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by Dave Mable
While temperatures rose in the afternoon, so did racing action. The Masters 40-44 race featured a number of heavy hitters, including a number of former pros. One of the big names, Justin Robinson (Santa Cruz), started the fireworks early by taking the holeshot and getting a jump on the 70-man field. His fast start helped separate things early.
Justin Robinson got out to a fast start.Masters 40-44. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © J. Vander Stucken / Cyclocross Magazine
Taking Jake Wells (Bicycle Racing Association of Colorado) with him, Robinson got a bit of a gap on the first lap. Coming through the start-finish straight, Wells went to the front and kept the pace high, hoping to keep the gap on the rest of the chasers that included Alec Donahue (JAM Fund / NCC) and local hero Justin Thomas (Reno Wheelmen).
The chase group behind Wells featured several heavy hitters. Masters 40-44. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © J. Vander Stucken / Cyclocross Magazine
A gap on Robinson, and the lead, is what Wells got in return.
“We went out onto the start-finish with a little bit of a lead,” said Wells. “I just tried to drill it a little bit going into the wind to see if we could keep the gap. I looked back and I had the up on Justin (Robinson), so I thought, Well, if I can keep on the gas and make those guys chase solo into the wind, it might work out in my favor.”
Jake Wells had smooth sailing in front of him. Masters 40-44. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © J. Vander Stucken / Cyclocross Magazine
In the World’s Biggest Little City, the odds were forever in Wells’ favor. He put seconds into Robinson and the rest of the field on every lap, turning 7:28 laps while fighting the wind alone. His were among the fastest of the day so far. With his deep fitness from racing in long gravel and mountain bike races, Wells was able to hold off all chasers, taking his first-ever national title.
Jake Wells rode along most of the race to win his first national championship. Masters 40-44. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine
Behind Wells, a battle was ensuing for the rest of the podium spots.
Justin Robinson leads a chase group. Masters 40-44. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © J. Vander Stucken / Cyclocross Magazine
Robinson continued to hold on to second, but a hard chase from Steven Stefko (First City Cycling) and Donahue brought him back. Stefko powered by Robinson and was able to put a handful of seconds between the two, but Donahue stuck right with him.
The fight for second was an intense one eventually won by Steven Stefko. Masters 40-44. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine
Rounding the final corner ahead of Robinson and Donahue, he would crossed the line in second to take home the Nationals silver medal.
Robinson would be the first around the final corner, Donahue on his tail. The two hit the gas for an all-out sprint for the line, Robinson holding on to take third. The two would share the time of 47:02.
Men Masters 40-44 Results: 2018 Reno Cyclocross Nationals
| Place | Bib | LAST | First | Team | City ST | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 326 | WELLS | Jake | Bicycle Racing Association of C | Avon CO | 46:09 | |
| 2 | 368 | STEFKO | Steven | First City Cycling Team | Fort Collins CO | 46:55 | 46 |
| 3 | 311 | ROBINSON | Justin | Santa Cruz Factory Racing | Bonny Doon CA | 47:02 | 53 |
| 4 | 354 | DONAHUE | Alec | JAM Fund / NCC | Easthampton MA | 47:02 | s.t. |
| 5 | 322 | THOMAS | Justin | Reno Wheelmen | Reno NV | 47:24 | 1:15 |
| 6 | 362 | BAKER | Jonathan | Seattle WA | 48:14 | 2:05 | |
| 7 | 315 | ANDERSON | Eric | ZIPP Masters Team | Indianapolis IN | 48:15 | s.t. |
| 8 | 303 | PORTER | Daniel | First City Cycling Team | Fort Collins CO | 48:33 | 2:24 |
| 9 | 341 | ESTES | Sean | Cycle Sport - Specialized p/b M | Morgan Hill CA | 48:59 | 2:50 |
