Cyclo CX #1

Race report by Shawn Lortie

Longmont, Colo.-Anyone driving up from the south to Sunday’s race in Longmont was in for an unpleasant surprise. The temperature was at least 20 degrees colder at the race venue than anywhere to the south. A dark and ominous cloudbank drifted back and forth across the venue, with a cold biting wind to spice things up.  

The folks at Without Limits Productions laid out a brand new course at the Union Reservoir in Longmont. After a long and straight drag race start, the course left the pavement and headed across some bumpy grass with a couple of swooping turns that led into a huge off camber dip.

From there it was a few more high speed turns into a couple of 180 degree turns that took racers through the finish line and onto a long stretch of sand with a double barrier at the end. From there, some loose turns across gravel parking lots and another double barrier section led to a loop around a BMX track complete with huge banked turns and a short pump section. 

In the Women’s Open race it was once again Nicole Duke (Hudz/Subaru) off the front from the start. By the time the women hit the sand for the first time through, Duke had a small gap, and just continued to build on that throughout the race.  Margell Abel (Tough Girls), put in a valiant effort chasing Duke, but had no one to work with and the wind against her.  Abel ended up finishing second behind Duke, with Janice Wilson (Get Some) taking third for the day.

In the Men’s Open race, Allen Krughoff (Boulder/Cycle Sport), fresh off his win in Saturday’s race in Centennial, took the hole shot. Close behind were Jonathan Baker (Hudz/Subaru), Tim Allen (Feedback Sports), Ward Baker (Justins), and Matt Pacocha (Hudz/Subaru). Within a few laps, Jonathan Baker and Pacocha had formed a Hudz/Subaru alliance at the front of the field, and appeared to be getting away.

Soon it was Pete Webber (Boulder Cycle Sport) and Allen Krughoff forming the two man chase group.  The gap between the leaders and the chase seemed to stay the same for quite a few laps. As the Krughoff and Webber gained on the two Hudz/Subaru riders, Pacocha could hold out no longer and left his teammate Baker to fend for himself.  Eventually Baker faded to 5^th as Krughoff, Webber, and Brandon Dwight (Boulder Cycle Sport) slipped by. In the end it was Pacocha, Krughoff and Webber in that order.

Jeff Hall and Tom Hayles battle for lead on the first lap of the 45+ Men.	Gary Thacker railing through the leaves in the 45+ race.	Karen Hogan floating the deep sand in the Women's Open.
The sand pit was deep!	Krystal Boni hammering across the beach in the Women's Open.	Alan Krughoff leads the Men's Open field across the beach.
Pete Webber in attack mode.	Jonathan Baker and Alan Krughoff grind it up.	Tim Allen dropping into the big dip in the Men's Open race.
Matt Pacocha follows Jonathan Baker over the double barriers coming off the beach.	Chuck Coyle in high speed pursuit.