Colorado Cyclocross State Championships: Day1

Report by Eddie Clark

300 plus racers contest first day of Colorado Cyclocross State Championships.

(Dec  4, 2010) LOUISVILLE, Colo.—Colorado cyclocross racers converged on Monarch High School to contest a dry but cool state championship.  Like the Monarch High coyote mascot, the cross racing was wily and fast on a somewhat open and mostly grassy course.  Although it was sunny, temperatures remained in the low 40’s which lent to brisk racing conditions that were conducive to riding all out.

Michael Dessau racing in the Boy’s 15-16 race looked to have his race in the bag until he tripped, but got it back together and soloed away for the win. “I was out front for a while, but tripped on some barriers and lost some time.  I chased back on to Spencer Downing’s wheel and drafted for a while to rest up, and then came around him.  After I got out front I felt comfortable I could hold it because I’ve done some men’s open racers and was used to 60 minutes all out, so 30 minutes wasn’t so hard”, said Dessao of his race highlights.

The largest field of the day was the Men’s 35+ Cat4 race which one hundred racers showed up to contest.  With such a large pack, getting a good start was key to winning the race, as was getting a fast group to work together.  Louisville Cyclery racer Dan Mellish did both and took the win over 99 others.  Mellish recapped, “We were taking turns for a few laps, I felt like we had a little bit of a cushion so I wasn’t too worried going into the finish.  I got a clean start and it made a big difference compared to being five rows back.”

The Men’s 35+ field may not have been the biggest of the day, but it was certainly fastest.  On the first Lap, Tim Faia (Boulder Cycle Sport), Michael Robson (Moots), Ward Baker (Justins Peanut Butter), and J.J. Clark of Wilderness Sports succeeded in immediately gapping the rest of the field by the first of the races two barrier run-ups.  While riding at the front of the lead group, Clark opened up a gap after Ward Baker went down in a gravel corner.  On being the new 35+ state champion, Clark recounted, “It feels good, it was a fun race, and one that everybody focuses on.  It’s just about trying to get a gap and hold it for the win.”

The Women’s Cat 4 race finished with a sprint between 13 year old Ksenia Lepikhina and AMY Gray-Smith of Aurora. On winning the race, Amy noted, “It feels awesome. It was a good fun course that suited powerful riders, and the off camber turns had some loose dirt that made it a little technical.”

The last race of the day was the Men’s 55+, and Boulder racer Gary Thacker (Justins Peanut Butter) rode a clean race which saw him quickly gap the field and held it for 45 minutes for the win.

More results at the ACA.

More photos here.

Ben Hogan took the silver medal in the boys 13-14 race.	Mina Andereberg rode a great race to claim the girls 13-14 chanmpionship.	Gage Hecht runs the barriers on his way to winning the boys 13-14 race.
Cage Bickmore and Liam Dunn sprint it out for 4th place in the boy's 13-14 race.	Michael Dessau leads Spencer Downing on his way to winning the 15-16 race.	Laurel Rathbun won the girls 15-16 race.
100 35+ cat4 men made it through the run-up with no trips or falls.	Dan Mellish rode a tight race and dropped his breakaway companions to win the 35+ cat4 race.	The 35+ men's race leaders run the double barriers.
JJ Clark suprised the field with a solo flyer to take the 35+ win.	Tim Faia mustered up a 4th palce in the 35+ field.	Ward Baker scuffed himself up a bit when he slid out in a gravelly corner.
Amy Gray-Smith leads Ksenia Lepikhina up one last climb during the women's cat4 race.	Amy Gray-Smithwon the sprint for the women's cat4 championship.	Gary Thacker runs the sand pit on his way to the 55+ victory.