Hecht Takes Thrilling Win in Front of Miller in Juniors 13-14, Jorgenson Best in 10-12 – UPDATED: Full Results, Photos

Junior Men 10-14 © Cyclocross Magazine

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BEND, ORE. – Sam Rosenberg (Hutch’s) of Eugene, Oregon, shot off the start line of the Juniors’ 13-14 race to be the first onto the dirt ahead of a flying group of pursuers, but it wouldn’t take long for Gage Hecht (International Christian Cycling Club) and Karch Miller (Davis Bike Club) to launch off the front and lock up the first two podium steps.

A nine-person group would queue up behind to battle for third, including Gavin Haley (Red Zone), Ian McShane (Red Zone), Rosenberg, Spencer Petrov (Queen City Wheels), Ben Hogan (Justin’s-Titus), Lance Haidet and Cooper Willsey (Green Mountain Bicycle Club).

Hecht, last year’s champion in the 10-12 division, was on the front and applying the power despite being a relative youngster in this race. Miller wouldn’t give an inch and turned himself inside out to remain in contention for the win, at one point catching the course tape and snapping a wooden stake, but maintaining his speed as he rocketed back towards the front of the course, affectionately dubbed the “Bob’s Red Mill oatmeal bowl.”

Hecht carved out a small gap as he drilled it around the final lap, but a crash just before he reached the fly-over for the final time allowed Miller to take the front with little terrain left in the race. Hecht remained cool and collected, and he passed again just before the stairs.

Miller frantically chased, but by the time he remounted and headed for the final off-camber grass section before the finishing paved stretch, Hecht had a few seconds’ gap and had the win locked up.

“I expected the course to be more like last year’s, when it was frozen and rutted instead of muddy,” said Miller, who’s more accustomed to the dry conditions around Davis, California. Miller told Cyclocross Magazine that his previous best Nationals finish in four tries was a sixth place.

“It was hard, it was muddy and so slick, and [Miller] was challenging me,” said Hecht. I thought I was done [after the crash] for a second, but it turns out I caught him.”

Hecht said he didn’t expect to win as a 13-year-old in the 13-14 group and was pleasantly surprised. His local race scene in Boulder, Colorado, clearly had him well prepared.

Junior Men 10-12: Jorgenson Denies Funston’s Request

With twenty-two riders lining up to race for the Junior’s 10-12 Title, it’s clear that cyclocross is a sport that’s here to stay. From the gun, Denzel Stephenson took the hole-shot with Scott Funston (Old Town Bicycle Race Team) and Matteo Jorgenson (Boise Young Rider Dev Squad) hot on his heels.

“It was really hard,” Jorgenson said. “I didn’t get the hole-shot and I was a bit edgy, but then I made an attack and got ahead and then got farther and farther. When I went over the fly-over I looked back and thought they were closing on me and I just said ‘No’ and went as hard as I could.”

The effort was enough – Jorgenson took the win with a comfortable gap over second-place Funston. Stephenson took third.

Photos by CXM:

Full Results:

Junior Men 13-14

Junior Men 10-12