Nash Doubles, Johnson Solos to Win at USGP Deschutes Brewery Day 2

Kabush and Trebon dab while cresting this climb at the USGP Deschutes Brewery Day 2. ©Cyclocross Magazine

BEND, OREGON – Day 2 of the Deschutes Brewery USGP in Bend saw similar weather conditions to the first day of racing, though the tactics in both races were notably different, as each race was won in a solo off the front that was started early and held.

Elite Women
Nicole Duke (Alchemy) snagged the holeshot, trying to redeem herself from a slower finish than she’d hoped for the day prior. She was followed by Rapha-Focus’s Julie Krasniak and Ladies First Elle Anderson. Katerina Nash and Georgia Gould (Luna) both were caught behind a few racers, but within a lap, Nash and Gould had again found their way to the front with Krasniak chasing hard and a string of racers led by Duke, Anderson and Crystal Anthony (CyclocrossWorld) not far behind.

The course offered up technical challenge after technical challenge, as well as a hefty amount of hecklers, including one holding a birthday cake for Nash.

After two laps, Nash had developed a 20 second gap, followed by Gould, who maintained a large gap on Anderson, Krasniak and Duke. The techincal nature of the course caused the women to string out all over the course as tiny mistakes cost valuable seconds not only for the racer making the mistake, but for the women immediately behind her.

However, at the halfway point, Nash had managed to ride a remarkably clean race, and though Gould’s mountain bike expertise was being put tot he test, she couldn’t close the gap. However, Caroline Mani (Raleigh-Clement) charged hard and slotted into third position, ahead of the other Frenchwoman, Krasniak. Behind them, two Optum riders worked with Anderson to keep the two Frenchwomen in their sights.

While Nash extended her lead and Gould held second, Mani powered away from Krasniak, who joined the three chasers as Mani began to work in earnest to reel in Gould. The Optum teammates worked with Anderson to close the gap, showing that the women on the team are taking cyclocross just as seriously as the team takes road. Around the course, intoxicated versions of bellowed “Happy Birthday” songs could be heard as the revelers celebrated Nash’s birthday and race dominance.

Nash led from early on and took her second win of the weekend. © Cyclocross Magazine

With one to go, Nash’s lead held, and Gould’s second place was nearly guaranteed. Mani held a large gap on fourth spot, the placing hers to lose. Meanwhile, Wilcoxson and Miller, the Optum riders, worked hard to shed Anderson, but Anderson hung on tight as Krasniak struggled to maintain contact.

Nash took the win, followed by Gould and Mani. Wilcoxson took fourth, followed by Miller and Anderson, and Krasniak took home seventh, narrowly beating out a hard charging Mical Dyck.

For the overall, without Compton racing the last weekend of the series, Gould was able to take the overall title, leaving Compton in second, followed by with Krasniak in third.

Elite Men
For the second day in a row, Danny Summerhill snagged the holeshot, but today he was followed by Ben Berden (Raleigh Clement) and Geoff Kabush (Scott). Heading into the barriers, Summerhill still led, followed by TIm Johnson (Cannondale-CyclocrossWorld), with Cal-Giant’s Yannick Eckmann  now in the lead group.

Behind them, Ryan Trebon (Cannondale-CyclocrossWorld), Adam Craig (Rabobank) and Zach McDonald (Rapha-Focus) led the chase. Within a lap, Trebon shut the gap down and brought his group up, with additions including Redline’s Justin Lindine, creating a large group off the front in a strung out field.

Johnson attacked 20 minutes in, and established a gap of three seconds heading into some of the courses more technical features. Behind him, Craig led the chase group, which has splintered into two factions, apart by mere seconds. As with the women’s race, the technical features allowed for no mistakes, with technically skilled seasoned riders like Johnson at an advantage.

Johnson maintained his gap, followed by a seven man group led by Summerhill. Behind them, Todd Wells (Specialized) led Cannondale-CyclocrossWorld’s Jamey Driscoll and Rapha-Focus’s Chris Jones.

The gap widened to 25 seconds, with Johnson charging hard. A clean climb by Summerhill up a tricky hill gave him a small separation from the chase group, while Trebon’s bobble cost the rest of the group some time as most were forced to dismount, allowing the group led by Wells to make contact.

The gap widened to a full 30 seconds, and Johnson looked comfortable as he rolled around the course, riding flawlessly. The chase group worked together to attempt to catch Johnson, not yet attacking each other, with 25 minutes left to go in the race. The sun going down and the wind picking up left racers and spectators alike starting to feel the chill settling on the course, but the spectators were undeterred with four laps to go in the last race of the 2012 USGP series.

McDonald dropped out midrace, leaving the lead group with seven men, trying frantically to stay together as the race wound down. However, his place in the lead group was taken by his teammate, Chris Jones. Meanwhile, Cody Kaiser (Cal-Giant) joined the Wells’ group behind the first chasers, and within the lead group, Trebon, Summerhill and Craig were battling it out in the front of the group chasing Johnson.

With a lap and a half to go, Trebon, Summerhill and Craig began to separate from the rest of the chase group, battling between themselves for the final podium spots. However, coming into the final corner of one lap to go, Summerhill’s rear derailleur was broken in a collision with Craig, forcing him off the bike and coasting into the pit, well behind the group he’d been leading for nearly the entire race.

In a move that surprised spectators and most likely, the racers as well, Jones attacked in the chase group, and started leading the charge. However, Trebon and Craig weren’t ready to allow Jones to take over, and Trebon and Craig forced him out of the spot and the two began fighting in earnest for the final two podium positions. Trebon attacked Craig with less than half a lap to go, holding Craig off for second. Craig picked up third, followed by Jones. Behind him, Eckmann nipped Berden in a sprint.

Missed Day 1? Check out our coverage here.

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