Katerina Nash Doubles Down, Lance Haidet Exacts Revenge at WSCXGP Day 2

Sunday featured more fast and furious racing at the West Sacramento Cyclocross Grand Prix with wind adding to the difficulty of the course at River Walk Park in West Sacramento, Calif. Day 1 winner Katerina Nash (CLIF Pro Team) dominated the Elite Women’s race to claim back-to-back victories. Reigning U.S. U23 Cyclocross National Champion Lance Haidet got revenge after a close second on Saturday to earn his first Elite win in the Men’s race.

The Women Reenact Day 1

The wind added an extra challenge for the racers on the three-kilometer track on River Walk Park. Tired legs and headwinds quickly split up the 34-rider field leaving five in the lead group by the end of the second lap. Nash, Courtenay McFadden (American Classic/Zones), Amanda Nauman (SDG – Muscle Monster), Samantha Runnels (Squid Bikes) and Clara Honsinger (Team S&M CX).

Elite women are off for WSCXGP Day 2. photo: Peloton Sports

“It was a super windy today so it’s nice to have a little bigger group going for the first part of the race,” said Nash who waited to put in a blistering attack in the final laps. “I guess the goal is trying not to get away and have four people working together (to chase). Luckily that didn’t happen and everybody was fighting the wind by themselves for the last few laps so it stayed consistent. It was fun and it was a really good weekend of racing.”

With less than two laps to go in the six-lap race, Nash accelerated away with only McFadden staying on her wheel. By the bell lap, Nash was flying solo on her way to capturing back-to-back victories.

Nash, who resides in Truckee, Calif. was happy to see the success of the inaugural UCI races this weekend. “We have so much racing in Northern California and it’s really awesome that these guys decided to step it up,” she said.

2017 WSCXGP Day 2. photo: Peloton Sports

Nash also commented on the significance of the first UCI race in Northern California in over a decade. “On top of the good, good racing, it’s very meaningful when we can come and get UCI points that we’re trying to collect for the start position,” she remarked. “And it’s not just the Elite, it’s a lot of the amateur racers that are gunning for Reno [Nationals] and they need a good start position. This is a super important step and I’m psyched that Sacramento did it.”

The West Coast racers took advantage of the closer-to-home UCI races and dominated the podium, with Washington-based McFadden holing on for second place, and Southern-California-based Nauman taking third.

Elite women podium: 1- Katerina Nash, 2-Courtenay McFadden, 3-Amanda Nauman, 4- Samantha Runnels and 5-Clara Honsinger. WSCXGP Day 2. photo: Peloton Sports

Instrumental in the creation of the West Sacramento Cyclocross Grand Prix, Emily Kachorek (Squid Bikes) was all smiles at the weekend of racing. “This is awesome,” she said. “This is the first time ever that I’ve slept in my own bed for a UCI race. Having so many of the UCI women’s field that I get to race with across the country being here on my home turf, getting to invite them here, showing them where to go eat, it’s really special.”

Kachorek, who finished eighth on Sunday, added, “The fact that the numbers were about what they were over at KMC Cross Fest, I think really shows that this is needed on the West Coast.”

As Nash alluded to, the WSCXGP racing represented a rare opportunity for West Cost age group racers to earn valuable ranking points for better start positions at Nationals. Karen Brems, former time trial World Champ and Masters Cyclocross World Champ took advantage, finishing 18th on Saturday and 28th on Sunday.

Haidet Aces Sunday School

On Saturday, Haidet took notes after his narrow defeat to Anthony Clark (Squid Bikes), and made sure to study them before his next test.

On Sunday, he put the homework to good use and aced his final exam.

“I wasn’t going to lose the sprint today,” Haidet explained.”“I think yesterday coming out of the last corner, I was in a bit too big of a gear but I thought leading it out was a good call. Today I came in in a big easier gear, was able to spin it up and get the initial jump. It was a bit of a cross tailwind so once you got your speed up, you can keep it up there. It worked out.”

The Elite Men’s leaders. 2017 WSCXGP Day 2. photo: Peloton Sports

By the end of the second lap, a lead group of five riders emerged from the 54-rider field. Joining Haidet in the front group were Saturday’s winner Clark, Allen Krughoff (Krughoff Racing), Cody Kaiser (LangeTwins/Specialized) and Carl Decker (Giant Factory Off Road).

Lead group bunny hops the barriers in front of the beer garden. WSCXGP Day 2. photo: Peloton Sports

The wind also played a factor in the men’s race, forcing the riders to make tactical decisions. “The pedaling sections are so short, it’s really hard to break up the race and then you add the wind on top of that. My goal today was to not make many mistakes,” explained Krughoff, who bobbled out of the lead group on Saturday. “Anthony is really strong, pedaling corners slower so for him it’s really advantageous to be the front, setting the pace so then he could control the speed in the corners. It’s actually a lot of work behind him because out of every corner you have to sprint to catch up to him. Catch 22 if you want to be behind Anthony and surge in the corners and get a draft or not.”

The five continued to ride together with Clark doing the majority of the pacemaking. With two laps to go in the nine-lap race, Haidet made his first attack, shedding Kaiser and Decker out of the front group. He made his second move on the final lap but a small bobble brought the trio back together for the sprint to the line.

Lance Haidet accelerates through the sand. 2017 WSCXGP Day 2. photo: Peloton Sports

“Lance led out the sprint, that’s the closest sprint for the longest time that I’ve ever had. Neck and neck and I was just watching it. I put in my best bike throw but I think he nipped me by a few inches,” said Krughoff with a laugh.

Elite men podium: 1-Lance Haidet, 2-Allen Krighoff, 3-Anthony Clark, 4-Cody Kaiser, 5- Eric Decker. photo: Peloton Sports

“I’ve been on the [Elite] podium twice including yesterday so it feels really good to break through and get that win,” said Haidet of his first Elite victory.

The ageless 52-year-old Don Myrah, a four-time Elite Cyclocross national champion and Cyclocross Masters world champion raced both days in the UCI Elite Men’s field, and finished on the lead lap in 21st on Saturday and Sunday.

Full results below. Andrew Yee contributed to this report.

ProCX continues Oct. 7-8 with C1 and C2 events at Charm City Cross in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the 13th year cyclocross races have been held at Druid Hill Park, and the eighth year for UCI events for women and men. The UCI events will be part of the SHO-AIR US CUP-CX series.

2017 West Sacramento Cyclocross Grand Prix - WSCXGP Day 2 - Elite Women's Results

2017 West Sacramento Cyclocross Grand Prix - WSCXGP Day 2 - Elite Men's Results