Riders coast through the finish at Ellison Park. © Brian Boucheron
Sunday’s Rohrbach’s Ellison Park Cyclocross race in Rochester, NY – the inaugural UCI event produced by Full Moon Vista – saw an Elite women’s grid with a mix of stars and regional riders anxious to tackle what was described by riders as “one of the toughest cyclocross courses on the calendar.” Natasha Elliott of Garneau-Club Chaussures-Ogilvy Renault wasted no time capitalizing on that factor by building an early lead. She never looked back at the battle for the remaining podium positions as the fight was fast and furious. Rebecca Blatt (Disasterrecovery.Com), Nikki Thiemann (Team CF) and Melissa Bunn (Stevens Racing P/B The Cyclery) threw every punch they could on the demanding course, but in the end couldn’t seem to separate from one another despite distancing themselves from the rest of the field. In the end Elliot rode in solo over a minute and a half ahead, followed by a hard-charging Blatt in second and Thiemann finishing third.
The Men’s Elite field provided great drama and blazing speeds against a beautiful backdrop at Ellison Park. Justin Lindine (Bikereg.Com/Joe’s Garage/Scott) and Derrick St. John (Garneau-Club Chaussures-Ogilvy) dueled lap after lap, distancing themselves from the drama. Behind them local star Cory Burns (Full Moon Vista Bike & Sport), Guillaume Nelessen (Van Dessel Factory Team) and Daniel Chabanov (NYCross.com) fought for the final podium spot. Lindine and St. John traded blows on the long climb lap after lap, but closely marked one another in a virtual slug fest. Meanwhile, Burns, who in one lap moved up 18 positions, was relentless in his pace and put away the hopes of any chasers. Burns eventually forced Chabanov off the pace as he dug hard for a top ten. Meanwhile Nelessen looked everywhere for the strength to hold on and for the hope that somehow he could come up with the goods to pass Burns by the line.
The race ultimately was decided with less than one lap to go as Lindine threw down a vicious attack on the climb and poured on the nitro down the fast descent to secure the winning margin over St. John. The crowd, energized by the drama unfolding for the win, was fully behind local hero Burns and he drew on their energy to out-kick Nelessen for the final podium spot. In a post-race interview Burns was emotional: “After I came around on the fourth lap, I practically had tears in my eyes from the crowd cheering for me.” Nelessen noted the energy boost the crowd gave Burns, and he had to put in a big effort to keep up with him every time they went through the finishing straight. Other reactions from riders noted that the challenging course and an enthusiastic crowd contributed to an exciting day for ’cross in Rochester, NY.
Full Results
Elite Men
Place Bib Name Team Nationality Time 1 11 LINDINE Justin Bikereg.Com / Joe'S Garage / Scott USA 1:00:56 2 20 ST JOHN Derrick Garneau-Club Chaussures-Ogilvy CAN 1:01:07 3 3 BURNS Cory USA 1:04:52 4 16 NELESSEN Guillaume Van Dessel Factory Team USA 1:04:54 5 5 CHOWN Nathan Handlebars Cc CAN 1:05:47 6 2 BRAY Wayne Mvp Health Care USA 1:05:48 7 21 STAFFO Dan Handlebars Cycling Company USA 1:05:49 8 4 CHABANOV Daniel USA 1:07:07 9 22 SWEENEY Kevin Crossresults.Com P/B Jra Cycles USA 1:07:09 10 24 FRIDRICH Cary Embrocation Cycling Journal USA 1:07:30 11 10 LAWNEY Brian Cambridge Bicycle USA 1:08:54 12 18 POWELL Seamus Ollett Coaching USA +1 Laps 13 12 MANCINI Peter Esteemtraining.Com CAN +1 Laps 14 15 MORSE Peter Jetfuel Coffee CAN +1 Laps 15 8 JENKS Michael Highland Park Hermes P/B Kim'S Bike Shop USA +2 Laps 16 7 INGRAHAM Jeffrey Finkraft Cycling Team USA +2 Laps 17 14 MESI Paul French Meadow Bakery_Fortistar USA +2 Laps 18 25 JOHNSON Lance Handlebars Cycle Company USA +3 Laps 19 1 BISHOP Nick The Hub Race Team CAN +3 Laps 20 9 KNOWLES Corey Team Rog USA +3 Laps 21 19 RODEN John Handlebars USA +4 Laps 22 13 MCCARTHY Phillip Team Ommegang – Syracuse Bicycle USA +5 Laps 23 6 HAGERTY Peter Team Plan C USA +6 Laps 24 23 ZOTTER Daniel Team Rog USA +6 Laps
Elite Women
1 100 ELLIOTT Natasha Garneau Club Chaussures Ogilvy Renault CAN 0:41:28 2 113 BLATT Rebecca Silver Bull/Central Wheel USA 0:43:02 3 111 THIEMANN Nicole Team Cf USA 0:43:04 4 103 BUNN Melissa Stevens Racing P/B The Cyclery CAN 0:43:17 5 105 KEMMERER Arley C3 - Athletes Serving Athletes USA 0:44:16 6 109 POPOVIC Carolyn Pavalleys.Com USA 0:44:18 7 106 KRZYSIAK Sarah USA 0:44:45 8 108 MATTE Sophie Stevens Racing P/B The Cyclery CAN 0:45:11 9 102 CHURCH Kristine Human Zoom/ Pabst Blue Ribbon USA 0:45:53 10 110 STOLL Natalie Mvp Health Care Cycling USA 0:46:18 11 104 GAVIN Kristin Team Cf USA 0:46:33 12 101 CHOWN Lesley Team Cf CAN 0:50:17 13 112 THOMAS Vicki Disasterrecovery.Com CAN +1 Laps
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