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Cross Crusade #6
Sam Barlow High, Gresham, Oregon, November 17, 2002
Wicks and Mazza Take Competition to School
By Chris Bright
Barry Wicks (Kona/Kenwood) returned to the 2002 River City Bicycles 'Cross Crusade Series on Sunday after taking a break to race at the Pan-American Mountain Biking Championships in Chile and went directly to the head of the class to win the sixth round held at Sam Barlow High School in Gresham, Ore. Similarly, Rhonda Mazza (Team S&M/Vanilla) persevered on the sloppy course to take her second victory of the year show, cementing her lead in the Category A Women series title.
Despite mostly sunny skies on race day, heavy rains during the prior week had saturated the ground that meant the 2002 'Cross Crusade competitors would face their first muddy race of the season. The slippery conditions on the serpentine, two-kilometer course were challenging for both riders and their machines. Many competitors suffered from mud-caked drivetrains that made shifting a chore. Flat tires were common as racers sought traction by lowering tire pressure for more grip in muddy corners and off-camber sections.
The most daunting section forced riders to dismount in several inches of slop before a double barrier before running down a short hill and over a bridge. On the other side, the racers faced the option of a steep staircase made of railroad ties or an equally unattractive slimy single-track trail, both led to burning thighs and clogged cleats.
Kona/Kenwood Pair Sets the Pace
With the starting area entering the course on a wider section, the Category A Men's field had an opportunity to string out before hitting the more technical section of the circuit. Trek/VW/Bike Gallery's Shannon Skerritt, winner of the last round, jumped out of the gate in the lead, followed by Wicks and his teammate Erik Tonkin. The pair wasted no time in getting to front after only 400 meters with Tonkin on point.
After the first lap, the front trio had a solid gap on the field. Tonkin was leading Wicks by two seconds with Skerritt a further four seconds back. Mark King (Sunnyside Sports) was in fourth until he flatted and made a spectacular recovery on the short, asphalt section. Derl Miller (Trek/VW/Bike Gallery) and Shane Beers (Vision Cyclery) took advantage, but King was fortunate to flat shortly before the pits, so he was back up to speed quickly.
During the second lap, Wicks made his move and went to the front on the stairs. On this occasion, his height advantage over Tonkin gave him a tactical edge.
"Coming into the staircase, I went for it and went by Erik because I could take each step in a stride, where Erik took two steps," Wicks said.
Wicks pressed the issue and had nearly 20 seconds on Tonkin in two laps. Skerritt was lurking in third, always within 10 seconds of Tonkin. Miller was now followed by Jon Myers (Team S&M) with King right on his wheel.
Coming into the final laps, the field was feeling the effects of the mud, although the three leaders seemed unfazed. At the end, Wicks had 49 seconds on Tonkin with Skerritt more than a minute behind. King, a rider known for his horsepower, was solidly back in fourth, although a full two minutes behind Skerritt in third. Miller and Jon Myers were battling for fifth, until Myers' chain became uncooperative and he slipped back.
Following his racing in Chile where he was America's top Espoir finisher in ninth, Wicks is building his form for the USCF National Cyclocross Championships in Napa, Calif., startubg Dec. 14. .
"I would like to win the Espoirs category so I can get the automatic selection for the World's team," Wicks said.
Mazza Slips and Slides to Easy Victory
Mazza started the day with a dominating advantage in the series standings, and departed with a lead that should see her hold on to her title as the Women's 'Cross Crusade champion. From the start, the Team S&M/Vanilla rider showed she meant business. Through the finish for he first time, the Sunnyside pair of Karen Kenlan and Suzanne King hung on gamely to Mazza's wheel.
Kenlan appeared to be the only one to stay close, as she was able to hold onto a 15-second deficit on the second lap. Meanwhile, Alice Pennington (Trek/VW/Bike Gallery) was finding the mud to her liking as she moved into third position and was starting to threaten Kenlan. King was still a factor in fourth as well.
With two to go, Mazza had more than one minute in hand and Kenlan had gained more than a 20-second advantage for second place. The only issue to be resolved was for third where King and Pennington were locked in a tight duel. By the bell, Pennington had dug in and opened a gap on the Sunnyside rider and was ahead by 20 seconds.
Mazza completed the five lap race in 45 minutes, 55 seconds and was clear of Kenlan by move than 90 seconds at the line. Pennington snared third and the strong Sunnyside Sports team placed three riders in the top five with King and Joanne Stevens in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Next week, the River City Bicycles 'Cross Crusade Series heads to the Estacada Timber Park for the District Championship on November 24. This seventh round counts for double points and may be many riders' last chance for making up ground in the series. The eighth and final round will be the series' second UCI-sanctioned event and will attract a national-caliber field to the Saturn/Stumptown 'Cross Classic in Portland on December 1st.
