The Women through the barriers for the first time with a select group beginning to form. ©Matthew J. Clark/StraightEIGHTFilms.com
(Tacoma, WA) – Rachel Llyod (Cal-Giant) started the day at the LeMay Family Foundation Event Center by taking the hole shot and held on to win with an eight second gap over her closest competitor Amanda Miller (Boulder Cycle Sport/Yogaglo). Local rider Courtney McFadden (GE Capitol/American Classic) held on for third place. Those three ladies escaped a field of 63 Elite women early in the race, creating a gap large enough that no riders were able to jump across.
Rachel Lloyd (CALIFORNIA GIANT CYCLING) runs one of the two narrow, roots run-ups with Amanda Miller right behind (BOULDER CYCLE SPORT/YOGAGLO). ©Matthew J. Clark/StraightEIGHTFilms.com
The group held together for the first three laps when Llyod put in a dig and broke free. She was riding strong after placing 9th in last week’s world cup at Milton Keynes. Gaps remained steady throughout the race leaving Llyod plenty of time to post up for the win.
Courtney McFadden hangs on to a third place finish. ©Matthew J. Clark/StraightEIGHTFilms.com
Local boy Logan Owen (Cal-Giant) wanted to win today, and went on the attack from the gun. The Cal-Giant rider took the hole shot, but was quickly joined by Raleigh/Clement’s Ben Berden, and later by Jamie Driscoll (Raleigh/Clement). The teammates worked well together, keeping Owen on the front the first half of the race. The trio of riders animated the race and putting on a show for spectators.
A strong field lined up for the MFG Cyclocross Waves For Water Cross Collaboration for Project Liberia at the Marymount Event Center in Tacoma, WA. ©Matthew J. Clark/StraightEIGHTFilms.com
The lead changed hands multiple times, but a dual attack from Driscoll and Berden managed to put distance into the Cal Giant rider. In the end it was Jamie Driscoll who would come out on top, crossing the line with a small gap over his teammate Ben Berden. Logan Owen held on for third, some five seconds down.
Logan Owen (CALIFORNIA GIANT CYCLING) stayed on the front for the first half of the race with the Raleigh/Clement team bidding their time. ©Matthew J. Clark/StraightEIGHTFilms.com
Day two of Waves For Water Cyclocross Collective will be held a few miles away at Ft. Steilacoom Park in Lakewood Washington.
The Waves For Water Cyclocross Collective is sponsored by Cascade Bicycle Studio, Eleven Winery, Hodala, Lazer, Nuun Hydration, Raleigh Bicycles, Rapha, Stanley-A Brand of PMI, Vision and Waves for Water
Ben Berden (RALEIGH/CLEMENT) keeps an eye on Logan Owen, never letting him get too far away. The Raleigh/Clement team of Berden and Jamie Driscoll let the youngster stay out front for most of the race before devouring him in the end. ©Matthew J. Clark/StraightEIGHTFilms.com
The 2014/2015 USA Cycling Pro CX calendar includes all the UCI-sanctioned Category 1 and Category 2 cyclocross races in the US. This 44-race calendar begins in September and runs through January. The overall winners of th Pro CX calendar split a $20,000 purse for both Elite Men and Elite Women.
Waves For Water is a non-profit organization with a simple mission: “Get clean water to every single person who needs it.” To date, Waves for Water has helped provide access to clean water to over 7,500,000 people. For more information on Waves For Water visit www.wavesforwater.org
Full results to follow.
