UCI codes explained

Results

Steilacoom goes off as Who's Who of US 'cross dukes it out

By Joe Zauner

For cyclocross fans it couldn't get much better.

With the exception of a tiny handful of riders, the best 'cross racers in the nation assembled in Steilacoom, Wash., Saturday and delivered what was quite possibly the best racing in the United States this season.

"That must have been an awesome race to watch," said elite men's winner Marc Gullickson (Mongoose/Hyundai). "Today was the most exciting race of the year. Everyone was in it until the last lap and just about everyone was here. That was a pretty stacked field."

With a plethora of UCI points and prize money going 15-places deep, the fields were stacked in the men's, women's and junior races. The course offered few obstacles, which delivered action that resembled criterium racing. Many of the finishes on the day came down to last-lap efforts and final sprints.

On the men's side, Gullickson, who is sixth in UCI points in the world, was the winner followed by his teammate Todd Wells. Canadian national champion Lyne Bessette (CyclocrossWorld.com) was the winner for the women and Zak Grabowski (Saturn development) won the junior race.

In the elite men's race, Dale Knapp (Kona/Kenwood) set the early blistering pace on the first half lap, but soon after Jonny Sundt (K2), Jackson Stewart (Clif Bar) and Wells were setting a pace that pulled nine riders clear of the field. This group was riding in a pack and for those who missed the move or simply didn't have the legs to hang on to the early pace, there was no chance of catching the front runners.

"I never felt like I was in the group," said Barry Wicks (Kona/Kenwood), the top espoir finisher who hung on to the back of the lead pack for two laps. "I always felt like I was barely hanging on. They would just punch it out of the corners every time."

Wicks and his teammate Erik Tonkin were left well behind along with other top Northwest talent including Rich McClung (Broadmark), Toby Swanson (Rad Racing), Shannon Skerritt and John Leonard (Bike Gallery/VW) and Steve Crosier (Redline).

By the second lap, the pack of nine leaders solidified and included Knapp, Sundt, Stewart, Gullickson, Wells, Andy Jacques-Mayne (Clif Bar), Justin Rodinson (Spokesman-Bullion), Travis Brown (Trek-Volkswagen) and Tim Johnson (Saturn). It was at about this point that Gullickson and Wells began their signature tag-team methodology that has placed either Mongoose/Hyundai rider atop the podium at most of the big cyclocross races on the North American circuit this season.

On the third lap it was Wells who countered a Gullickson move and slipped away with Sundt and Stewart. This trio established 12 seconds at one point and appeared to be the winning move, but Johnson bridged the gap with Gullickson and Jacques-Mayne in tow. Not too far behind was the remnants of the chase group, which clawed its way back, and with five laps to race, the group of nine was together again.

For the most part this group stayed together until Jacques-Mayne was dropped with two laps to race at about the same time Wells made a big push that established 17 seconds on a now-languishing chase group. On the last lap, Gullickson did the obvious - he bridged to Wells, who was waiting on the homestretch and willing to give Gullickson the win.

"(Stewart and myself) were a little hesitant when Wells got the gap - there were five guys sitting on our wheel," said Sundt, who was in every move on the day except the final, winning move. "If I had known how worked everyone was in that group, I would have countered and gone after (Wells), but (Stewart and I) were pulling back every move and it seemed we were setting ourselves up to have five guys come around us at the end."

Sundt was the top Northwest finisher. He has struggled to find consistent form - on Nov. 23 in Salt Lake City he was 17th at the Redline Cup against similar competition - but he said his training regime centers around nationals and no other race really matters.

"I rode well today and that's the most important thing," Sundt said. "I'm coming on form for nationals and this is a good preview of what to expect there."

In the elite women's race, Rachel Lloyd (Team Spine), who won the Tacoma Redline Cup in October, led the first 800 meters and was joined at the front by Carmen d'Aluisio (Clif Bar).

The field was only eight deep, but all were national caliber athletes. Included were the two top riders on the East Coast this year: d'Aluisio and her teammate Gina Hall. Also in the field was Canadian national champion Bessette and Kona/Kenwood riders Ann Grande (fifth at the 2002 world championships) and Jeannette Nussbaum.

With few exceptions, the lead group of eight - which was the field - stayed together the entire race. Hall pulled the cleat out of her shoe on the first lap and retired. The Oregon champion Rhonda Mazza (Team S&M) slid out on the third lap, forcing herself and Christine Vardaros (Sally Spirer) to chase back on. Other than that, the group was mostly towed around the course by d'Aluisio.

