The sand proved too move for this Counterbalance Bicycles racer who went over the bars © Karen Johanson
by Kenton Berg
Cool fall-like temperatures and fresh coffee greeted racers at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance/Starbucks GP as the third race of the MFG Cyclocross series got underway at Five Mile Lake Park in Federal Way, WA.
While racing was a big part of the day for most attendees, it couldn’t completely overshadow the theme associated with the SCCA/Starbucks partnership. As a part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, proceeds from the day’s race will go towards treatment and care for breast cancer patients of SCCA. Throughout the event there were cancer awareness themes, literature, course-specific highlights, and even a category of racing for cancer survivors. With record numbers of racers having pre-registered for the event and huge crowds on hand, the benefit to the SCCA should be fantastic.
On the racing end of things, after a week off of racing Kristi Berg (CycleU) put her skills on display as she took advantage of favorable course conditions and some power sections to eventually distance herself from Jessica Cutler (Cucina Fresca) and Jenni Gaertner (Riverstone Racing) in the Women’s Elite race.
One of the Rad Racing Juniors tackles the run-up at the SCCA Starbucks GP © Karen Johanson
The Men’s Elite race saw Salomon Woras (Methow Cycle & Sport), Phil Grove (Hammer), and Kyle McGilvary (Old Town Racing) move to the front early and establish a solid gap. This group looked solid and in charge until McGilvary crashed out in the sand ending his day. Woras would eventually shake Grove on the last lap and Galen Erickson (Keller-Rohrback) would hold his gap on Toby Swanson (BRI) to claim the final podium spot.
The next stop on the MFG Cyclocross schedule is the SSCXWC and Raceway CX event spanning the weekend of October 23-24. Check out all the info at www.mfgcylcross.com and http://sscxwc.org/
Photo Gallery by Karen Johanson:
