd, followed by Driscoll
in 4th.
13:48 EST
One more podium spot...it goes to
Chance Noble in 5th.
13:49 EST
To summarize, the top five were:
1. Jesse Anthony (Team Clifbar) leads
2. Morgan Schmidt (Hagens-Berman
Cycling)
3. Bjorn Selander (Alan Factory team)
4. Jamie Driscoll
(FiordiFruitta)
5. Chance Noble (California Giant Strawberries/Specialized)