"If I had to do it over again I'd ride the same race," d'Aluisio said. "I felt comfortable on the front. I was able to ride my own lines."

The winning move came on the last lap when Bessette attacked shortly after the barriers. Prior to that she waited patiently in the pack most of the day. In fact, Bessette never saw the business end of the race until that last lap.

"I didn't want to pull too much because I knew Carmen (d'Aluisio) would stick on me, so I just let her do all the work," said Bessette, who just returned to training after a three-week hiatus. "(D'Aluisio) has beaten me every race this year. When it's flat like this it's hard to launch an attack and make it stick. These girls are pretty strong. When the course is more technical it's easier to get a gap and keep a gap."

Bessette managed to establish a gap of about 20 meters and hold it to the line, winning by four seconds over a closing d'Aluisio followed by Nussbaum and the former Bellingham resident Lloyd.

"Lyne just stood up and put the hammer down," d'Aluisio said. "She's got such an incredible motor that she got a little gap instantly. I probably did a little too much work chasing her, but I just couldn't bring her back."

Nussbaum saw the move coming but could do little about it. In fact, in her own mind, she tabbed Bessette as a winner before the race even started.

"I knew that since Lyne didn't take a pull, she was waiting until the very end to make her move," said Nussbaum. "I thought that Carmen and Rachel would pull the rest of the field up to her, but they just didn't have it. The course was pure power. It was a roadie course. I knew with (Bessette's) background that it was her race."

In the masters race, former road pro Ronnie Schmeer (Saturn of Bellevue) was a surprise winner. Most figured his teammate Kenny Williams or Washington masters champion Matt Hill (Ti Cycles) to be the odds-on favorite, but Williams suffered three crashes - one spectacular head-over-heels affair on the barriers - and Hill seemed at a disadvantage on a course that didn't make full use of his bike handling skills.

Schmeer isn't new to cross - he started competing in the event during the late 1980s - but this year he hasn't exactly hammered the competition. In fact, last week at the Microsoft Metro Series, Hill handed Schmeer a solid thumping over a much more technically demanding course in the elite men's race.

On the first lap of Saturday's race, Schmeer was glued to Hill's wheel as Hill pulled a group of four off the front made up of Williams, Schmeer and Clif Bar rider Richard Maile from Sant Cruz, Calif.

Ten seconds back was a solid chase group of nine that look as though it would pull the break back. In this bunch were some heavy hitters on the Northwest scene including James Brown (Rad Racing), Christian Young (Ragnarok), Dan Peterson (Ti Cycles), Dave Hull (Hull Racing), Tim Ellis (Recycled Cycles) and Dale Plant (Kona/Kenwood). Young and Brown were doing the lion's share of the work, but weren't making a dent in the leaders' margin.

With three of six laps gone, Williams suffered his first crash. He recovered in time to latch onto the chase group. The crash, however, did something to his rear derailleur to limit his gear selection to a few large gears. He would crash two more times.

Meanwhile, up the road, Hill was doing everything he could to make sure Williams didn't catch back on to his lead group.

"My big fear was Kenny (Williams), Ronnie (Schmeer) and other road guys, so I just wanted to keep it fast and have as few guys at the end as I could," Hill said. "I knew I had to get everyone off my wheel because I probably wasn't going to win the sprint."

Schmeer made his move after inadvertently chopping Hill's wheel in a tight turn. According to Hill, Schmeer jumped him and Maile, roared into a corner and then slammed on his brakes in an effort to contain his speed. Schmeer apologized after the race and said he meant nothing underhanded. Neither Maile or Hill fell off his bike, but both unclipped from their pedals.

Maile couldn't regain contact. Hill did but at a great expenditure of energy. In the end, Schmeer easily outgunned Hill in the sprint.

"I knew if I could be there at the end… (pause), well, for a roadie I've got a decent sprint, but for a cross racer I've got a good sprint," Schmeer said, adding that he will race at nationals in Napa, Calif. "It's just for fun. I'm going to go just as a reunion with the guys I used to ride pro with, do the masters race, go out and drink beer and try to do the UCI race the next day."

In the junior race Zak Grabowski did nothing short of annihilate the field. The rider from Lafayette, Colo., is the junior time trial champion, second in the criterium.

From the gun Grabowski was at the front and seemed to care little as to who joined him. At one point with two laps completed, he looked over his should at David Fleischhauer (Rad Racing), paused as if to see if the Olympia rider would pull through, and when he didn't got back to the work of stringing the field out. Fleischhauer was dropped off the pace on that same lap.

