Petrov Takes Junior 15-16 Win at the 2014 National Cyclocross Championships – Report, Gallery, Full Results

Spencer Petrov takes the win in the 15-16 race. © Brian Nelson

The course at Cyclocross Nationals in Boulder have officially turned tacky as the Mens 15-16 race just finished.  The racers at the lead of the pack looked almost effortless holding their lines through the sections that haunted riders earlier today.

The Men’s 15-16 race included epic battles for first and third place, with Spencer Petrov (Bob’s Red Mill) taking the win, Gage Hecht (Team Specialized Racing) getting second, and Jordan Lewis (Asheville Racing Bicycle Club) finding third.  The race began with Petrov and Lewis starting strong, creating a two second gap over the rest of the field with powerful sprints.  The followed each other, side by side through the gauntlet of turns on the first lap, forcing each other to take the high and low lines they might not have initially prepared for.

Midway through the race, Petrov put forward a strong effort to send himself in the lead by well over ten seconds.  Meanwhile, the Colorado local, Hecht, managed to invent space on a tight, windy course, passing Lewis for second.  Cameron Beard (Hutch’s/CoMotion/Specialized) was also able to pass Lewis, although the two would find themselves battling for third during the remainder of the race.

On the final lap, Petrov looked over his shoulder a final time before the off-camber sections, only to find Hecht closing in.  By the time he had leaped up the final step to the Belgian staircase, Hecht was already a few steps up.  Petrov gave one final effort on the back section of the course to separate himself once again, this time for good.

Lewis found his grove and began riding with amazing confidence.  He took some of the downhills more aggressively than any racer so far today, taking the riskiest lines with a pose reserved for European Pros.  He remained five seconds back on Beard until the final section.  Beard, seemingly having some problems with his pedals during the race, relinquished his third place finish to Lewis at the final stretch.

Results below gallery.

Petrov Takes Junior 15-16 Win at the 2014 National Cyclocross Championships

.

Junior Men 15-16 Results - USA Cycling National Championships of Cyclocross 2014

For all the best Cyclocross Nationals 2014 coverage, including bike profiles, race reports, results and video interviews, check out our 2014 Cyclocross National Championship Page here.