Steven Springhorn (Team Revolutions) assumes the series lead after finshing third. © Tim Westmore
Condon Park, Grass Valley — The Sacramento Cyclocross Series took place in Grass Valley with some notable racers: National Masters champions Linda and John Elgart as well as U23 2011 World Championship competitor Cody Kaiser. Two distinct areas made up the cyclocross course at Condon Park. The wooded area had compacted trails and was very technical. The “pond section” started with a fast downhill out of the wooded section followed by wide turns before the plank barriers. Conditions were fast for this year’s dry event.
Cody Kaiser (California Giant Berry Farms), making his first appearance in the series, enjoyed the Mens Category A race on his way to the win. Kaiser’s margin of victory was over 2 minutes. “It is always fun to race the local scene, see everybody I know, and enjoy it,” said Kaiser, “[I] got off the front from the start and kept the motor rolling. This course is awesome. [You] work your way up to the top of the hill and [then] it’s all fun sweeping descent all the way down.” The Sacramento Series will look forward to seeing Kaiser again at their Lange Twins event on December 3, 2011.
Second place in the Mens race was contested between Steven Springhorn (Team Revolutions), Matt Obregon (Team Bicycles Plus/Sierra Nevada), and Robert Braun (Alta Alpina Cycling). Springhorn had a big early advantage. However, Braun gradually made up ground from fifth, on the first lap, to take second place. Springhorn secured the third spot, and the series lead, with Obregon in fourth and Bruno Pitton (Davis Wheelworks) in fifth.
On the women’s side of the event, a two-racer Women’s A field was handily won by Marja-Liisa Magnuson (Kinetic Cycles). Stace Cooper (The Bicycle Business) was second and now assumes the series lead. “[The race] was hard,” said Magnuson, “I raced as hard as I could without throwing up.”
The winner of the Women Category A35+ was Lauren Liden (Michael David Winery Cycling Team/Delta Velo). Liden battled with series leader Joan Gregg (ProTek Abruzzo), exchanging positions throughout the race. Asked about how she managed to best Gregg, Liden replied “First [Gregg] passed me on the back stretch then I managed to pass her right before we hit the barriers. I thought she would catch me [so] I just pedalled like crazy.” About her race, Liden said, “It was awesome. This is a really fun course, really technical, and I had a great time.” Gregg came home in second place and Linda Elgart (Webcor/Alto Velo) was third.
Full race results, from TimeYourRace.com, are available at here. The next Sacramento Cyclocross event is a Lembi Park in Folsom on 5 November 2011.
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