Southern Californians Take to Wine Country for SoCal Prestige Series Race 7

Trina Baumsteiger was the best on the day © MRock

by Dave Sheek

Solvang, CA – Southern California (SoCal) cyclocross hit the vine ripening fields of Kalyra Winery this week for race six of the series. The weather again brought fantastic ’cross conditions as the overnight rains left the fields a little wet, but mostly tacky and thankfully softer for some bumpy power sections. The course was characterized by big climbs and fast descents that challenged the riders.

Elite Women:

It was Trina Baumsteiger (Team Rambuski Law) who lead the race from the start down the first bumpy descent. This was until the course split into two lanes of vines for racers to choose from. Amanda Schaper (SDG Factory) took advantage of the two different lanes leading for the half of the first lap. On the long climb Baumsteiger came back to the front and it went back and forth between her, Schaper and the Ryan sisters, Kendal and Alexis (Team SoCal Cross). Then on the second lap Baumsteiger gapped off the group to take the lead and continued on her quest for victory until the end. The race for second was on, and Alexis Ryan jumped on the third lap to open a lead on Schaper. Kendal Ryan unfortunately hurt her wrist through the bumpy sections and had to pull out. In the end Baumsteiger’s power proved to be what it took for the win, Alexis Ryan finished second, Amanda Schaper came in third followed by Dorothy Wong (Team SoCal Cross) in fourth.

Elite Men:

Series leader Sid Taberlay (Sho-Air) took the lead out of the first turn and down the rough straight before the group launched into the fields of vines. Everyone held together pretty well until the top of the first big climb of the first lap. Then a small group of six broke off the front as Jason Sielge (Bike Religion) attacked on the top and led through the second lap. On the third lap Gary Douville (Platinum) surged to take the lead. But, once through the start/finish Taberlay attacked, quickly gaining a gap. Mark Noble (Franco) chased but couldn’t stay on Taberlay’s wheel, and this is how the remainder of the race played out. Taberlay was able to maintain a gap until the finish. Noble rode in for second with a nice gap of his own. The race from there was for third. John Bailey (Bailey Bikes) was looking strong again, but the mechanicals were not in his favor for the second week in a row; a rolled tire and other problems slowed him, allowing Siegle and Anton Petrov (SDG Factory) to pass. After a bike swap, Bailey rode back into the race. Siegle still had enough of a gap to grab third. Bailey passed Petrov for an exciting finish at the line to take fourth, leaving Petrov to round out the top five.

It was a good day for racing and better if old enough to partake in some grape tasting after the event. Race seven is down and the series moves to San Diego, CA, Sunday for Celo Pacific’s annual Storm the Beach Race.

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Full Results

Elite Men

Elite Women