Grabowski rolled to what appeared to be an easy win. Fleischhauer rolled across the line 34 seconds later. Morgan Schmitt (Rad Racing) was third, 45 seconds off the winning pace.

"Zak went pretty early on and I was just trying to hold on to his wheel," Fleischhauer said. "He's just a motor. I was just trying to keep the pace up to stay in front of Morgan and just in case something happened - if Zak fell. In cross you never give up because you just don't know what's going to happen."

Grabowski's most noted achievements have come on the road and track, but he said he is serious about cyclocross and has his sights set on making the worlds team and hopefully winning a national championship.

"All the Rad Racers are tough," Grabowski said in regards to who to watch for at nationals. "Whoever wins will have to have a super-good day to do it."

Photography

Images by Hyun Lee

Men

• Bart Bowen and Ryan Iddings
• Dale Knapp (Kona) leads through the first turn
• Dave Wyandt (Clif Bar) and Toby Swanson home for the holiday
• There's a number of ways to get through the barriers
• Marc Gullickson (Mongoose/Hyundai) crosses the line for an emphatic victory
• Marc Gullickson (Mongoose/Hyundai) and Todd Wells (Mongoose/Hyundai) wamring up
• Marc Gullickson (Mongoose/Hyundai) leads up the incline
• Steve Crosier's stuck between Barry Wicks (Kona/Kenwood) and Eric Tonkin
• The second group on their way through the barriers
• Todd wells (Mongoose/Hyundai) leads throuigh the barriers
• Travis Brown leads the front group, followed closely by Todd Wells (Mongoose/Hyundai)

Women

• Carmen D'Aluisio (Clif Bar) leads through the barriers
• Carmen D'Aluisio (Clif Bar) leads Lynn Bessette (Saturn)
• Just as frantic at the back of the pack
• Lynn Bessette (Saturn) wins
• Rachel Lloyd (Spine/Santa Cruz) leads up the dirt incline
• It's on from the gun
• The womens' pack strung out in single file

Masters

• The Masters' Podium
• Ron Schmeere (Saturn of Bellevue, L) and Matt Hill (Ti cycles) lead the way
• Matt Hill (Ti cycles, R) tests the legs of Ron Schmeere (Saturn of Bellevue)
• The chase for 4th place

Images by Joe Zauner/nwracereport.com

• Zachary Grabowski (Saturn Development/Lafayette CO) heads for an Elite Jnr. Win
• The heat is on in the Masters race
• Marc Gullickson (Mongoose/Boulder CO) leads the pack
• Jonny Sundt (K2/Redmond) could only pull 5th place
• Todd Wells (Mongoose/Durango CO) made it a Mongoose 1-2
• Lyne Bessette (CycleCrossWorld.com/Quebec) crossing the barriers
• Carmen D'Alusio (Clif Bar/Watsonville CA) took out 2nd place

Results

Elite Men  
 
1 Marc Gullickson (Mongoose/Boulder CO)
2 Todd Wells (Mongoose/Durango CO)
3 Jackson Stewart (Clif Bar/Los Gatos CA)
4 Justin Rodinson (Spokesman-Bullion/Santa Cruz CA)
5 Jonny Sundt (K2/Redmond)
6 Travis Brown (Trek VW/Boulder CO)
7 Tim Johnson (Saturn/Middleton MA)
8 Dale Knapp (Kona/Des Moines)
9 Andy Jacques-Maynes (Clif Bar/Berkeley CA)
10 David Wyznch (Clif Bar/Saratoga)
11 Ben Jacques-Maynes (Spokesman-Bullion/Santa Cruz CA)
12 Barry Wicks (Kona/Corvallis OR)
13 Steve Crosier (Redline/Enumclaw)
14 Bart Bowen (Kona-Kenwood/Albuqueque)
15 Eric Tonkin (Kona-Kenwood/Portland)
16 Shannonn Skerrit (Bike Galery-Trek-VW/Portland)
17 Ryan Iddings (Rad racing/Enumclaw)
18 Toby Swanson (Rad Racing/Puyallup)
19 John Leonard (Saturn/Portland OR)
20 Tyson Apostol (Team Euclid/Lindon UT)
21 Jeff Proctor (Montana Velo/Helena MT)
22 Rob Campbell (Rad Racing/Olympia)
23 Rich McClung (Boadmark/Kirkland)
24 Steve Williams (Recycled Cycles/Seattle)
25 Aaron Menenberg (Ti Cycles/Belllingham)
26 Andrew Kyle (Norco/Vancouver BC)
26 John Flack (Recycled Cycles/Olympia)
27 Mark Matson (Gentel Lovers/Corvallis)
28 Justin Morgan (Sierra Nevada/Sacramento)
    
