2016 Green Acres Premium Cyclocross Results and Race Report – Thompson, Mertz, Talerico, and Barr Win

by Chris Fisher

From all accounts, last weekend’s Green Acres Cross lived up to its hype as the MN race that Midwesterners need try. The most anticipated race on the MN cyclocross calendar is drawing impressive fields, ever widening its reach beyond just local racers.

Eric Thompson (HED p/b Molten Speed Wax) leading the elite men from the start. © Todd Fawcett

Threatening rain all week, Saturday’s weather turned out to be rather pleasant, if decidedly uncrossy. Even the strong winds of Friday night diminished to a light breeze. By midday, the course was already getting rave reviews including the newest feature: a 25′ vertical run-up, which looked more like a wall of sand than a CX course feature.

Elite men took to the line just after noon, and early on the lead group of 7 traded pulls for the first several laps. Eric Thompson (HED p/b Molten Speed Wax) broke away, followed closely by Mark Savery (Trek Cyclocross Collective). Thompson would eventually shake loose of Savery, going on to win. Savery faded to third after battling Thompson for 7 laps, finishing behind Dominic Talerico (Foundry).

The Saturday women’s race was over shortly after it began. 2016 singlespeed national champion Nicole Mertz (NoCoast Racing powered by Intelligentsia) took the Search and State sponsored holeshot prime, and never looked back. She would win by 1:30 over Megan Barr (Angry Catfish), with Corey Coogan Cisek (The Fix Studio) rounding out the podium.

Sunday brought a new twist, with racers climbing the switchback decent from Saturday’s course, as well as adding in wooded technical sections. With Thompson taking a rest day to ready himself for a Belgian campaign later in the month, the men’s field was wide open. Early on Foundry riders Peter Olejniczak and Talerico pushed the pace up the demanding climb. The lead group stayed together much longer than Saturday, slowly whittling away riders lap by lap. Talerico finally made a move that Charlie Simacek (All-City) and Savery, the last two remaining, were unable to respond to. That move would stick, earning Talerico the top spot on the podium.

Nicole Mertz (NoCoast Racing powered by Intelligentsia) descending into the switchbacks. © Todd Fawcett

The women’s field was equally open, this time due to a first-lap mechanical for Mertz. Barr capitalized, and extended her lead over the other elite women. With a new bike, Mertz powered back into contention, closing in lap after lap. Meanwhile, Barr rode a consistent race off the front, turning quicker lap times than the rest of her competitors, and ended her day in first. Mertz credited a substantial cheering section for an added boost. “People seem to stay well after their own races to cheer on other fields, which I think is also a testament to the MN CX scene. I really noticed this on Sunday, after a mechanical on lap 1 sent me far off the back of the field. But thanks to all of the cheers and heckles, I was able to make it back into the top 3 before a poorly timed front flat took me out of the race for good.”

Green Acres showed it’s not just the quality racing that brings the crowds. Free food and beverages on both days, in addition to the much anticipated prize raffle kept most on hand until late in the day. With a HED fatbike wheelset and a Shimano carbon CX wheelset as the grand prizes, you’d have been silly not to stick around. Mertz, busy with a national calendar of racing, echoed these sentiments. “The whole event was run really well. The food choices, craft beer selections, announcing, and raffle always make it a must on my schedule”. Before saddling up for the long drive back to Nebraska, Savery added “After racing Green Acres in 2015 for the first time I knew I had to come back. The 2016 course updates did not disappoint. NOW Bikes and Synergy Cycling have created a UCI-worthy course and venue. I’m already looking forward to coming back in 2017.”

Photos by Todd Fawcett – www.toddfawcettphoto.com

Green Acres Premium Cross Results

Elite Men (Day 1)
1 Eric Thompson (HED p/b Molten Speed Wax)
2 Dominic Talerico (Foundry)
3 Mark Savery (Trek Cyclocross Collective).

Elite Women (Day 1)
1 Nicole Mertz (NoCoast Racing powered by Intelligentsia)
2 Megan Barr (Angry Catfish)
3 Corey Coogan Cisek (The Fix Studio)

Elite Men (Day 2)
1 Dominic Talerico (Foundry)
2 Charlie Simacek (All-City)
3 Mark Savery (Trek Cyclocross Collective)

Elite Women (Day 2)
1 Megan Barr (Angry Catfish),
2 Robin Williams (Iowa City Cycling Club)
3 Stacy Kalemkiarian (The Fix Studio)

2016 Green Acres Premium Cyclocross Results Day 1 - Elite Men

2016 Green Acres Premium Cyclocross Results Day 1 - Elite Women

2016 Green Acres Premium Cyclocross Results Day 2 - Elite Men

2016 Green Acres Premium Cyclocross Results Day 2 - Elite Women