Winfield and Dombroski Spank Both the Elite Fields and the Turkey at Tacchino Ciclocross – Updated: Photo Gallery

Deidre Winfield solos to victory at the Tacchino CX. © Tom Olesnevich

by Peter Nicoll

November 8, 2009; Rosaryville State Park, Upper Marlboro, MD, USA: More often than not, defeat is snatched from the jaws of victory in the closing minutes of a cyclocross race. A bobbled line, a failed remount, or a spectacular crash can ruin a perfectly executed race that had all the elements of a win or personal best. At no point in time did this seem to occur within the races or with the event itself.

Team Squadra Coppi changed venues this year for the Tacchino Ciclocross and was rewarded with the most successful event to date complete with a beautiful day, awesome food, beer, music, spectator turnout and super deep racing fields. The result of some gargantuan efforts of race planning and execution, the event was rewarded with incredible turn out of both racers and spectators enjoying the scene. But then again, with excellent food from Pineapple Valley catering, delicious beer from Ommegang and some serious funk from the power trio “Gallons to Ounces,” how could people not have a good time? Rosaryville is a state day-use park that sits on 892 acres in Upper Marlboro, MD, where both the mountain bikers of MORE (Mid Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts) and equestrian groups get along in a joint venture of trail maintenance and turf repair that yields good riding no mater your choice of conveyance, be it two wheeled or equine. The result is a perfect stage with which to set a ‘cross race. As the sun rose and warmed the fields of Rosaryville Park, strains of Strauss melted over the grass with riders criss-crossing the freshly taped course in an operatic display of movement and spectacle that can only be defined as early morning at a ‘cross race.

And then, just like that, it was on.  The enormous field of cat. 4 riders swarmed the course in what became a million man slide as nearly every racer struggled to keep the knobby side down in the wet, grassy corners around the grand pavilion. The first Sausage Prime from the Suitcase of Sausage was awarded later in the race when a rider crashed into the barriers.  From then on the sausage flowed from the case into the waiting hands of racers all day long. The racing, the beer and the sausage flowed for the rest of the day with tents lining the course protecting trainers, racers and race supporters from bright November sunshine. Sausage was won for various reasons: anything from best flair to “slapping the turkey” or “slapping the sausage.” With each sausage prime, each field got faster until it was time for the women’s elite field to take the stage.

Jennifer Maxwell in second. © Tom Olesnevich

The women’s elite field of 17 riders took the start in the typical fashion that had occurred all day with a fast road start and a tight group staying together until the second lap.  Then things started to pull apart with some fast racers taking off with Dee Dee Winfield (C3/Athletes Serving Athletes) at the head of the parade.  Arley Kemmerer(Hub Racing) had made the initial break with Dee Dee but went down and was unable to finish, leaving Dee Dee all alone out in front. Jen Maxwell (ATAC Sportwear), Katrina Dowdichuk (Deep Blue), Julie Kuliecza (Alan North America), Lenore Pipes (C3/Athletes Serving Athletes), Laura Hanlon and Elizabeth Harlow (C3/Athletes Serving Athletes) kept things a little closer and fought together in smaller pockets of racers that were all business for the duration of the race, having no interest in sausage hand ups. Dee Dee being out in front had time to win not one, but two different sausage primes with the “slap the sausage” technique all the while riding off to the win in commanding style.

By now the warm sun had passed its zenith and was on the way toward the western horizon when the elite men lined up. The field of 27 got up and got down with easily some of the fastest opening laps. The crowd was still full and the spectators pretty rowdy for the late day race, which bode well for the venue and the racers. The top 10 stayed in contact for many of the opening laps, allowing riders to trade places at the front as they took turns on the faster road sections.  Every time the group came though there was a new dude at the front trying to get away. It wasn’t until later in the race with just 3 laps to go when Joe Dombrowksi (Haymarket Bicycles/ Home Visit) fired off the front leaving the rest to sort themselves out.  Stephen Cummings (Indiana Regional Medical Center) and Jared Nieters (Haymarket Bicycles/Home Visit) sprinted to the line to sort out second and third. The Suitcase of Sausage sat dormant for the entire elite race.  Apparently elite racers are all vegetarians or don’t have time to snag a sausage in the heat of battle.  Or maybe they’re concerned about body fat? Either way, no more sausage for you guys, its going to the other fields from now on.

Joe Dombrowski on his way to the Men's Elite win. © Tom Olesnevich

One group who will be taking the sausage is Adventures for the Cure. After lengthy deliberations in which the Suitcase of Sausage smoked several Gauloises and nervously picked at some frites, the Suitcase signed an additional deal to help out with charitable activities throughout the year, including a ‘cross race being put on by AFC next September. Jim McNeely, sausage scout was overhead saying, “The suitcase just went and got itself moral.” Still no word on whether Adventures for the Cure will co-brand into a new entity with the Suitcase, calling themselves Adventures for the Curing of Meats. We are sure, however, that the Suitcase will return to the Tacchino next year.

It’s often hard to gauge a successful race and there are many ways to measure an event. Perhaps its best to take it in snap shots – the men’s elite crowd still happily sunbathing as the dudes of the 1-2-3 refuse to take sausage from the announcer, selling more beer at a one day cross event than a two day Oktoberfest last year, a sweaty, crazed turkey chasing people over the barriers or nearly 500 people all smiling at once.

This coming Sunday, November 15, the BikeReg.com MABRAcross Series heads to the historic Frank Ix and Sons campus the fourth annual Urban Cross at Ix in Charlottesville Virginia. For more information, see BikeReg.com.

Photo Gallery:

Elite Men Results

Elite Women Results