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Trebon repeats and Gould sprints

Ryan Trebon (Kona) won for the second consecutive day and Georgia Gould (Luna) sprinted to the win in the Elite Women’s competition to wrap up the first weekend of the 2006 Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross at the Gran Prix of Gloucester presented by SemEquip.

Attack of the killer clones
In a similar start to Saturday’s race, Barry Wicks (Kona), Ryan Trebon (Kona) and Tim Johnson (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com) jumped to an early lead on the rest of the field. Just when it seemed like the three of them would duke it out the entire race Johnson became caught up in course tape before the pits on lap five of nine total and Trebon attacked and remained in the lead for the duration. Johnson hung in and finished second.

In the battle for third, Wicks was eventually caught by McCormack and Mathieu Toulouse (Team Maxxis Cyclocross). Wicks tried to attack but was pulled back. It came down to an all-out sprint with McCormack edging Wicks for third. Trebon leaves Gloucester with the overall lead and will keep the leader’s jersey going in to Colorado. Also, with the win today, Trebon becomes the first to take back-to-back wins in Gloucester since Erwin Vervecken.

National MTB champ has a knack for 'cross too
Three of the top women's cyclo-cross riders explode from the start and also stayed ahead of the field the entire race; Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com), Georgia Gould (Luna) and Wendy Simms (Kona).

Saturday's winner and 2005 USGP champion Bessette rode hard the entire race until Gould outsprinted her for the win. Katerina Nash (Luna) and Kerry Barnholt (Tokyo Joe’s/Gary Fisher) rode together for awhile before Nash dropped Barnholt to finish fourth.

With today’s win and her second placed finish yesterday, Gould takes the overall lead from Bessette headed to the third race of the series in Boulder, Colorado at the end of the month.

Juniors
In what was arguably the most exciting race of the day, the junior race had it all; a lead group of six riders rode the front for most of the day - Jim Lennon (TIAA-CREF/CLIF BAR), Sean Worsech (Rad Racing), Danny Summerhill (TIAA-CREF/CLIF BAR), Alex Coelho (Hot Tubes Development Cycling), Ethan Gilmour (K2 Bike - Okemo - Coyote Hill) and Steve Fisher (Rad Racing NW).

Coelho, Saturday's winner, had two separate issues to overcome during the race; crashing once and having his bars slip. He recovered nicely and ended up in fourth. Eventually Lennon, Worsech and Summerhill separated themselves and would remain ahead until the end where it came down to an incredible sprint with Lennon just edging Worsech for the win. With his first place today and fourth yesterday, Lennon takes the overall USGP lead.

U23
In the U23 race, Jamey Driscoll (FiordiFrutta) take the win and, coupled with his second place finish yesterday, the overall lead. Nick Weighall (Alan Factory Team) finished second, followed by first year USGP participant Chance Noble (California Giant Strawberries/Specialized) and Jesse Anthony (Team Clif Bar).

Masters
Five riders got away early in the Master's category race. Eventually, Richard Feldman (Durance Cycleworks - Lehman Brothers) pulled away from the group and won by about five bike lengths. Will Black (Lone Star Racing) outsprinted yesterday’s winner Roger Aspholm (Westwood Velo) for second. Dale Knapp (Kona) and Gannon Myall (California Giant Strawberries/Specialized) rounded out the top five. Feldman takes the overall lead.

Trebon and Bessette Win on Day one of the Crank Brothers U.S.G.P. of Cyclocross; Selander 3rd in U23

October 7, 2006
Ryan Trebon (Kona) won the Elite Men’s race and Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com) notched yet another win in the Elite Women’s competition on day one of the six-race fall classic that is the 2006 Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross - the premier cyclocross series in the United States. This weekend’s action is taking place on the legendary fields of Stage Fort Park in Gloucester, Mass. at the Gran Prix of Gloucester presented by SemEquip.

