Wellens, Nash Shine at Sun Prairie USGP Day Two

On Day 1, Elite men raced up the "Hillside Strangler." Day 2, Wellons managed to outrace Trebon for the win. © Aaron Johnson

Today at the Planet Bike USGP, Katerina Nash was again victorious, and Bart Wellens demonstrated that he, too, had winning power on this muddy, wet course. This morning, TheRoadDiaries warned of dire weather, saying, “weather getting worse by the minute here in Sun Praire, rain is heavy, winds picking up, thunder all around.” Photo ops were few and far between as spectators and racers alike battled the elements, and while some racers made their way onto the podium both days, there were certainly a few surprises in the mix, including a second place by Jonathan Page.

Nash has been on a winning streak for the season so far, and Luna teammate Georgia Gould has been close behind. In today’s race, Gould finished nearly a minute back from her teammate. After her impressive day one finish, Gould had tweeted, “Second behind Katerina in the first USGP today. Awesome hecklers on the run-up! Looking forward to tomorrow.” The one-two punch of the Luna ladies is going to be an interesting challenge for other top female racers this season. Nicole Duke took third place, with one of cyclocross’s best loved ladies, Mo Bruno Roy, snatching up fourth place.

The elite men get ready to roll out at the start of Sun Prairie. © Aaron Johnson

While Trebon bested Wellens on Day 1 of the first USGP of the season,Wellens was back on day two to prove that he could take the win — and the early season UCI points that go with it. Wellens wasn’t the only Belgian out to impress on the course today, and teammate Rob Peeters took the hole shot to start the race. However, while Peeters finished in an impressive fourth place, it was a mud-covered Wellens who finished the race solo, after breaking away on a solo attack. Jonathan Page and Ryan Trebon chased, but to no avail, and Page ultimately went on to beat Trebon by ten seconds. Trebon said afterward, “That was a muddy slimy race today. The bikes and tires were working great, Wellens was just too fast. Fun to relearn racing in the mud.”

Christian Heule snatched up fifth place, and Jamey Driscoll, one of the few US racers to break into the top 10, finished sixth. Noticeably absent from the results was Tim Johnson, who, as he said, “fell down and went boom” early in the race.. After hitting a slippery rock on a downhill, Johnson’s race was finished for the day.

The men struggle up the "hillside strangler" later on in the race, some carrying, some merely pushing their bikes. © Aaron Johnson

Full Results:

Elite Men & U23 Results, 2011 Planet Bike Cup Day 2

Elite Women Results, 2011 Planet Bike Cup Day 2