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The Celebrity Classic Criterium - NE
Van Buren, Arkansas, USA, September 29 - 30, 2007
Foreign Riders take control at Celebrity Classic Criteriums
By Stefan Rothe
At the end of a long season, many racers made their way to the last race of the year in the region: The Celebrity Classic Criteriums held in beautiful Van Buren, Arkansas.
The Men Pro/1/2 race on Saturday through Downtown historic Van Buren saw a big group of a dozen riders escaping the field about halfway through the 75minute criterium. Having four riders in that move, the local Mercy Cycling Team pb Zero Mountain took control in the break and their rider Stefan Rothe followed through when attacking with 5 laps remaining. Only Carlos Vargas (Team Hotel San Jose) and Brian Jensen (HRRC/Trek) were able to close in on the Mercy rider. The trio stayed clear until the finish and Colombian Vargas outsprinted Jensen and Rothe for the win and a nice $1000 prize. The podium was a very international one, with Colombia (Vargas) taking the top spot, followed by Denmark (previous year’s winner Jensen) in second, and Germany (Rothe) in third.
In the Women's Open competition, Kansas-based rider Catherine Walberg (Mesa Cycles) took the win after outsprinting her break-away companions Michelle Jensen (Mercy Cycling Team) and Shannon Koch (Compliance Depot).
Sunday's Men Pro/1/2 race was held on the identical course like the previous day and it was only a matter of time when a break-away would roll of the front. After a number of furious attacks from Team Hotel San Jose, Mercy Cycling and mountain bike legend Steve Tilford (HRRC/Trek) the field finally let a group of 10 riders roll off the front. At this point it was clear that the winner would be one of those riders in the break. Last year’s double-winner Brian Jensen (HRRC/Trek) was again on fire, even two flat tires couldn’t stop him form attacking the break with 15 minutes to go and soloing to another win. Chad Cagle of the local Mercy Cycling Team pb Zero Mountain took the sprint of the remaining 9 riders ahead of Adam Myerson (NERAC Pro Cycling) who missed out on the break-away the previous day.
Catherine Walberg (Mesa Cycles) repeated her win from the previous day when she shot to the finish line with 3 bike length ahead of Shannon Koch (Compliance Depot) and Michelle Jensen (Mercy Cycling Team).
Results
Day 1 Men Pro/1/2 1 Carlos Vargas (Team Hotel San Jose/ Silicon L) 2 Brian Jensen (Hrrc/Trek Stores) 3 Stefan Rothe (Mercy Cycling Team) 4 Tyler Jewell (Team Hotel San Jose/ Silicon L) 5 Jason Macom (Mercy Development Cycling Team) 6 Thacker Reeves 7 Avalos Frayre 8 Barry Lee (Team Hotel San Jose/ Silicon L) 9 David LeDuc (Mercy Cycling) 10 Alex Welch (Mercy Cycling Team) 11 Adam Myerson (Nerac Pro Cycling) 12 Steve Tilford (Hrrc/Trek Store) 13 Andrew Dalhiem (Team Hotel San Jose/ Silicon L) 14 Chad Cagle (Mercy Cycling Team) 15 Mat Ankney (Mercy Cycling) 16 Tim Tobbe (Boston Mountain Cyclist) 17 Francis Hamre (Velossimo) 18 Corey Ray (Compliance Depot) 19 Jay Blankenship (Team X) 20 Brice Jones (Jelly Belly-Pool Gel) 21 Scott Walnofer (Mercy Development Cycling Team) 22 Christopher Hamilton 23 Joseph Schmalz (Teamx Cycling) 24 William Snodgrass (Oklahoma City Velo Club) 25 Doug Greek (Mercy Cycling Team) 26 Scott Barnes (Mercy Development Cycling Team) 28 Todd Elenz (Advantage Benefits Group) 29 Jarred Gilker (Mercy Development Cycling Team) 30 Ryan Fiddler (Mercy Development Cycling Team) 31 Michael Talley (Lees-Mcrae) Women 1 Catherine Walberg 2 Michelle Jensen (Mercy Cycling Team) 3 Shannon Koch (Team Las'port) 4 Stacey Bertsch (Mercy Cycling Team) 5 Sheri Rothe (Austin Flyers) 6 Michelle Montoya (Lone Star Works / Colonel's) 7 Lori Barrett (Team Hotel San Jose/ Silicon L) 8 Debra Dunn (Tyson Racing) 9 Rachel Byus (Compliance Depot) Day 2 Men 1 Brian Jensen (Hrrc/Trek Stores) 2 Chad Cagle (Mercy Cycling Team) 3 Adam Myerson (Nerac Pro Cycling) 4 Todd Elenz (Advantage Benefits Group) 5 Avalos Frayre (Compliance Depot) 6 Andrew Dalhiem (Team Hotel San Jose/ Silicon L) 7 Mat Ankney (Mercy Cycling) 8 Barry Lee (Team Hotel San Jose/ Silicon L) 9 David Leduc (Mercy Cycling) 10 Alex Welch (Mercy Cycling Team) 11 Stefan Rothe (Tx Mercy Cycling Team) 12 Tyler Jewell (Team Hotel San Jose/ Silicon L) 13 Steve Tilford (Hrrc/Trek Store) 14 Nathan Rogut (Compliance Depot) 15 Thacker Reeves (Matrix) 16 Carlos Vargas (Team Hotel San Jose/ Silicon L) 17 Francis Hamre (Velossimo) 18 Jason Macom (Ar Mercy Development Cycling Team) 19 Corey Ray (Compliance Depot) 20 Doug Greek (Mercy Cycling Team) 21 Jay Blankenship (Team X) 22 Carl Sundquist (Mercy Cycling Team) 23 Steen Rose (Trek/Vw/Rbm) 24 Scott Barnes (Mercy Development Cycling Team) Women 1 Catherine Walberg 2 Shannon Koch (Team Las'port) 3 Michelle Jensen (Mercy Cycling Team) 4 Stacey Bertsch (Mercy Cycling Team) 5 Sheri Rothe (Austin Flyers) 6 Michelle Montoya (Lone Star Works / Colonel's) 7 Roslyn Grimsley (Mercy Cycling Team) 8 Rachel Byus (Compliance Depot)