It was a balmy day by Gloucester standards with race time temperatures hovering around 60 degrees and the course riding fast and bumpy. And while there was a lack of snow, sleet and rain there certainly wasn’t a lack of great ‘cross action.

ELITE MEN
In the men’s race, pre-race favorites Ryan Trebon (Kona), Barry Wicks (Kona) and Tim Johnson (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com) wasted no time jumping out to an immediate 12 second advantage over the field of 110 riders. The trio would remain ahead the entire race steadily increasing their lead lap after lap. Trebon, Wicks and Johnson worked together most of the race each initiating an occasional attack throughout. With two laps to go the camaraderie ended and the race was on. Wicks attacked and Trebon countered. Johnson chased and caught the Kona teammates. Wicks then dropped and, with just over one lap to go, Trebon made what was the final attack of the day holding on for a eight second win over Johnson.

The race within the race was for fourth place. Adam Craig (Giant), starting in the fourth row, steadily worked his way up to catch the second group of Ben Jacques-Maynes (Cyclocrossworld.com), Mathieu Toulouse (Team Maxxis Cyclocross), Mark McCormack (Team Clif Bar), Jesse Anthony (Team Clif Bar), Andy Jacques-Maynes (California Giant Strawberries/Specialized). Craig eventually attacked and dropped the group to finish just off the podium in fourth.

ELITE WOMEN
In the women’s race, it was Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com) picking up right where she left off in 2005. With a lightning fast start, the returning USGP champion dominated again jumping out to early ten second lead and never looking back. Wendy Simms (Kona) came close to catching Bessette before being caught herself by Luna teammates Georgia Gould who finished second and ‘cross newcomer Katerina Nash who finished third in her first ever cyclocross race. Simms would finish fourth. There was a battle for fifth place between Melissa Thomas (Team Maxxis) and Kerry Barnholt (Tokyo Joe’s/Gary Fisher) with Barnholt eventually besting Thomas.

U-23
In the U-23 race it was Jesse Anthony (Team Clif Bar) netting the win. Anthony used his position in the second group of the Elite men to remain ahead of the other U-23s for the entire race. Rounding out the top five were Jamey Driscoll (FiordiFrutta), Bjorn Selander (Alan Factory Cyclocross Team), Dan Neyens (Hagens-Berman LLP Cycling) and Nick Weighall (Alan Factory Team)

JUNIORS
In the Junior race, Alex Coelho (Hot Tubes Development Cycling) followed the same script as Lyne Bessette, taking the lead immediately and going wire to wire. Coelho didn’t have a serious threat the entire race. The race for second came down to a six man sprint with Jerome Townsend (Alan) edging Sean Worsech (Rad Racing), Jim Lennon (TIAA-CREF/Clif Bar), Steve Fisher (Rad Racing NW), Nick Keough (CL Noonan/Coast to Coast/KAM) and Daniel Estevez (Hot Tubes Development Cycling).

MASTERS
Roger Aspholm (Westwood Velo) took the masters win from a packed field of 125 riders. Aspholm was part of a group that led for most of the race before he pulled away. That lead group consisted of second place finisher Richard Feldman (Durance Cycleworks - Lehman Brothers), Dale Knapp (Kona) who came in third, Chris Peck (Fiordifrutta) fourth place and Will Black (Lone Star Racing) rounding out the top five.

Other Race Notes
The Adidas Aggressive Riders were – Barry Wicks (Elite men), Wendy Simms (Women), Jim Lennon (Juniors) and Dale Knapp (Masters)

The Haitian National Team showed up in Gloucester today ready to ride making this a truly international affair.

The organizers of the USGP raised funds and awareness for the Fast Freddie Foundation (FFF) and local junior cycling teams.

As a part of Clif Bar’s sustainability program, every rider and spectator had the opportunity to purchase a ‘Cool Tag’ enabling them to offset the environmental impact of traveling to the race with the ultimate goal of making the series ‘Climate Neutral.’

For more information on the Crank Brother US Gran Prix of Cyclocross visit www.usgpcyclocross.com.

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