On the Cross Cyclocross Race

Race report by Shawn Lortie

DENVER, CO -Another day of beautiful fall weather greeted CX racers who rolled into Denver for Saturdays race at Thomas Jefferson High School. The folks from the International Christian Cycling Club, laid out a fun and challenging course on the mostly flat school grounds. Plenty of grass, a stair step run-up, a sand pit, and a few barrier sections kept riders on their toes, and hopefully off the stoppers. Long straight sections across the grass were mixed with fun and flowing turns that kept the racing tight.

In the Men’s Open class, it was Danny Summerhill (Holowesko/Felt/Garmin) who quickly pulled away from the pack with the Hudz/Subaru trifecta of Wells, Pacocha, and Baker hot on his wheel. The group stayed fairly tight for a few laps until Pacocha turned on the afterburners.  Summerhill, Wells, and Baker all took turns leading the chase group around the course, as Pachoca kept his head down and hammered out the laps.  In the end Pacocha took the win, with Summerhill, Wells, and Baker coming in in that order.

Behind the lead group, Christopher Hurst (unattached) put in an impressive effort, chasing on his own for almost the entire race.  Eventually a group including Spencer Powlison (Mafia Racing/Pabst/Felt), Martin Guess (Primal Racing), and Russel Harding (Natural Grocers), caught Hurst, but he held them off and finished up a strong 5^th for the day. Georgia Gould also mixed it up with the Men’s Open field once again, finishing 10^th amongst some of the fastest men out there!

In the Women’s Open class, Sonya Looney, the newest edition to the Hudz/Subaru squad, left her fat tires at home and came out to play on her new Ridley. From the start it was obvious that Looney meant business as she gapped the field on the first lap. Melanie Long (Tough Girls) spearheaded the chase, with Laurel Rathbun (Holoweski/Felt/Garmin), and Megan Taylor (CO Motion Sports) close behind. 

Looney had this to say about her race; “From the whistle, I threw down as hard I could and quickly opened a gap on the field. I held the lead for about 2 laps; well knowing I was going to blow up. And blow I did. I faded back into 5th place. I backed off for a lap, and gave myself one gear easier to spin in hopes of recovering. My plan worked, and I felt the power creep back into my legs. It was enough for me to fight my way back up to 2nd place for the day.” 

Laurel Rathbun also took a turn at the front, and it looked as though she might escape, but was eventually pulled back.  At the end of 45 minutes it was Megan Taylor on the top podium spot, with Looney, Catherine Johnson (Rocky Mounts/Izzies), and Melanie Long finishing in that order.

Ward Baker leads out the 35+ race, eventually taking the win.	Ed Schultz loving the flow in the 35+ race.	Sonya Looney left the MTB at home and crushed it on the Cross bike in the Women's Open.
Lynn Bush in the women's Open.	Is this Megan Taylor leading the Women's Open?	Melanie Long riding her way into a 4th for the day.
A 45+ racer dacing in the shadows.	A  junior racer takes in the Men's 45+ race.	The fall colors are here, now where is the nasty weather?
Matt Pacocha pushing the pace.	Baker. Wells, and Summerhill on the gas.	Georgia Gould, finishing top ten in the Men's Open race.
Summerhill, Wells and Baker battle for second spot on the podium.