November 14/10 19:01 pm - Hammer and The Anvil: Day 2

Posted by Editoress on 11/14/10
 

Locals win again at second race of cyclocross double-header

Sunday’s race in the Ride With Rendall double-header in Nepean once again fell to Ottawa-area residents Natasha Elliott and Derrick St. John.

Elliott (Garneau-Club Chaussures) easily rode away to victory on the technical course at the Nepean National Equestrian Park, this time ahead of Sophie Matte (Stevens Racing p/b The Cyclery) and Julie Lafreniere, who swapped their podium positions from Saturday’s race.

The elite men’s race again got off to a blistering start and by the end of the first lap Saturday’s top two, St. John and Evan McNeely (EMD Serono-Specialized) opened up a gap over the rest of the field. But a tired McNeely wasn’t able to stay on St. John’s wheel and dropped back. While he held St. John at 10 seconds for a few laps, he gradually faded to finish 39 seconds back.

Meanwhile, behind the two leaders, Osmond Bakker, Matteo Dal-Cin, Conor O’Brien and Marc Boudreau formed a chase group which soon shattered under pressure from Bakker, who crossed the line in third, 2:34 behind the winner but 20 seconds ahead of Dal-Cin. Six seconds later O’Brien took a tight sprint for fifth ahead of Boudreau and Nathan Underwood.

Organizer Glen Rendall said the double-header weekend will be back in 2011 and he’s working on a bid for the 2012 national cyclocross championships.

By Kris Westwood