Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Central Coast Cyclocross #1 Race Report

Jacques-Maynes, Kerlin, D’Alusio, and Abele Post A Wins at CCCX #1

Central California cyclo-cross racers were out in full force to open the season at race number one of the CCCX Cyclo-Cross series held at Monterey Peninsula College in Monterey. Racers were treated to sunny weather shining down on a technical and challenging course that featured a little of everything on the college grounds. This was a perfect opportunity for the cross crowd to test their metal leading into the cross season that is full of action with many races on the horizon. Most everyone was pleased with the venue and enjoyed the great hospitality that the CCCX series offers.

The Elite women’s race, which featured an instant cash payout, was a close fought battle that came down to the last lap to decide the winner. National age group champion Sarah Kerlin (Velo Bella) out distanced World single speed champion Stella Carey (Kelly Bike Company) by a scant 2 seconds in the end. The hard charging Kerlin lead most of the race and had to hold off the experienced Carey for a close fought win. Ann Fitzsimmons (Velo Bella) claimed the bronze medal and her instant cash payout 20 seconds later with a solid ride on the demanding course designed by the CCCX staff.

The A men s race featured many local legends and it was Andy Jacques-Maynes (Cal-Giant Inc.) who laid down the law and dominated the race from start to finish. Jacques-Maynes put the hurt on the field from lap one and never looked back on his way to winning his third straight CCCX race dating back to last season. Rock Lobster used its tag team duo of Simon Vickers and Josh Snead to collect the rest of the cash and medals in this hour long suffer fest. Vickers was 1:05 back from the win while Snead claimed some gas money for the ride home another 35 seconds behind his team mate.

The most competitive and largest race field of the day was the 35+ A masters division. Amazingly Chris D’Aluisio (Morgan Stanley/ Specialized) was searching for his 8th consecutive CCCX win dating back over 3 years. D’Aluisio the CCCX 2002 series champion kept the streak alive running it to 9 in a row winning a tight event over Gannon Myall (Cal Giant Inc.) and Keith DeFiebre (Ritchey). D’Alusio and DeFiebre broke away from the strong field on lap one and raced together for a few laps with DeFiebre doggingly hanging on for dear life. The pressure was a little too much for the promoter/racer DeFiebre who was then caught by the pair of Myall and Mark Howland (Black Market). Myall looked to close the gap to D’Aluisio but thought it better to do a few dirt sample checks and this ruined his chance for the win.
D’Aluisio took a cash payout with the win and his favorite part the custom CCCX gold medal. Myall showing solid road fitness crossed the line 14 seconds later to take 2nd place. While the impressive and inspirational DeFiebre was 3 seconds back of that claiming the final cash payout spot in 3rd place.

Mark Abele (Boure) won the 45+ A masters division with a tremendous effort holding off Giro founder Jim Gentes (Family Cycling Center) and Norm Kreiss (Euro Cycling Imports). Abele showed outstanding fitness and form with a winning margin of 30 seconds over the inseparable pair of Gentes and Kreiss. Kreiss was racing on 12 hours rest after taking part in the Sacramento cross series the day before. And that effort put forth the previous day might have been the difference in his showdown with the former junior National champion Gentes. It came down to a last lap shoot out for the silver medal between the two veteran racers. And it was the cunning and crafty Gentes who out witted the jet lagged Kreiss winning the sprint by a scant .05 second.

The men”s B division was won by David Samples (Cal Giant Inc.). The smooth riding Samples rode solo for the second half of the event, and showed he is ready to contest more wins during the cross season. Applying pressure on samples was David Widmark (East bay Velo Club) who took the silver medal a scant 20 seconds behind at the finish. Andrew Hammond (Specialized) sported his sharp looking Specialized race kit and claimed a solid third taking home the custom bronze medal in this competitive field.

Katrina Baumsteiger (Southern Sierra Cyclist) was the womens B race winner. Baumsteiger found the tricky and loose dirt filled course to her liking using the technical turns and run up sections to build a 20 second lead by the end. Julie Barott (Roaring Mouse Cycles) rode a stellar race and claimed the silver medal. While the determined minded and skillful racer Janel Lodge (Black Market) fought hard and took home the bronze medal one minute behind the winner.

Newly crowned Sport National Mountain bike champion Beverly Chaney (Roaring Mouse Cycles) posted a solid win claiming the gold medal in the Masters 35+ Women’s field. Chaney who lives locally used home field advantage to hold off Melinda Jones (Team Santa Cruz) and Amy Abele (Velo Bella). Abele has been showing great improvement during the past few cross seasons, and this bronze medal shows all the fun and hard work of racing is paying off.

The category C group was well attended and highly competitive for the first cross race of the season on the central coast. Jeremy Keyes (Bay Bikes) was the odds on favorite to post the win after doing secret practice sessions on the course late the night before. He was basically assuring his team manager of a first place finish after the coaching session on Saturday night. But Bad Boy Ben Murphy (Huangoche) spoiled that prediction winning the race by 20 seconds over the shell shocked Keyes. Inspiring Keyes to call for a re match in 2 weeks on his home course of Ft. Ord on Oct. 9th CCCX#2. Ken Neill of Scotts Valley took home the bronze medal in this hard fought race.

Men’s 35+ B division was won by a flying Murray Swanson (Peninsula Velo). Swanson flew like a swan around the difficult lay out with no real head wind in sight and won by 25 seconds over Don Langely (Morgan Stanley/Specialized). Nipping on Langely’s heels was Jeffrey Bramlett from Palo Alto, who showed great heart fighting all the way to the finish line missing second place by only 2 seconds.

Jeff Crofton (Peninsula Velo) completed the Peninsula Velo sweep at The Peninsula College winning the Men’s 45+ B division. Crofton joined his teammate Swanson on the top of the podium winning this hard fought race by 14 seconds over the aggressive riding Keith Henderson (Bicycle Trip). The ever present Scott “Dino” DeLaurentes took home the bronze medal while prepping for his bid at the Parkfield Fall classic race.

Jammin Jeremy Blaylock (Joselyns) won the Junior 14-18 division by almost 1 minute. Blaylock the 2005 14 & under National Mtn. Bike Champion showed of his fine form on his home soil of Monterey. Tim Reuss had a solid ride claiming the silver medal. And the ever impressive Aaron Detch (Pacific Collegiate) used all of his skill and drive to take home the bronze medal to add to his growing collection of hardware.

Junior Women had a thrilling duel while keeping it fun. Tanya Lokmagozian showed it was like father-like daughter winning a race as her dad would taking first by a solid margin. Jesse Blaylock in her first cross race ever showed a great attitude and spirit while taking home the silver medal. And Meri Meighan showed her fine parental upbringing posting a solid time to take 3rd place in this fun filled battle of future stars.

The 13& under group saw Jack Fogelquist (Scotts Valley Cycle Sport) hold of the tandem of Noah Karter and Oliver Nickell who both race for Bicycle Trip. Fogelquist attacked from the gun and never let up applying pressure to the dynamic duo of Karter and Nickell thus solidifying his first win of the cross season.

The Singlespeed division is always competitive and a mechanically structured race. Gear choice is paramount and it is up to each racer to decide his sprocket combo. Micah Mozel (Joselyns) lost the 2004 CCCX cross series on the final race to the “coaster” Brad Koester of San Francisco. So Mozel has been waiting a full year to take it out on the rest of the singlespeed nomads. The highly skilled Mozel got his gear choice correct and dominated the race relegating Erik Ebboeroth into 2nd and Tim Cannard (Buy-Cell), who is making a racing come-back into 3rd for the day.


By Dusty Downs
Cycle Sport International