| 10 | 308 | HUSEBY | Johannes | Boulder Cycle Sport | Boulder CO | 49:07 | 2:58 |
| 11 | 324 | HAMMOND | Kent | PAA Cycling | Los Angeles CA | 49:44 | 3:35 |
| 12 | 356 | DAHL | Ryan | San Marcos CA | 49:52 | 3:43 | |
| 13 | 363 | MATTERN | Craig | Park Ave Bike Shop | Rochester NY | 50:05 | 3:56 |
| 14 | 365 | SYVERTSEN | Brue | San Francisco CA | 50:05 | s.t. | |
| 15 | 340 | MORGAN | Justin | Top Club | Portola Valley CA | 50:10 | 4:01 |
| 16 | 355 | PIGGA | Joe | Lamprey Systems | Bethlehem PA | 50:12 | 4:03 |
| 17 | 316 | NIETERS | Jared | SEAVS/Haymarket | Amissville VA | 50:47 | 4:38 |
| 18 | 357 | SCHMITT | Damian | Bend OR | 42:18 | @1Lap | |
| 19 | 307 | DELINKS | Chandler | Cannondale Cyclocrossworld | Ipswich MA | 42:42 | @1Lap |
| 20 | 301 | HENDRICKSON | Jason | Park City UT | 42:45 | @1Lap | |
| 21 | 351 | SPRANGER | Calvin | Mafia Racing | Sammamish WA | 43:08 | @1Lap |
| 22 | 347 | BIGGS | Jason | Jigawatt Cycling | Raleigh NC | 43:16 | @1Lap |
| 23 | 309 | BOSCH | Adrian | Medford OR | 43:27 | @1Lap | |
| 24 | 323 | MILLER | Patrick | The Fast Forward | Morgan Hill CA | 43:34 | @1Lap |
| 25 | 352 | WORK | Alex | Santa Cruz CA | 43:44 | @1Lap | |
| 26 | 327 | CLAYTON | Ryan | Cottonwood Heights UT | 43:47 | @1Lap | |
| 27 | 749 | PATLA | Seth | Portland Titanium | Forest Grove OR | 43:48 | @1Lap |
| 28 | 338 | PARKER | Jess | Air Assurance Devo P/b Spoke Ho | Tulsa OK | 44:08 | @1Lap |
| 29 | 349 | VRAMBOUT | Olivier | Bayport MN | 44:10 | @1Lap | |
| 30 | 343 | BURTON | Michael | Park City UT | 44:28 | @1Lap | |
| 31 | 310 | BRESSLER | Brian | Bellingham WA | 44:29 | @1Lap | |
| 32 | 358 | TORIAN | Bryan | CBC Racing | Olympia WA | 44:42 | @1Lap |
| 33 | 334 | COOLEY | Daniel | Team Velo City | Richland WA | 44:53 | @1Lap |
| 34 | 359 | ELLIS | Chris | 360 Racing p/b Kline Van / Wood | Pleasanton KS | 45:14 | @1Lap |
| 35 | 302 | HINTZ | Justin | Sacramento CA | 45:17 | @1Lap | |
| 36 | 360 | MCNEAL | David | D9 Foundation / DNA Race Team | North Hollywood CA | 45:26 | @1Lap |
| 37 | 306 | HOBBS | Ryan | Matrix Cycling Club | Dallas TX | 45:46 | @1Lap |
| 38 | 318 | ROMAGNA | Tony | Racer X Cycling/ColoBikeLaw | Wheat Ridge CO | 46:08 | @1Lap |
| 39 | 346 | COANDO | Anthony | San Francisco CA | 46:17 | @1Lap | |
| 40 | 329 | WILKY | Travis | Streamline Insurance Services C | Round Rock TX | 46:29 | @1Lap |
| 41 | 320 | TUPAZ | Rozel | CBRE Racing | Pleasanton CA | 46:49 | @1Lap |
| 42 | 319 | MOROCCO | Sonny | Chandler AZ | 46:51 | @1Lap | |
| 43 | 304 | CUTLER | Grant | Berkeley CA | 46:52 | @1Lap | |
| 44 | 328 | BRADLEY | Seth | Rouleur Devo p/b DNA Cycling | Sandy UT | 47:32 | @1Lap |
| 45 | 350 | PODCZERVINSKI | Alan | Feedback Sports Racing | Broomfield CO | 47:41 | @1Lap |
| 46 | 353 | DUNHAM | Lanny | Rocky Mountain Road Club | Parker CO | 47:55 | @1Lap |
| 47 | 313 | KOSTRIKIN | Billy | Modesto CO | 48:14 | @1Lap | |
| 48 | 305 | BILODEAU | Jeff | CBRE Racing | Brentwood CA | 48:42 | @1Lap |
| 49 | 314 | BALIKA | Andy | Littleton CO | 48:46 | @1Lap | |
| 50 | 321 | WHITE | Michael | Boulder CO | 49:08 | @1Lap | |
| 51 | 317 | ERICKSEN | Spencer | Reno Wheelmen | Sparks NV | 49:29 | @1Lap |
| 52 | 364 | EDER | Chad | Chinook Cycling | Richland WA | 49:41 | @1Lap |
| 53 | 361 | TRISKA | Matthew | San Francisco CA | 49:54 | @1Lap | |
| 54 | 336 | WENKER | Ryan | Folsom CA | 42:41 | @2Laps | |
| 55 | 369 | WILDE | John | CoreTechs Cycling Team | San Francisco CA | 43:28 | @2Laps |
| 56 | 333 | DUMELIN | Joe | Vertical World Cycling | Monroe WA | 43:52 | @2Laps |
| 57 | 342 | WINTERBERG | Dan | San Francisco CA | 45:56 | @2Laps | |
| 58 | 348 | CATE | Ryan | Category 6 Racing Squad | Reno NV | 47:57 | @2Laps |
| DNF | 337 | SUPER | Peter | Hagens Berman Cycling | Issaquah WA |
For more from Reno, see our continuing coverage of the 2018 Reno Cyclocross Nationals on our dedicated Nationals page.
Photos from the races and reports are available to license here, with more to be added throughout the next week.
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