We’ve been getting a bunch of submissions of cyclocross news – race announcements, fund raisers, etc. We want to provide a venue to allow all news worthy stories to be surfaced, in nearly real-time, to you, our readers and followers.
So we’ve got this page. Post your news via a comment – race or team announcements, interesting race reports, and links to photos. If it’s of value, it’ll be up in no time for everyone to read.
Race #7 of the 2007-08 SoCalCross Prestige Series:
4th Annual Gene Galindo Memorial Turkey Trot Cross
Sunday, November 25, 2007
On Sunday November 25, 2007 quaint urban Verdugo Park in Glendale
California will be transformed into a multi-terrain, high-speed,
Cyclocross battleground! In only 4 years, the Gene Galindo Memorial
Turkey Trot Cross has become one of the enduring traditions in SoCal
Cross and a founding race in the elite SoCal Prestige Series! With the
race always held on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend the event is one
of the most family friendly of the series and features a kids' race and
a free BBQ. Spectators are treated to a compact course with
unprecedented multiple views of the racers charging through the grassy
infield, the grueling Tot-Park Sand-Trap, and the high-speed
start/finish straight.
In the Elite Men’s race Brent Prenzlow (Alan North America) is sure to
be back to defend his title having won EVERY Turkey Trot! Former junior
phenom Chance Noble (Cal Giant), now racing U23 internationally, is
sure to have a say though, as are several strong racers including the
Time Factory Team’s Michael Easter and Masters National Champ Mark
Noble, Team Bear Claw will bring with it reigning SoCal Single Speed
champ Fritz Bottger, and Semi-Pro Mountain Biker Lyle Warner.
In the Elite Women’s race reigning Junior National Champion Coryn
Rivera (Team Redline) is sure to be back defending her race title
against the strong teamwork of Team CICLE bringing Carolyn Popovic back
from her stint on the East Coast where she has been putting in strong
performances including a couple of victories along the way.
This year the race takes on an added dimension as it is the final tune
up race before the State Championships which occur the following
weekend in Bakersfield. All of the racers will want to show there
strong form and assess the strengths and weaknesses of their
competitors.
The Gene Galindo Memorial Turkey Trot Cross is run in memory of local
businessman Eugene Galindo who lost his life to cancer in 2006 after a
lifetime of service. The race is made possible by volunteers from the
Pasadena Athletic Association Cycling Club. Race info can be found at:
http://www.VerdugoCycling.com
The 2007/8 SoCalCross Prestige Series showcases 12 premiere cyclocross
events as it travels across Southern California in five counties. The
SoCalCross Prestige Series was formed in 2006 by an association of
cycling clubs passionate and eager to grow the sport.
Prestige Series information can be found at: <a href="http://www.SoCalCross.org” target=”_blank”>www.SoCalCross.org
Chicago Cyclocross Cup Race #5
Lan Oak Park – Lansing, Illinois
Sunday, November 18, 2007
McLaughlin, Haskell, ride away with the Chicago Cyclocross Cup Race #5
By Imelda March
Gray skies and a slight wind were the order of the day at Lan Oak Park Cross in Lansing, Illinois. The temperatures were mild early in the day (40F) then eventually falling to low 30s Fahrenheit by late afternoon.
The race course was flat, fast with multiple winding turns coupled with a three series barrier section. In addition to a sand pit that was affectionately given the name of “Pit of Despair” because various competitors who tried to ride it eventually fell over in their attempt to cross it.
In the elite women’s race, series leader Devon Haskell (Team Get A Grip Cycles) put the hammer down and led from start to finish. Haskell was followed by Debbie Dust (Team Kenda Tire) and June Upshaw (Verdigris Custom Homes) rounding out the podium.
The elite men’s race, Scott McLaughlin (SRAM Factory) pedaled through the “Pit of Despair” leaving the competition behind. McLaughlin was followed by Alistair Sponsel (Colavita) and Ben Pepper (XXX Racing AthletiCo).
The Chicago Cyclocross Cup Race continues with Race #6, and the conclusion of the series on Sunday, December 9, 2007 at Montrose Park in the City of Chicago. On this day crossers will battle it out for the Illinois State Cyclocross Championship title.
Full results and series information are available by visiting http://www.chicrosscup.com
CAPITAL CROSS CLASSIC: WHITE WINS, BRUNO ROY REPEATS
BRUNO ROY AND FRATTINI WIN VERGE MAC SRAM TITLES
Press Contact Information: Verge MAC Cyclocross Series
Ken Getchell, Media Director: [email protected]; 610-397-1950
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 2, 2007; Conshohocken, PA, USA: Maureen Bruno Roy came and conquered not only the season-ending Capital Cross Classic, but also the 2007 Verge MAC SRAM season championship. Davide Frattini couldn’t come to the Capital Cross Classic, but claimed the Verge MAC SRAM season championship by a single point based on his previous conquests.
A big part of the story of this year’s Capital Cross Classic presented by the Bike Lane was what didn’t happen. Weather forecasts were predicting that everything short of meteorites to fall out of the sky starting the night before and continuing through the day of the race. Rain, snow, sleet and freezing rain were all part of the dismal forecast. Ironically, the weather turned out to be nicer than the previous day’s windy and bitterly cold race.
