Men's Elite Race winner Ben Berden of team OPS - Capital Ale - Clement, crosses the finish line. © Greg Sailor - VeloArts.com
Compton Makes it Two
Katie Compton (Rabobank-Giant) proved, once again, why she is a multi-time national champion and World Cup winner as she outclassed some of the world’s best women riders in Day two of the Victory Circle Graphix Boulder Cup. It appeared that her strategy of racing less this year is certainly working well for her. The early morning cool temperatures gave way to low 60s by the time the women took the line. Nicole Duke (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) took the holeshot across the finish line and drilled it up the long climb on the back side of the course ahead of Compton and the rest of the field. The lead switched back and forth, with Meredith Miller (TIBCO to the Top) also in the mix.
By the time the leaders negotiated the long sand pit and wound through the heavy energy-sapping south end of the course, Compton had taken the lead, followed by French national champion Caroline Mani. Compton rolled through the finish line at the end of the first lap with a noticeable gap on Mani, Julie Krasniak (Rapha Focus) and Duke. Duke, however, continued to fade after her gigantic effort on lap one. By the top of the long stair run up, it was Compton, Mani, Georgia Gould (Luna ProTeam), then the rest of the field. The gap continued to grow through the sand. From there on it was a three-woman race: Compton, Mani and Gould.
The gap was up to 15 seconds by the end of lap two as Compton rode past the pit without a bike change. Compton had 20 seconds by lap three, followed by Gould and Mani who were racing for second. Gould passed Mani up the stairs and used her MTB skills to push the French woman. Sue Butler (River City Bicycles-Ridley), Miller and Krasniak led the next chase group.
Compton rolled through the finish line with two two go in a different time zone, while Gould and Mani continued to fight for podium spots. Both women showed the strain of the race, while Compton showed no emotion as she just got on with the job and continued to open the gap.
With one to go Compton took a clean bike. Gould carved a small gap over Mani by riding the downhill corners much more quickly. Butler continued to drop back, showing the effects of altitude.
Compton comfortably held the gap through the last lap, followed by Gould in second and Mani in third. Miller pipped Krasniak for fourth.
Berden Strikes UCI Blood
The men’s field was loaded and large with 67 men taking the start. The holeshot went to Trebon, followed closely by Berden (OPS-ALE Clement). By the top of the first climb Todd Wells (Specialized Factory Racing), in his national champion’s kit, had taken over the lead. At the top of the run up it was Trebon, Wells, Danny Summerill (Garmin-Cervelo), Geoff Kabush, Tim Johnson (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) and Jamey Driscoll (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com). Down the first bermed descent the field was single file with a plethora of riders still in contention. Trebon led into the long sand pit on lap 1 and a group of 18 riders followed. The south side of the course, still heavy this late in the day, didn’t phase these men at all.
Trebon then tangled in the course tape finishing lap one allowing Wells to overtake him.
A dozen riders were still together starting lap three as Berden put in the first of a number of attacks from each of the men who felt they had a chance to win the race. The rest of the group looked around waiting for someone to take up the chase. Into the sand pit at the top of the backside climb, Berden led Tristan Schouten (Cyclocrossracing.com), Summerhill and Trebon.
A group of five had temporarily separated themselves off the front by the start of lap four, with Trebon continuing to drive the pace. Topping the stairs on this lap was Trebon, Berden, Johnson, Kabush, Schouten, Driscoll and Wells. Trebon and Driscoll led into the sand. Nine riders were still together, but the heavy mud began to take it’s toll.
With four to go it appeared that a temporary truce was declared at the front and there was a regrouping. But, it was only temporary. Berden attacked again up the hill. Not willing to give up, he caused a separation. At this point it looked as if Berden might have put in the race-winning move, but by the time he crossed the finish line with three to go Trebon and Johnson passed him yet again. No one was willing to give in and the situation was: Trebon, Johnson, Berden and then Kabush, followed shortly thereafter by Wells, Shouten, Driscoll. Still no one had stamped their authority on the race.
With two to go Kabush, Wells, Shouten and Driscoll had fought back. Driscoll attacked at the top of the hill on the backside, followed by Wells. The lead continued to change with no indication of who would win. Driscoll, Wells, Trebon, Johnson, Berden, Kabush and Shouten continued to pound each other.
Coming across the finish line on the bell lap Wells had established a gap. Kabush, having none of it, attacked and led down the hill, followed closely by Berden. By the time the group came into the back stretch heading for the finish, Berden had taken over and established a 10-bike-length lead. He held it to the line, followed by Trebon taking the three-up sprint, with Johnson taking third with a well-timed bike throw over Kabush.
Full results beneath photos.
Photo Gallery by Greg Sailor – VeloArts.com:
Elite Men’s Results
Elite Women’s Results