Elite Women  
  
1 Lyne Bessette (CycleCrossWorld.com/Quebec)
2 Carmen D'Alusio (Clif Bar/Watsonville CA)
3 Jeannette Nussbaum (Kona-Kenwood/Seattle)
4 Rachel Lloyd (Santa Cruz/San Anselmo CA)
5 Ann Grande (Kona-Kenwood/DesMoines)
6 Christine Vardaros (Sally Spicer.com/Mill Valley CA)
7 Josie Beggs (Bianchi/Seattle)
8 Rhonda Mazza (S & M-Vanilla/Portland)
   
Elite Junior  
 
1 Zachary Grabowski (Saturn Development/Lafayette CO)
2 David Fleishchhauer (Rad Racing/Olympia)
3 Morgan Schmitt (Rad Racing/Roslyn)
4 Tucker Thomas (Rad Racing/Olympia)
5 Mike Wentz (Rad Racing/Olympia)
6 Will Freeman (Rad Racing/Bellingham)
7 Dan Neyens (Broadmark/Seattle)
8 Tristan Skolrud (Rad Racing/Yakima)
9 Walker Duvall (Rad Racing/Olympia)
10 Stephen Howard (rad Racing/Enumclaw)
11 Severin Skolrud (Rad Racing/Yakima)
12 Josh Hansen (Rad Racing/Olympia)
   
Cross B Men  
 
1 Ian Mackie (Ranorok/Seattle)
2 Mark Davies (Seattle)
3 Ben Thompson (Ranorak)
4 Peter Held (Bolle-Bianchi)
5 Peter Groblewski (S3/Bellevue)
6 Brian Carver (Rcycled Cycles/Seattke)
7 Jimmy Lingwood (Recycled Cycles/Seattle)
8 Michael Murdin (Seattle Velo/Renton)
9 Phillip Edwards (Portland)
10 Chris Baker (Road Runner/Seattle)
11 Matt Hayes (YVCC/Bremerton)
12 A Dickson (Broadmark/Seattle)
13 David Lanier (Saturn)
14 Jason Edens (Recycled Cycles/Seattle)
15 Matt Cary (Seattle)
16 Aaron WillKinson (Rad Racing/Olympia)
17 Lance Simanek (K2/Renton)
18 Patrick Tongue (Tukwila)
19 Dean Zimmy (Dirt World/Montlake Terrace)
20 Paul Anderson (Lakeside/Portland)
21 Mark Kunnecke (Bicycle Center)
22 Troy Tayor (JF2 Racing)
   
Women B   
 
1 Tela Crane (Rad Racing/Sammamish)
2 Jenny Loestscher (Seattle)
3 Diane Conway (Subway)
4 Anne Spaete (Chinook/Yakima)
5 Sarah Bender (Bicyle Center Racing/Everett)
6 Jadine Riley (Subway/Seattle)
7 Robyn Embry (Poulsbo)
8 Danielle Crandall (Dirt World/Seattle)
9 Leana Garrand (JF2 Racing)
10 Amara Boursaw (K2/Stanwood)
   
Master A  
 
1 Ronnie Schmer (Saturn/Seattle)
2 Matt Hill (Ti Cycles/Seattle)
3 Richard Maile (Cliff Bar)
4 Kenny Williams (Saturn/Kirkland)
5 Jim Brown (Rad Racing/Olympia)
6 Christian Young (Ragnarok/Port Townsend)
7 Dan Peterson (TI Cycles)
8 Tim Ellis (Recycled Cycles/Puyallup)
9 Dave Hull #172  (Hull Racing/Seattle)
10 Dale Plant (Kona/Bellingham)
11 Phil Oppenhemier (Bicycle Center/Snohomish)
12 Randy Iddings (Covington)
13 Doug Graver (Ragnarok/Monroe)
14 Jeff McConaughty (Ragnarok)
15 Sean Wittmer (Seattle)
16 John Weller (Seattle)
17 Brad Lewis (Recycled Cycles)
18 Ed Arthur (Running Shoes.com/Bellingham)
19 Steve Muller (Northern)
20 Derek Shiers (TI Cycles/Seattle)
21 Mike Rolcik (Dirt World/Seattle)
22 Sean Maynard (Ragnarok/Seattle)
23 Thomas Butler (Wheatland Wheelers)
24 David Neubeck (Running Shoes.com/Bellingham)
25 Dave Hull #168 (Old Towne/Gig Harbor)
26 Pat Weiler (Maple Valley)
27 Dana Parnello (Kent)
28 Todd Anderson (Enumclaw)
29 Paul Mernaugh 
30 Virgil Long (Everett)
31 Tom Holmes 
32 David Gaves (Byrne Gas)
   