One thing that didn’t change from the previous day was the domination of the Elite Women’s field by Maureen Bruno Roy (Independent Fabrications/Wheelworks presented by General Catalyst). Just as she did the day before in Carlisle Pennsylvania, Bruno Roy charged from the gun, established a lead before Aqua Fina Barrier preme on the first lap, and just rode away. In a strange twist, Bruno Roy became the third woman to sweep both halves of Verge MAC’s three weekend doubleheaders. Kerry Barnholt swept both the Granogue and Wissahickon races in October, and Georgia Gould swept both days of the New Jersey weekend in November. But Bruno Roy, fresh off her World Cup debut and another seventh place finish in France, not only swept the final weekend, but scored highly in all six races against the best in American cyclocross to win the Verge MAC title.
Prior to the Men’s race, Matt White of FiordiFrutta told announcer Joe Jefferson that getting an early lead would be important because of a narrow section at the start of the second half of the course that had to be changed considerably from past years because of a major construction project. He lived up to his prediction by charging into the barriers so fast on the first lap that he made the spectators gasp as he won the Aqua Fina Barrier Preme and established a gap on the field. Surprise entrant Jeremiah Bishop (Trek VW), in his first UCI cyclocross start in years, established himself as the engine in the chase group that formed on the second lap consisting of Bishop, championship contender Jon Hamblen (RGM Watches – Team Richard Sachs), Steve Tilford (KCCX/Verge/Eriksen Cycles), the previous day’s winner Alec Donahue (Joes’ Garage), Jonny Sundt (KBS/Medifast), Charles Pendry (Inland Construction/BTD) and Weston Schempf (C3-Sollay.com).
With White riding away, Bishop drilled the chase group but never got any help. Despite two long power sections where drafting came into play, and made even faster by the ground being so hard, nobody else pulled through. Several laps later, Hamblen disappeared from the group, the victim of an apparent mechanical problem that would have devastating consequences afterward. Donahue was the first rider to have difficulty holding on to the group, followed shortly afterward by Pendry and Schempf. Slowly the chase group closed the gap to White, cutting his lead nearly in half. By the final lap, Sundt had fallen back several times only to rejoin, Bishop appeared ready to use his last breath to catch the leader — and Tilford had not left Bishop’s wheel for almost an hour. With half a lap to go, the chase was down to Bishop and Tilford. White was looking vulnerable, but he had enough to secure the win in the final Verge MAC race of the season by just two seconds. “I used up Jeremiah,” said Tilford after the race, “but I went too late.” Bishop apparently concurred, as the cold rain began to fall and they got ready to get onto the podium, he turned to Tilford with a big smile and said, “You could have won that race — if you hadn’t been so lazy.” Winner Matt White didn’t say anything, he just smiled broadly.
The rider that nobody could beat wasn’t even at the track, however. Entering the weekend, Italy’s Davide Frattini (Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light) had a solid points lead in the Verge MAC SRAM point chase as a result of his two victories in New Jersey. Knowing that he wouldn’t be able to attend today’s race due to a personal commitment, Frattini tried to clinch the title at yesterday’s round in Carlisle. But, after holding a commanding lead for much of that race, a pinch flat resulted in a disappointing fifth place finish. With Frattini unable to attend the Capital Cross Classic, the door was wide open for John Hamblen with the prestigious Verge MAC title for his RGM Watches Richard Sachs team. But his early race mechanical dropped him far enough out of the chase group that he was never able to rejoin. Hamblen, who has raced every edition of the Capital Cross Classic, finished a disappointing eighth and just one point shy of Frattini in the final standings.
Race Notes:
* Over one-hundred novice riders competed in the day’s first event.
* Two junior riders finished on the podium of the Men’s 2/3/4 race behind winner (and season champion) Eric Linder (Hunt Valley Bicycles/Marathon Roofing). 17 year old Patrick Bradly from Team Beacon finished as runner-up and fourteen year old Jeff Bahnson finished fifth for his C2S/Henry’s Bikes Team.
sunday dec. 2nd 11am. it's cold, wet, and muddy. there are about 170 riders that have showed up. there are about 50 spectators that have braved the day with the wind blowing in off the ohio river. the course has some of the parts from the grand prix. the start is set up to try and spread everyone out, but no such luck. about 100 yards in the sweeping right hand off camber turn jams all of us up into a ball. people are going down left and right, we are talking about a real jam. i mean stop and wait your turn kind of a deal. the sand pits were deep and nasty, the stream crossings were the same way after the first lap. the weather man said the temps were going to be in the 60's no such luck. thank god for mud because after a few practice laps that was the only thing keeping my legs warm. after the race there was no water to be found except on the course, so take those dirty bikes home. in the a's kevin attkisson defended his title and is still champion. in 45+ rick lyons was favored but pulled a third. rick i think is going for overall series points champ. i guess we will have to wait for the last race, double points and the return of louisville's green monster. this is the big fly over that was at the grand prix, lets see how it works covered in mud, the weather is calling for lots of rain for the end of the week as well as the weekend. we had about 25 kids/juniors show up with the big gun juniors out in portland, two of them i think will be going to europe. good luck to clayton omer and andrew llewellyn. that is all for now.