Nittany Lion, Day 2: The Mud has Arrived, Van Gilder and Hyde Win

Written by Andrew Reimann, Men’s Elite Race by Michelle Lee

Sunday at the Nittany Lion UCI race felt more like cyclocross, with temperatures falling 15 degrees from Day One’s scorching heat. The overnight rain created a deep bog of mud on the course near the velodrome, but is also turned the loose dirt of yesterday’s wooded section into tacky curves that gripped tires.

The only other major differences during Day 2 were that the course traveled in reverse and an additional wooded section with a log barrier was added. Jacob Lasley, winner of Nittany Lion Day One, told us he was mechanically prepared for mud, but mentally, he would have preferred another grass crit.

Women’s Elite Race, Nittany Day 2

Despite the softer conditions, a larger pack stayed at the front for a little longer today. By the time the riders were over a lap in, however, the same four elite riders as yesterday: Arley Kimmerer (PB2 Pro Cycling), Laura Van Gilder (Van Dessel p/b Mellow Mushroom), Ellen Noble (JAM Fund / NCC), and Gabby Durrin (Neon Velo Cycling). emerged after lap one. Kimmerer looked strong early, creating a small gap, but crashed and fell back to 12th with four to go.

Durrin, Noble, and Van Gilder traded places on the front. In the added section of the day, Ellen Noble was the only one of the three leaders who rode the log at each lap, with Durrin and Van Gilder electing to dismount. After the race, Noble told me, “I was able to carry my tires over it until the last lap. My rear tire hit the log and it cost me a good two seconds.”

Gabby crashed in the only muddy section of the race, effectively taking her out of competition for first.

Van Gilder going elbow-to-elbow with Noble to take the 2014 Nittany Lion Cyclocross Day 2 win. © Cyclocross Magazine

Van Gilder and Noble stuck with each other to the finish. Once again, Van Gilder positioned herself perfectly for the sprint, but this time she remained extra focused over the last few turns, and powered to the finish line as the clear victor. According to Noble, the day 1 finish was a lot closer. Van Gilder is a world-class sprinter, and made sure she didn’t give this victory away after her Day 1, last-corner crash while in the lead.

L to R: Ellen Noble, Laura Van Gilder, Gabby Durrin. 2014 Nittany Lion Cyclocross Day 2. © Cyclocross Magazine

 Men’s Elite Race, Nittany Lion Day 2

Unlike yesterday, the large pack of men were much more quickly shredded than the large group that seemed to linger on during Day One. Jacob Lasley (Team Soundpony), yesterday’s winner, crashed early in the race, losing his saddle somewhere in the course. He crossed the lap line with six to go, riding towards the pit, obviously standing and looking fatigued.

Dan Timmerman (HOUSE INDUSTRIES/SIMPLEHUMAN/RICHARD SACHS) and Stephen Hyde (JAM Fund / NCC) worked at the front for much of the race, with Jeremy Durrin (Neon Velo Cycling) and Curtis White (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) staying third and fourth wheel. Lukas Winterburg (MG-Cycling Team), second place finisher of the day before, held onto the back of the group for much of the race until he was dropped.

Hyde opened a slight gap as the men came through start finish with five to go, and began cementing his lead position against the rest of the group, with only White able to stay in contention. White would press on for the last half of the race, bringing the gap down to nine seconds with one lap to go, but in the end, it would not be enough. Meanwhile, Timmerman did much of the heavy lifting as he led in the chase behind. He was on the verge of making contact with White when his rear tubular rolled, leaving him to run to the pits. White sailed safely home for second while Jeremy Durrin took third.

2014 Nittany Lion Cyclocross Day 2 - Men's Results

2014 Nittany Lion Cyclocross Day 2 - Women's Results