USGP New Belgium Cup Day 2

Race report by Shawn Lortie

FORT COLLINS, Colo.-The second day of The New Belgium Cup went off much as the first; classic CX weather, classic CX conditions, and a great venue for North Americas fastest CX racers to do battle. Saturday nights predicted snowfall never arrived, so the course demanded a whole different style of riding than the previous days racing, as the slick off camber corners had been wrung out and grooved, allowing for faster corning and higher speeds overall.  

With a few changes to the course, including a run up that quite a few of the Elite Men were riding; the basic layout was the same as Saturday. A fair amount of elevation gain each lap, plenty of off camber turns, a cool flyover, and a double-sided pit meant there was action everywhere, and crowds filled in deep with cowbells, megaphones, and horns to cheer the riders on.

In the 35+ field the talent was once again deep. Pete Webber (Boulder Cycle Sport) was back to try for two wins on the weekend but Mark Legg-Compton (Cody Racing), Ward Baker (Justin’s/Titus Mountain Bike), Michael Robson (Moots), and a host of other top caliber racers from all over the US, were there for the win too. On the first lap, starting from somewhere mid-pack, Webber hammered his way into the top five. He quickly latched on to the battle between Ward Baker and Mark Legg-Compton at the front of the race.

By the middle of the race Webber was off the front, leaving Legg-Compton and Baker to battle, as Shadd Smith (Heartland Road Racing Club), and Grant Berry (unattached) worked their way into the mix. Eventually Smith got by Compton and finished a strong third behind Baker in second and Webber for the win. After watching Webber dance around the course this weekend, he looks to be right on track for another National Title this year. 

In the Women’s Elite race Katie Compton (Planet Bike) and Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) continued their battle from the day before when Nash had beat Compton in a sprint finish. Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team), took the lead on the first lap with Maureen Bruno Roy (Bob’s Red Mill), Compton and Nash chasing. Nash eventually came to the front with Compton, and the two pulled away from Gould. 

Behind the three leaders a great race between Meridith Miller (Cal-Giant/Specialized) and Amy Dombroski (Luna Pro Team) was unfolding. The two went back and forth for a good part of the race, as Nicole Duke (Hudz/Subaru) raced hard to try and bridge the gap up to Miller and Dombroski. “I loved the atmosphere at this race,” said Duke, “the crowds were incredible and very encouraging!” In the end it was Compton with the win, Nash second, and Gould third, with Nicole Duke winning the most aggressive rider for the day, finishing sixth.

In the Men’s Elite race it was Jeremy Powers (Cannondale) with the hole shot, followed closely by Ryan Trebon (Kona) and Geoff Kabush (Maxxis/Rocky Mountain). By the end of the second lap Trebon had pulled ahead, bringing Johnson with him. The two battled until Trebon got tangled in the tape and lost his groove. “I got into the course tape and I had to run to the pit because it was really muddy.” Said Trebon after the race. “Sometimes you make mistakes and you can recover from them, but I just couldn’t get going. As my morale went down my legs went out from underneath me.”

As Johnson made his getaway, Todd Wells (Specialized), Kabush, and Powers chased the two leaders. Wells and Powers seperated themselves from Kabush, but then Wells stacked it while bunny hopping the double barriers, taking him out of the race. Kabush capitalized and ended up finishing third for the day, with Johnson in first and Powers in second.

We don’t get too many big races like this in Colorado, so it was great to see the big crowds out there checking things out. Lots of people came out to see their first CX race and the race promoters did a great job showing everybody what a world class CX weekend is all about!

Pete Webber on his way from the back of the pack to the front of the pack in the 35+ Open race.	Ned Overand on the run up, with Brian Hludzinski chasing in the 35+ Open race.	Katie Compton makes the pass on Georgia Gould as Katrina Nash chases in the Women's Open.
A group of riders in the Women's Open race climb back up from the bottom of the course.	Georgia Gould pushes hard through the mud.	Merideth Miller leads Amy Dumbrowski up the climb.
Nicole Duke focused on the task at hand in the Women's Open race.	Ryan Trebon takes the lead on lap one in the Men's Open race.	A great course layout made for excellent viewing options!
The Short Bus rules. Fun in Fort Collins!	Matt Pacocha chasing Sean Babcock in the Men's Open.
Men's Open racers climbing back up to the top of the course.	Robin Eckmann racing hard in the Men's Open Class.	Jeremy Powers grinds a short climb.
Tim Johnson working on the gap.