Photos
Images by Cheryl J. Willson/cheryljwillson.com
- Aric Rist (Bike Doctor)
- Barry Wicks (Kona/Kenwood) riding well early in the race.
- Jeff Mitchem (Logie Velo) shows a unique way of lifting his bike,
- Erik Tonkin (Kona/Kenwood)
- Jon Knowlson (GS Camerati)
- Ian Eglitis (Presto Velo)
- Race winner Barry Wicks (Kona/Kenwood) looking strong through the barriers.
- Brad Ross (Presto Velo), a promoter of the Cross Crusade series, takes his turn racing.
- Brody Anderson often prefers to step on barriers.
- Jon Myers (Team S&M)
- Ivan Meadors (Corben/Huntair)
- Barry Wicks (Kona/Kenwood)
- Kent Johnston (Lakeside/River's Edge) preparing to dismount.
- Mike Schindler (Sunnyside Sports) (Sunnyside Sports)
- Erik Tonkin (Kona/Kenwood)
- Jon Knowlson (GS Camerati)
- Derl Miller (Trek/VW/Bike Gallery)
- Scott Willson (GS Camerati) got a little muddy.
- Shannon Skerrit (Trek/VW/Bike Gallery) gracefully clearing the barrier
- Ian Eglitis (Presto Velo)
- Brody Anderson does the barriers
- Jeff Struck (Gentle Lovers)
- Mark King (Sunnyside Sports) clearing a barrier.
- Tim Coffey (Saturn of Bellevue) cresting a very short steep section of the course.
Results
Category A Men 1 Barry Wicks (Kona Kenwood) 9 laps 2 Erik Tonkin (Kona Kenwood) 9 3 Shannon Skerritt (Bike Gallery) 9 4 Mark King (Sunnyside) 9 5 Derl Miller (Bike Gallery/ Trek Velo) 9 6 Jon Myers (Team S&M) 9 7 John Leonard (Bike Gallery Trek NW) 9 8 Rich Cramer (Presto Velo) 9 9 Shane Beers (Vision Cyclery SF) 9 10 Chad Swanson (Team S & M) 9 11 Chris Brandt (Collins) 8 12 John McCaffrey (Presto Velo) 8 13 Mike Schindler (Sunnyside) 8 14 Tim Coffey (Pazzo Velo) 8 15 Scott Willson (GS Camerati) 8 16 Mike Martin (Team Compass) 8 17 Omer Kem (Team O) 8 18 Aric Rist (Bike Doctor) 8 19 Brody Anderson (River City) 8 20 Sean Garvin (GS Camerati) 8 21 John Gorman (Sunnyside) 8 22 Ian Eglitis (Presto Velo) 8 23 John Knowlson (GS Camerati) 8 DNF Jeff Struck (Gentle Lovers) Master Men 35-44 1 Michael Sylvester (Bike Gallery) 8 laps 2 John Mitchem (Presto Velo/Bike n Hike) 8 3 Michael Jones (Disco Velo) 8 4 Greg Talbert (Clif Bar) 8 5 Ivan Meadors (Corben/ Huntair) 8 6 Jeff Mitchem (Nike Logie Velo) 8 7 Martin Baker (Presto Velo/Bike n Hike) 8 8 Todd Rosier (RCW) 8 9 Robert Huff (Team S&M) 8 10 Andrew Deenik (Disco Velo) 8 11 Steve Morse (Sunnyside Sports) 8 12 Barry Holman (Fuji Team) 8 13 Don Leet (Sunnyside Sports) 7 14 Mike Colesar (Disco Velo) 7 15 Brad Ross (Bike N Hike) 7 16 Dan Davis (Sunnyside Sports) 7 17 Tim Ellerback (RCW) 7 18 Paul Mautner (Lakeside/Rivers Edge) 7 19 Douglas Shanks (Team O) 7 20 Kent Johnston (Lakeside/Rivers Edge) 6 DNF Chauncy Curl (Rubicon) DNF Ted Gresh Women A 1 Rhonda Mazza (Team S & M/ Vanilla) 6 laps 2 Karen Kenlan (Sunnyside Sports) 6 3 Alice Pennington (Bike Gallery) 6 4 Suzanne King (Sunnyside Sports) 6 5 Joanne Stevens (Sunnyside Sports) 6 6 Becky Walter (Nike - 2061 Velo) 6 7 Bridgette Stoick 6 8 Emily Babcock (Gentle Lovers) 5 Women B 1 Stephanie Yenne (Capitol Velo) 5 laps 2 Valerie Groesz (Team S&M) 5 3 Wendy Williams (River City) 5 4 Megan Schuble 5 5 Kellie Peotter 5 6 Michelle Groesz 5 7 Anna K. Saltonstall 5 8 Catherine Hardy 5 9 Darien Curl (Team Rubicon) 5 10 Stephanie Sullivan (Performance Multisports) 5 11 Kelly Witty (Nomad) 4 12 Lynette Mischkot 4 13 Cheryl Willson (Steelman Cycles) 4 14 Martha Grace Jossi (Reading Reflex) 4 DNF Shannan Whitlatch (Lakeside/Rivers Edge) DNF Karen Carter Women 35+ 1 Martha Handford (Independent Fab) 5 laps 2 Marla Lieuallen 5 3 Roxy Cate (EnSelle) 5 4 Connie Vine (NoMad) 5 5 Evelyn West (Team S&M) 5 6 Avon Hansen 5 7 Elise Ross 4 8 Renee Pype (Team S&M) 4 9 Meg Mautner (EnSelle) 4 10 Mary Ross 4 11 Carol Sim 4 12 Laura Wiles 3 Single Speed 1 Brad Cockman (Reno Hilton) 6 laps 2 Aaron Leritz (Team S & M) 6 3 Sascha Mac 6 4 Doug Shanks (Team O) 6 5 Chauncy Curl (Rubicon) 6 6 Wade Goff (Lakeside / River's Edge) 6 7 Pat Kudszus 5 8 Brian Witty (Half-Fast Velo) 5 9 Richard Kilshaw 5 10 Erik Hansen (Unatt) 5 11 Mark Meikle 5 12 John Walrod 5 13 Matt Pellieo 5 14 Douglas Moak 4 DNF Bill Larson Category B 1 Solomon Woras (Team Oregon) 6 laps 2 Greg Talbert 6 3 Shawn McDonald (Sunnyside) 6 4 Ryan Weaver (GS Camerati) 6 5 Nathan Hult (Corben/ Huntair) 6 6 Shane Fletcher (Form-Works) 6 7 Paul Lacava 6 8 Michael Dunn (Lakeside/ River's Edge) 6 9 David Divney (Half Fast) 6 10 Alex Eberight 6 11 Chris Cook (Team O) 6 12 Kent Heli (MWH) 6 13 Daniel Rockholm (Team S & M) 6 14 Eric Osborn (Mega-Bike, Delemont, CH) 6 15 Chris Thoman 6 16 Philip Edwards 6 17 Tom Lenth 6 18 Clark Ritchie (Lakeside/ River's Edge) 6 19 Andrew Reed (GS Camerati) 6 20 Charlie Sheridan (River City/ Team Oregon) 6 21 Ian Penner (VCM Racing) 6 22 Joe Marek (Team S & M) 6 23 Kevin Thompson (Lakeside) 6 24 Matt Berg 6 25 Brian Schultz (MWH/ Lenderboy) 6 26 Brian Spears (Lakeside/ River's Edge) 6 27 Brian Peotter 6 28 David Thomason (Sunnyside) 6 29 Micheul Romsco 6 30 Chris Bright (Corben/ Huntair) 5 31 Jason Pfeifer (Presto Velo) 5 32 Ian Brown 5 33 Chris Ailing 5 34 Aaron "Rambo" Harrison (BBC) 5 35 Ernie Conway (Team O/ RCB) 5 36 Doug Evans 5 37 Ivan Meadors (Corben/ Huntair) 5 38 Aaron Sander 4 DNF Dononvan Grabowski DNF Lonny Knabe (Where I Like) DNF Marc Riera (GS Camerati) Juniors 1 Andy Brooks (Oregon Adventure) 5 laps 2 Taylor Kneuven (BBC) 5 3 Brett Williams (Team O) 5 4 Jon Long (Team O) 5 5 Ricky Bossen (Team O) 5 6 Julian Bryant 5 7 Luke Harrison (Corben/Huntair) 4 8 Kenny Bossen (Team O) 4 9 Keith Beckman (BBC) 4 10 Jeff Hopkins (Corben/Huntair) 3 Category C 1 Brad Cockman (Reno Hilton) 5 laps 2 Andrew Haliburton 5 3 Chris Browning (Bike & Hike Giant) 5 4 Dean Giblin 5 5 Dave Swift 5 6 Ashley Brown (Nike Logie Velo) 5 7 Wade Goff (Lakeside/ River's Edge) 5 8 Lennis Herburger (Disco Velo) 5 9 Ken Reed (Team in the White T-Shirt) 5 10 Dan Moeller (Team S & M) 5 11 Tim Schauer (Columbia River Velo) 5 12 Nick Adamy (Team T & E) 5 13 Ben Langsdorf 5 14 Tom Thompson 5 15 James Cavalier 5 16 Andrew Beehler 5 17 Ted Gresh 5 18 Gil Ormerod (Team S&M) 5 19 Trig Rogers 5 20 Shawn Irwin (Bicycle Jones) 5 21 Mike McDonald 5 22 David Heathrage (Lakeside/Riversedge) 5 23 Craig Carter 5 24 Amit Kobrowski (Self) 5 25 Eric Romney (BBC) 4 26 Ernie Conway (Team Oregon) 4 27 4 28 Ed Chrisman (Team S & M) 4 29 Dan Burton (Team S & M) 4 30 Mark Jenkins (Team S & M) 4 31 Greg Mylet 4 32 Dick Busby 4 33 Damon Webster (Columbia River Velo) 4 34 Justin Goder (T&E Racing) 4 35 Cameron Vanderstoep 36 Ken Kortkamp DNF Craig Sinanian (Lakeside) DNF Ken Finch (Team S & M) DNF Jason Franklin (Team S & M) DNF Jon Bloomfield (Raan SS) DNF Steve Landen (Team S & M) DNF Nate Armbrust Beginners 1 Tom Hoffman 5 laps 2 Brran Andriot 5 3 Andrew Le Tourneau 5 4 Jim Hayhurst 5 5 Nicholes Citriglia 5 6 Alan Snodgrass 5 7 Chris Bernhardt (Team Tasty) 5 8 Fred Ford 5 9 Kirk Botero 5 10 Kirk Edwards 5 11 Scott Bowman 5 12 Rich Cowan (North River Racing) 5 13 Steven Basden (Lakeside/River's Edge) 5 14 Jeff Vine 5 15 Jason Button 5 16 Jeff King 5 17 Ryan Balfour 5 18 Troy Scott 5 19 Brad Farra 5 20 Scott Gibson 5 21 Michael Beckman (BBC) 5 22 Rob Williams 5 23 Brett Hadley (Team Dirtclod) 5 24 Kent Hymel 5 25 Brian Cawthorn 5 26 Bob Croucher 5 27 Phil Merick 5 28 Lon Canaday (B.I.K.E./ Cyclisme) 5 29 Dalton D. Rose 5 30 Scott Hayhurst 5 31 Dennis McCord 5 32 Chris Cottingham 5 33 Bill Huff (T & E Racing) 5 34 Christoper Esayian 5 35 Mitch Yoder 5 36 Eric Goodney 5 37 Daniel Wright 5 38 Peter Kaufman 5 39 Jason Jones (Corben/Huntair) 4 40 Jim Riemenschneder 4 41 Melanie Haliburton 4 42 Dave Liebert 4 43 Kevin Wolfe 4 44 Mark Liebert 3 45 Rory Weinstein 3 DNF Shane Young DNF James Clark Master Men 55+ 1 Richard Marantz (Corben/Huntair) 5 laps 2 Robert Mandelson (Enselle) 5 3 Joe Kregul 4 4 Del Scharffenberg (Corben/Huntair) 4 5 Tom Hayden (Capitol Velo) 4 6 Michael Strubel 4 7 John Forbes (Emerald Velo) 4 8 Jim Haase (Team S & M) 4 Master Men 45+ 1 Dean Lucas (Bike Gallery) 6 laps 2 Steve Yenne 6 3 Mark Schwyhart (Bike N Hike/Presto Velo) 6 4 Rick Knowles (Ti Cycles) 6 5 Joe Lieuallen 6 6 Peter Spir (Lakeside/Rivers Edge) 6 7 Cary Mallon (Disco Velo) 6 8 George Schreck (Corben/Huntair) 6 9 Bruce Werner 6 10 David Luoma 6 11 Dave Guettler (River City) 5 12 John Coffey 5 13 Mark Hildebradt 5 14 Marcus Swanson 5 15 Rick Potestio (Club Vivo) 5 16 Larry Hopkins (Corben/Huntair) 5 17 Gerry Parson 5 18 John Paul Sage 5 19 Paul Montgomery (Team S & M) 4
