Powers Fights For the Holeshot, Mani Battles for Win at Full Moon Vista Cyclocross Day One: Updated, Full Results

Mani Gets the Win at Full Moon Vista’s First-Ever UCI C1 Race

Meredith Miller had an impressive ride, bridging up from the chase group to eventually get second behind Mani. © Andrew Reimann

If there’s one thing many riders coming to the Full Moon Vista cyclocross race at Ellison Park, it’s this: Rochester is home to one of the most grueling courses in the United States. In years prior, the race already presented plenty of climbs and elevation changes. For 2014, the course came with the additions of an additional run-up and staircase that forced the majority of riders to dismount.

Courtenay McFadden and Caroline Mani battled throughout most of the race, with Mani finding the late effort for the win. © Andrew Reimann

The Women’s Elite Race had Gabby Durrin take yet another holeshot during the 2014/5 season, although it would be Courtenay McFadden who would create the first gap of the day. In the first lap, Emma White had a brutal race-ending crash and Arley Kemmerer, already feeling sick, pulled out of the race.

Kemmerer told Cyclocross Magazine that she felt under the weather on her trainer warming up before the race, and although she had a fine start, the first large run-up, which wasn’t included in the amateur races, was enough to tell her to rest. She opted out of Sunday’s race, recovering for her trip to Europe next week.

Caroline Mani suits up, and has been riding without any seeming ill-effects of a broken wrist. © Andrew Reimann

Durrin and Meredith Miller battled each other for most of the race, while Caroline Mani was able to work her way up to McFadden, eventually passing her as she dug into the climbs on almost every lap. By the fifth lap, Miller looked to be putting in the hardest effort, leaving Durrin behind and catching the two leaders in the short climb before the pit.

“It was a race of attrition,” Miller recalled after the race. “Courtenay started out really strong and the hills started to take their toll on her, but Caroline came out from the back and just blew by everybody.”

Mani’s small gap grew soon after, and she was able to finish with time to spare. Miller turned the final corner to the finish line before McFadden, and was able to take second.

“I’d say the race played out great since I won,” Mani told Cyclocross Magazine, “I like to stress my manager out so I like to start really far away and try and pass people one by one… I put in most of my efforts on the climbs, and try to recover as much as I could going down.”

When we asked her about managing races with her cast, she replied: “Yea, I’m really scared of crashing and breaking more bones. Sprinting is really hard, so I have to fight through the pain, but with the adrenaline and everything, it helps and it’s healing.”

“It could be worse,” she continued. “I could be home on the couch and watching the race.”

Powers Storms Off the Start for Another Win

Jokes and Stares: the men showed different start line posture at Full Moon Vista. © Andrew Reimann

Jeremy Powers decided to play out a new strategy on Saturday’s C1 race in Ellison Park at Rochester. Instead of his customary start, where he waited sixth to tenth in the lineup as the first lap or two played out, he fired off right after the whistle, taking the holeshot.

Zach McDonald, Lukas Winterberg and Danny Summerhill were all able to keep pace for the early laps in the race.

Jeremy Powers grabbed the holeshot with Danny Summerhill close behind on early laps. © Andrew Reimann

When Jeremy Powers began to break away, Cameron Dodge eventually took up the task to chasing him down, also creating separation between himself and the other riders, which also included Dan Timmerman, Stephen Hyde, Jamey Driscoll, and Anthony Clark.

Danny Summerhill had an amazing last lap to overtake Cameron Dodge for second. © Andrew Reimann

As Powers continued to press his advantage, Danny Summerhill also seemed to find new strength in the final laps. He put in a massive effort, leaving Driscoll and Clark behind as he began making gains into Dodge’s six second advantage. While Powers crossed the line in first place, Summerhill was able to connect and surpass Dodge in the last half of the course. The two were within sight of each other all the way to the finish, but it was Summerhill who would take second.

“My back was killing me the first 55 minutes in the race,” Summerhill told Cyclocross Magazine. “Last year I got in a car accident. By the end of the race, it felt much better.” He put in a supreme effort, notching one of the fastest single lap times of the day.

The Women’s Elite podium saw Caroline Mani in first, Meredith Miller in second, and Courtney McFadden in third. © Andrew Reimann

Jeremy Powers won the Men’s Elite Race from the whistle, with Danny Summerhill taking second and Cameron Dodge in third. © Andrew Reimann

Full Moon Vista Day One Women's Elite Race

Full Moon Vista Day One Men's Elite Race