Anthony Clark Outsprints Lance Haidet to be Crowned King of Day 1 at West Sacramento GP – Report, Photos

Elite athletes from across the U.S. descended on River Walk Park Sept. 30-Oct. 1 for one of the largest, internationally-sanctioned cycling events in northern California. The West Sacramento Cyclocross Grand Prix presented by Toyota (WSCXGP) has been elevated by USA Cycling to host events on the Professional Cyclocross Calendar (ProCX) and is internationally sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).

The 56-rider field shattered early on in the race driven by the hard tempo and by live music on the tricky and fun course at River Walk Park.

Cody Kaiser (Specialized) took the holeshot through the first sand pit but Mark McConnell (Hot Sauce Cycling) came through to lead out the next lap with Lance Haidet (Donnelly Sports), Allen Krughoff (Krughoff Racing), Anthony Clark (Squid), Max Judelson (Voler/Clif/Rock Lobster) and Carl Decker (Giant) in tow.

Allen Krughoff led early on on Saturday. Anthony Clark wins 2017 WSCXGP Day 1. © V. Sama / Cyclocross Magazine

By the second lap, Clark decided to take the front of the race, a position he would occupy for the rest of the eight-lap race. Haidet reacted quickly to the attack, and the pair quickly established a gap to all the other riders.

“I felt really good today, and I felt really strong and the course fit me really well. I saw it breaking up and I said, you know it’s just time to go. I felt really good out of every corner, I didn’t make one mistake today and hopping the barriers was really key. I knew that Lance [and I] had it once we got a gap of Allen. Lance was sitting up a lot when he would go to the front so Allen would close, so I would just drill it harder and harder,” said Clark.

Anthony Clark and Lance Haidet battled to the finish line on Saturday. Anthony Clark wins 2017 WSCXGP Day 1. © V. Sama / Cyclocross Magazine

“Anthony’s style of racing is to just go hard. He’s really good. I was sort of expecting that, and he was definitely one of the riders I was watching. When he goes, I got to go with it,” commented Haidet.

Clark only relinquished the lead position to Haidet once during the race. “Anthony was riding really strong,” Haidet said. “I came around once and was on the front for like two minutes, and he said we have to go faster, and I said, ‘go for it dude.'”

Lance Haidet briefly held an advantage on Clark before the Squid rider worked to get a gap for the duo. Anthony Clark wins 2017 WSCXGP Day 1. © V. Sama / Cyclocross Magazine

The two were still locked together on the final lap where the victor would be decided in a sprint.

“On the last lap, Lance came around me and I just stayed calm and sat on his wheel. When it came to the sprint, I just sat on his wheel for about 500 meters and I came around him and started sprinting and we were neck and neck, and I just got him by half a wheel. It was really good and it felt really good, especially going up in a sprint against Lance because he’s legit. He’s the U23 national champion, he’s freakin’ awesome,” said Clark who recovered from a broken hand that hampered his racing in 2016.

He concluded, “I worked really hard all summer and I just wanted to show people that I belong at World Cups, I belong at these races and I belong at the front, and it feels really good, all this hard work. I can go home and tell (my son) Gavin all the good news, it makes me very happy. Everyone we raced against is getting so good darn good, so it makes me really proud to maybe beat these guys.”

Anthony Clark was crowned king of Day 1 of the West Sac GP. Anthony Clark wins 2017 WSCXGP Day 1. © V. Sama / Cyclocross Magazine

“It was good racing,” Haidet said. “It came down to half a bike length, but it was fun.”

Krughoff chase solo in the final laps to take third, crossing the line 11 seconds later.

Men’s podium at West Sac GP – Clark, Haidet and Krughoff were top three. Anthony Clark wins 2017 WSCXGP Day 1. © V. Sama / Cyclocross Magazine

The West Sacramento Cyclocross Grand Prix continues Sunday, Oct. 1 with amateur cycling races in the morning, followed by Category 2 Elite races for men and women in the afternoon.

Full results below. Peloton Sports and Vicky Sama contributed to this report.

Schedule of Events – Sunday

• Amateur Races (masters, juniors, various categories) 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Kid’s Lap (10 and under) 11 a.m. (free)
• Singe Speed Races 2 p.m.
• UCI C2 Elite Women (ProCX) 3 p.m. Pacific
• UCI C2 Elite Men (ProCX) 4:10 p.m. Pacific

ProCX continues Oct. 7-8 with C1 and C2 events at Charm City Cross in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the 13th year cyclocross races have been held at Druid Hill Park, and the eighty year for UCI events for women and men. The UCI events will be part of the SHO-AIR US CUP-CX series.

2017 West Sacramento Cyclocross Grand Prix - WSCXGP Day 1 - Elite Men's Results