Boulder Cup

Report by Eddie Clark

Johnson and Gould take wins at fan packed Boulder Cup.

(Oct 31, 2010) BROOMFIELD, Colo.—The sixth stop of the North American Cyclocross Trophy series was hotly contested at the Victory Circle Graphics Boulder Cup cyclocross race on Halloween Day.  New to this years’ Boulder Cup was an amazing new venue at the highly visible and easily accessible Flatiron Crossing Mall which successfully exposed the excitement of top professional cyclocross racing to the everyday public and weekend shoppers.  In addition to a high profile venue, the Boulder Cup also offered up Colorado Cross Cup points and very valuable UCI C1 points to top national and international racers, which determine call-up positions at race starts.

Numerous fun activities for children, an expansive events expo area, concessions area, and a beer garden were nicely complimented by the pleasant fall weather to attract an estimated 2,000 fans at the highpoint of the day.  Women’s Open race winner Georgia Gould noted, “This is where cyclocross racing needs to be, it’s so great that it’s in such a high profile location and easy access for the non-bike racing public.”  Race promoter Chris Grealish and his DBC Events staff definitely hit it out of the park with this unique location and well run event.

For the bike racers, a maximum effort and complete concentration were required throughout the race course.  A paved drag race start determined who made it through the first corner and onto the tighter grassy sections which featured numerous tight uphill off camber hair-pin turns.  Next was a white knuckle high speed downhill bit that sent racers onto a longer gradual climb before descending through more slippery grassy tight off camber downhill turns.  Held on semi hilly terrain, the feature attraction for fans was the barrier run-up section that took racers through a roaring tunnel of cowbell clanking fans for a 100 meter paved sprint to the finish.

“There were lots of off camber grassy turns. You could see guys on the first lap; they were just throwing it away.  You know every corner somebody was sliding out and going down.  It looks like grass that would hook-up, and instead it’s just like ice” said Men’s Open second place finisher Todd Wells (Specialized).

In the 40 minute Women’s Open race, Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team) and Katie Compton (Planet Bike) both made it to the front of the race in just the first lap, and established a gap that Gould would increase upon throughout the race. Unfortunately like many racers throughout the day, Compton slid out in one of the downhill hairpins, and landed on the same side she scraped up from her previous days Colorado Cross Classic crash.  After taking several seconds to get back on her bike, Compton eventually pulled out on that lap.

Behind Gould, a trio of women including Meredith Miller (Specialized/Giant Berry Farm), Amanda Miller and Nicole Duke both of Hudz/Subaru battled it out for the remaining podium positions.  Amanda Miller seemed to be sealing up second after Meredith Miller also went down in a corner and had to change bikes.  “It was hard and slippery in a few places, I definitely went down a few times and changed bikes, but this is one of those course where you just can’t give up because anything can happen” noted Meredith Miller about overcoming Amanda Miller for second place after Amanda also crashed.  Riding on some solid form and utilizing her downhill mountain biking skills, Nicole Duke claimed the third podium spot for the second time of the weekend.

In a packed Men’s Open race both Danny Summerhill (Garmin/Felt/Slipstream) and Geoff Kabush (Rocky Mountain Bikes) got tangled up in the steel barriers lining the paved section after the first turn, but still amazingly stayed upright.  Summerhill took a good whack to the knee, but was undeterred in going to the front with Todd Wells who was slightly behind an on-fire Jeremy Powers (Cannondale/Cyclocrossword.com).  By the second lap, the trio had a gap, and was bunny hoping and riding the entire barrier run-up section.

“It was awesome and I was definitely enjoying myself on the first laps, especially with all the crowd and cowbells here” noted Summerhill. 

Unfortunately Powers soon flatted on the far side of the course and lost a good bit of time and places riding his flat back to the pits for a wheel change.  By this time, US National CX champion Tim Johnson (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com) had worked his way up to Summerhill and Wells.  Summerhill was next to flat, at the same place as Powers no less, and eventually finished in seventh place.

“I was up there for a while and Tim and Danny were sitting on after the start, and then Tim attacked and I couldn’t follow him.  Towards the end Jamie Driscoll (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com) caught me, and man it was so nice when he attacked and I could sit on his wheel for a while.  It was incredible how much nicer it was, I was thankful for him to come up there.  It’s always hard racing on the second day” said Durango, CO native Todd Wells of his second place finish.

“It was fun and definitely sketchy in the corners, I almost did a 360 in one of them… I got a bad start and had to pick it up slowly to make it back to the front.  I attacked Todd with 4 laps to go, and held it for the win” said a very happy Tim Johnson while wearing a hot pink wig at the awards ceremony.

More results here.

More photos here.

Blue skies ruled the day.	A Men's 35+ racer does a little grass mowing, short-track style.	Mark Legg/Compton took the Men's 35+ victory over Ward Baker.
Katie Compton and Georgia Gould already had a gap going into their second lap.	Georgia spent the rest of the race off the front after Katie crashed out.	The battle of two Millers, Amanda to the left, and Meredith on the right.
Nicole Duke displaying solid technical skills in one of the many difficult corners.	Open Men get off to a roaring start.	More first lap Open Men's madness in tight quarters.
Open Men take to the grass on the first lap.	J Pow was quick to take the lead on the first lap.	Further back and working through the field after a bad start is Tim Johsnon with the #2 bib.
Elder brother and rookie U23 racer Robin Eckman showed some good speed in the first few laps after younger brother Yanick handily won the Junior Men's 17-18 race.	Tod Wells leads Danny Summerhill and Tim Johnson in the middle part of the race.	Hudz/Subaru Rider Jake Wells took his highest ever UCI C1 finish with a hard earned sixth place.
Wells still leading Johsnon with 5 laps to go.	With 2 laps to go, Tim Johsnon is all business and soloing to victory.	Tim Johsnon claims a big victory and the NACT leaders jersey.
Open Women's podium.	Open Men's podium.