Carl Decker had to hang it all out there Sunday to get his second Cross crusade win of the year. © Pat Malach
RAINIER, OREGON – Bend riders Carl Decker (Giant) and Serena Bishop Gordon (All Access Racing) each doubled up on 2013 Cross Crusade wins Sunday, backing up their victories at last weekend’s Alpenrose Dairy opener with another pair of wins during week #2 at Rainier High School.
Serena Bishop Gordon is undefeated so far this year at the Cross Crusade. © Pat Malach
With week #1 runner-up Beth Ann Orton (Team S&M) absent, it was up to Speedvagen’s Laura Winberry and Tina Brubaker to challenge Bishop Gordon in the women’s race. Rapha-River City’s Megan Faris set the early pace up front, but Bishop Gordon soon caught her as she faded. Winberry and Brubaker also got past Faris before the finish, taking second and third, respectively. Faris held on for fourth ahead of Rapha-Focus rider Julie Krasniak.
Laura Winberry finished second Sunday. © Pat Malach
Decker also didn’t have to face the week #1 runner-up, as Molly Cameron (Portland Bicycle Studio) was also absent, but the Giant mountain bike pro had all he could handle in a couple of Seattle riders who came down to try and ruin his day.
Raleigh-Hi/Fi’s Steve Fisher and Adam McGrath seemed determined to make their trip down from the Emerald City pay off, with both riders hammering through the paved uphill start into a wooded downhill and a barrage of off-camber turns, gooey bogs and soul-crunching run-ups.
Seattle’s Steve Fisher led for most of the race, but Carl Decker got him on the final lap. © Pat Malach
Fisher got the early advantage and opened up a sizable gap on Decker, who kept Fisher within sight and then slowly reeled him back in. Decker caught Fisher briefly just before they got two to go, but Fisher took the bell with a five-second gap on Decker. Decker wasn’t finished yet, however, and pulled back Fisher on the last lap, putting 20 seconds into him before the finish.
McGrath came in next for third, followed by Shannon Skerritt (Corsa Concepts) and Brennan Wodtli (Speedvagen).
Women:
- Serena Bishop Gordon (Total Access)
- Laura Winberry (Speedvagen)
- Tina Brubaker (Speedvagen)
- Megan Faris (Rapha-River City)
- Julie Krasniak (Rapha-Focus)
- Alexandra Burton (Upper Echelon)
- Laura Trace (Upper Echelon)
- Rebecca Bieri (Etna Brewing)
- Abby Watson (River City)
- Solana Kline
Men:
- Carl Decker (Giant)
- Steve Fisher (Raleigh-Hi/fi)
- Adam McGrath (Raleigh-Hi/fi)
- Shannon Skerritt (Corsa Concepts)
- Brennan Wodtli (Speedvagen)
- Joshua Kelly
- Michael Gallagher (Breadwinner)
- Andrew Coe (Soraz)
- Alex Wentz (Team Oregon)
- Erik Tonkin (Team S&M)