Master B  
 
1 Aaron Turner (Seattle)
2 Brad Collins (Sugoi/Vancouver BC)
3 Mike Albright (MTBZone.com)
4 Brian Wentz (Rad Racing/Olympia)
5 Nicholas Rhodes (Sound Velo/Issaquah)
6 Lance Simanek (K2/Renton)
7 Glen Conley 
8 Dave Pearson (Bicycle Centers/Seattle)
9 Kevin Myette (REI-Novara/Black Diamond)
10 Alex Rohde (Shoreline)
11 David Sullivan (Seattle)
12 Brian Vickers (Bainbridge Island)
13 Brian Spears (Lakeside/Rivers Edge)
14 Dave Stanton (Armondos)
15 Jeff Moran (TI Cycles/Seattle)
16 Tom Petramolo (Bianchi)
17 Andrew Malekoff (Recycled)
18 Francis McGrody (Bella Cycles/Seattle)
19 Kevin Hornback 
20 Dan Wood (PSCC-Gregg's)
21 Fletcher Burrus 
22 Tom Popowski (Everett)
23 Greg Twentey (Ashmead)
24 Brian Volkert (ASC/Normady Park)
25 Mark Kunnecke (Bicycle Center)
26 Hyun Lee (Broadmark)
   
Single Speed  
 
1 Ben Smith (Seattle)
2 Mark Knokey (Elephant/Spokane)
3 David Stanich 
4 Adam VanDyke (Sulton)
5 David Sawyer (Spoke & Sprocket/Lakewood)
6 Kevin Beshlian (Seattle)
   
Junior B  
 
1 Chris Buckley (Rad Racing/Ballard)
2 Nathan Bannerman (Rad Racing/Anacortes)
3 Tyler Given 
4 Grady Weiler (Super Squadra/Maple Valley)
5 Evan Schmitt (Rad Racing/Roslyn)
6 Noah Buckly (Rad Racing/Seattle)
7 Jason Ridge (JF2/Sumner)
8 Grant Boursaw (K2/Stanwood)
9 Luciano Worl (Rad Racing/Woodinvile)
10 Steven Skeehan (ASC/Tacoma)
11 Spencer Mahon (ASC Genison/SeaTac)
12 Ian Crane (Gregg's/Sammamish)
13 Jonathan Skeehan (ASC/Tacoma)
   
Jnr C  
 
1 Tavish Taylor (Port Angelis)
2 Cole Cutright (ASC Genisoy/Kent)
3 Trevor Taylor (JF2)
4 Brittany Wentz (Rad Racing/Olympia)
5 Peter Weiler (ASC Genisoy/Maple Valley)
   
Beginning Men  
 
1 Grant Thacker (Seattle)
2 Craig Companion (Duval)
3 Nate Simms (Mercury Web/Middlebury VT)
4 Jose Ramirez (Spokes & Sprocket)
5 Thomas Sowards (Auburn)
6 Pete Brunner (Spoke and Sprocket/Tacoma)
7 Nick Brown (TI Cycles/Kirkland)
8 David Sawyer (Spoke & Sprocket/Lakewood)
9 Joseph Ferazza (Tacoma)
10 Joshua Spaiete 
11 Matt Gossage (Ti Cycles/Bellevue)
12 JJ  Ecker (Seattle)
13 David Shoultz (Tacoma)
14 Bart Gjerdrum (Seattle)
15 Steven Prager (S & M)
16 Steven Basden (Seattle)
17 Brian Drye (REI Novara/SeaTac)
18 Gregor Streun (REI-Novara/Tacoma)
19 ER Brown (Seattle)
20 Justin Helm (Eugene)
21 Steve Boiurke (Tacoma)
22 Dodd Grande (Seattle)
23 Steve Faull (Renton)
24 Roy Tongue (Seattle)
25 Sean Lamberson (Lakewood)
   
Beginning Women  
 
1 Kristen Smith (REI/Seattle)
2 Kirstin Sandaas (Subway/Seattle)
3 Maria Arcorace (Seattle)
4 Lisa Picaro (TI Cycles/Seattle)
5 Sarah Beshlion (Seattle)