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The 2017 Sea Otter Classic cyclocross race had a different feel this year. The long-standing Raleigh sponsorship and the technical crowd-pleasing (and flat tire-inducing) features next to the beer garden were gone. In their place was a SRAM title sponsorship and a flat, fast course with just a sand pit and barriers to trip up the racers.

In the end, in the men's race, the results on the sub-five-minute lap course were the same as the last two years. Tobin Ortenblad (Santa Cruz) defended his 2016 and 2015 titles with his third straight victory at the event. Ortenblad passed and dropped early aggressor Justin Lindine (APEX/NBX/Trek) to cruise to an easy victory.

Tobin Ortenblad seizing control from Justin Lindine. 2017 Sea Otter Classic cyclocross race. © J. Silva / Cyclocross Magazine

Tobin Ortenblad seizing control from Justin Lindine. 2017 Sea Otter Classic cyclocross race. © J. Silva / Cyclocross Magazine

Behind the two, a tight battle for third emerged, with Craig Richey (Garneu-Easton), Carl Decker (Giant) and Robert Marion (American Classic / Xpedo) sticking together for most of the race.

Marion leading Decker and Richey in the race for third. 2017 Sea Otter Classic cyclocross race. © J. Silva / Cyclocross Magazine

Marion leading Decker and Richey in the race for third. 2017 Sea Otter Classic cyclocross race. © J. Silva / Cyclocross Magazine

Marion and Richey were hopping the barriers with Decker dismounting, but in the end, Richey pedaled his Fox 32 Step-Cast AX Adventure Cross suspension fork-equipped bike to escape his companions and finish third, with Marion outkicking Decker for fourth.

In the women's race, the Clif Bar pair of Maghalie Rochette and Katerina Nash overcame early sand pit troubles to put in an impressive two-rider time trial and lap the rest of the field.

Rochette had an unwanted minute in the sand. 2017 Sea Otter Classic cyclocross race. © J. Silva / Cyclocross Magazine

Rochette had an unwanted minute in the sand. 2017 Sea Otter Classic cyclocross race. © J. Silva / Cyclocross Magazine

In criterium racing fashion, the pair set off on five-minute laps to drop and then lap the rest of the field, showing their top-five finishing form at the 2017 Cyclocross World Championships hasn't been lost.

Katerina Nash leading teammate Maghalie Rochette. 2017 Sea Otter Classic cyclocross race. © J. Silva / Cyclocross Magazine

Katerina Nash leading teammate Maghalie Rochette. 2017 Sea Otter Classic cyclocross race. © J. Silva / Cyclocross Magazine

Behind the pair, Caitlin Bernstein (Vive La Tarte) was best of the rest, beating Emily Kachorek (Squid) and Serena Gordon (LIV) for third.

Caitlin Bernstein lead the chase, finishing third. 2017 Sea Otter Classic cyclocross race. © J. Silva / Cyclocross Magazine

Caitlin Bernstein lead the chase, finishing third. 2017 Sea Otter Classic cyclocross race. © J. Silva / Cyclocross Magazine

See the photo gallery by John Silva below the results.

2017 Sea Otter Classic Cyclocross Results - Elite Women

PlaceBibLastFirstHometownLicenseTime
120NASHKaterinaEmeryville CA18860339:12:00
219ROCHETTE MaghalieSt Jerome CAN48715439:12:00
321BERNSTEINCaitlinOakland CA248945@1Lap
422KACHOREKEmilySacramento CA167636@1Lap
52GORDONSerenaBend OR301567@1Lap
611STETSON-LEETealReno NV252205@1Lap
71GROSSRebeccaGolden CO176014@1Lap
86SCHMIDTMANNPetraNederland CO363223@1Lap
95MALIKJenniferColumbus OH429486@1Lap
104CLOUSEKatiePark City UT332072@1Lap
1114LLOYDMonicaOlympia WA391428@1Lap
1215ESTEPGinaRenton WA418465@1Lap
137MANICarolineColorado Springs CO515165@1Lap
1417VALLIANT-SAUNDERSKarineSeattle WA367868@1Lap
159DAYCarrieBend OR@1Lap
163LILLEYAvaBend OR523161@1Lap
1710HALPINAllisonBend OR329270@1Lap
1818CHANEYBeverlyCarmel CA221127@2Lap
198MELCHERMckenzieSan Diego CA354114@2Lap
2012WETZEL POLINLindsaySalt Lake City UT172454@2Lap

2017 Sea Otter Classic Cyclocross Results - Elite Men

PlaceBibLastFirstHometownLicenseTimeGap
1151ORTENBLADTobinSanta Cruz CA30358635:07:00
2153LINDINEJustinNorth Ogden UT20571736:00:0053
3150RICHEYCraigNorth Vancouver BC40561236:17:001:10
4152MARIONRobertMount Airy NC22059736:25:001:18
5145DECKERCarlBend OR900736:25:00s.t.
6148UETRECHTRyderBend OR46801837:49:002:42
7146CHAPINScottSanta Cruz CA21166938:02:002:55
8137CLEMENTSMatthewFrederick MD28874138:29:003:22
9144HOEPPNERDanielCastro Valley CA26477338:53:003:46
10155DUNNPatrickLynnwood WA27604238:53:00s.t.
11140WEISSTimberReno NV41150639:08:004:01
12157KAISERCodyEl Dorado Hills CA20256439:17:004:10
13138MILLERPatrickBaltimore MD416695@1Lap
14143PADILLANicolasAliso Viejo CA392769@1Lap
15154FLORES JRAnastasioLa Selva Bch CA11877@1Lap
16142POURMEHRKavehMill Valley CA519828@1Lap
17139TORIANBryanOlympia WA342538@1Lap
18147FLORESBillyAustin TX391799@1Lap
19156MARSHALLINOGuillermoGabroni ITA53358@1Lap
20136FABRISJoeCapitola CA189959@1Lap

2017 Sea Otter Classic Cyclocross Photo Gallery:

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Carl Decker in control in the sand pit. 2017 Sea Otter Classic cyclocross race. © J. Silva / Cyclocross Magazine

Carl Decker in control in the sand pit. 2017 Sea Otter Classic cyclocross race. © J. Silva / Cyclocross Magazine

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