Men’s elite podium at Tacchino CX. © Neil Schirmer
by Neil Schirmer
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. – Competitors lined up against themselves and mother nature for a little bit of fun in the mud at Tacchino CX on Sunday, October 13th.
Squadra Coppi prepared the course for their annual cyclocross race at Rosaryville State Park with an unusual amount of rain in the days leading up to the event. What resulted was a day for the “mudders” where bike handling was paramount on a slippery, muddy, and technical track.
Most races split up rather early on and large time gaps were seen in many of the contests. In the single-speed race, the leader in the Verge Sport jersey competition, Sean O’Donnell (Crosshairs/Spy/Bike Dr. Waldorf) broke his chain early in the first lap, opening the door for race winner Jared Nieters (SEAVS/Haymarket p/b Soigneur).
With yet another consistent performance among the single-speeders, Jonathan Seibold (Family Bike Shop/DCMTB/Staples Corner Liquors) rode his way to sixth place, giving him enough series points to become the new Verge Sport jersey competition leader.
In other highlights, George Schulz (HPC U19) rode away from the field in the Boys U19 race, and teammate Luke Klaussen took the victory in the Men’s Cat 3/4 contest. Jerzy Wozniak (Winchester Wheelmen) kept his Verge Sport jersey in the Men’s 35+ competition with another win at Tacchino and Cheryl Sornson (Team CF) took the first of two victories in the Women’s 45+ race.
In the featured elite races, it was Sornson taking her second win of the day over series leader Allyson Tufano (Sportif Coaching Group/Western Howard County Cycling) with Julie Hunter (PHAUP ST. JOURNAL) in third.
Wes Schempf (SEAVS/Haymarket p/b Soigneur) motoring toward the win of the men’s elite race. © Neil Schirmer
The men’s elite race was again dominated by SEAVS/Haymarket p/b Soigneur. Wes Schempf put on a clinic by establishing a large gap on the first lap, finishing in dominant fashion almost three minutes clear of teammates Jake Sitler and Jared Nieters who held the rest of the field at bay, riding across the line together in second and third, respectively.
Next up in the Bikereg.com Super 8 series is race #4, DCCX in Washington D.C. The government shutdown has ended and the race is on!
