Canadian Cyclist

 

March 23/15 8:22 am - Batty 2nd at Fontana Short Track


Posted by Editoress on 03/23/15
 

Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) and Todd Wells (Specialized Factory Racing) won the short track cross country races at the USA Cycling's US Cup Pro Series presented by Cannondale at Southridge Park in Fontana City, California, on Sunday afternoon. The race wrapped up an exciting weekend of racing, with riders heading to all corners of the globe in preparation for World Cup events or the next US CUP round in three weeks and the Sea Otter Classic.

The 31-strong field of women's racers lined up for fifteen minutes plus three laps of a dusty course that featured a pair of tricky bumps on the far side. Trek Factory Racing's Emily Batty was crafty in shooting under the charging Luna Pro Team on the first turn to take the hole shot. After the first fast lap, it was all strung out, with the Luna Pro Team leading the way.

Lap two saw Chloe Woodruff (Stans No-Tubes-Niner) lead through the start/finish line, with Haley Smith (NORCO Factory Team) in second. One lap later, the Luna girls reclaimed their place at the front, with Catharine Pendrel and Georgia Gould being joined by teammate Andrea Waldis, who was doing some fine teamwork for her leaders. Behind them were Smith, Batty, Woodruff and Rose Grant (Stans No-Tubes).

A general regrouping took place on lap four with one notable exception as Gould flatted and withdrew from the race. Things heated up two laps later and showed the determination of the field, as some bumping occurred at the front on that first left-hander after the start/finish line.

With just two laps to go, the front group grew to fifteen riders, all battling it out for the win. On the penultimate lap, Nash and Batty made their selection, charging hard to establish the winning break. The field exploded at that point, with riders being strung out for the remainder of the race.

In the final run to the line, Nash charged to the win over Batty in an exciting and hard-fought sprint, with Woodruff, Grant and Caroline Mani (Raleigh Clement Cycling Team) filling out the podium.

 

PHOTO

Woen's podium - photo Ridebiker Alliance

 

"This is such exciting racing for us, where we can all race so close together," explained Nash. "I was in the right place at the right time, just like yesterday, so it was a good weekend for me. I knew I was in a good position when I was third at the top. There are so few places to pass here but I found my spot and was able to take the win!"

The men's race was also fifteen minutes plus three laps, and Raphael Gagne (Rocky Mountain Bicycels) showed yet another sign of his great form, taking the hole shot as the large men's field kicked up a dust storm at the start. Unfortunately, the Canadian rider had some bad luck and went down in the first hectic lap, which created a gap and the eventual winning move.  Todd Wells (Specialized Factory Racing), Kohei Yamamoto (Trek Factory Racing) and Russell Finsterwald (SRAM/LTD Racing Team) were the beneficiaries of the resulting gap, and these first two remained out front for the remainder of the race.

By the third lap, the gap to the chasing group was at eight seconds. Halfway through the fifteen minutes, Wells put in a huge effort at the start/finish line and attempted the solo break. Two laps later, his lead was up to fourteen seconds, which he more or less held onto until the final lap allowed him to ease up a bit. With four laps to go, Finsterwald was replaced in the first chase duo by Yamamoto's Trek teammate Sergio Mantecon. This group was chased by Stephen Ettinger (Sho-Air/Cannondale), Leandre Bouchard (Equipe Quebec), and Estonian rider Martin Loo.

Wells kept the pressure on and cruised the last lap in to take a commanding win of the short track event. Trek Factory Racing's Mantecon preceded his teammate and Japanese sensation Yamamoto, while Bouchard was followed in by Cole Oberman (Rare Disease Cycling).

 

PHOTO

Men's podium - photo Ridebiker Alliance

 

"I heard a big crash on the first lap where there's a blown out hump in a bottom corner and someone washed out there," said Wells. "I got a separation with Kohei and Finsty and could tell I was gapping them a little bit on the downhill so I hit it. I looked up and we were only like six minutes into the race! I'm a steady rider so it was better for me to ride at my tempo. If I can get there by myself, I don't have to follow the surges so it was better for me to ride steady by myself."

Report courtesy Rory Mason, Sho-Air International


Results

Pro Women
1 Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team 21:47.3
2 Emily Batty (Can) Trek Factory Racing Team 21:47.6
3 Chloe Woodruff (USA) Team Stans Notubes-Niner 21:48.2
4 Rose Grant (USA) Stans Notubes Elite Women 21:50.2
5 Caroline Mani (Fra) Raleigh Clement Cycling Team 21:53.2
6 Cindy Montambault (Can) Equipe Du Quebec/CVM 2 Vals 21:54.9
7 Catherine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team 21:57.7
8 Haley Smith (Can) Norco Factory Team 21:58.3
9 Rotem Gafinovitz (Isr) 21:59.1
10 Sandra Walter (Can) Liv Cycling Canada 22:01.3
11 Larissa Connors (USA) Ridebiker Alliance 22:01.7
12 Megan Chinburg (USA) 22:02.8
13 Cheryl Sornson (USA) Rare Disease Cycling 22:04.0
14 Maghalie Rochette (Can) Luna Pro Team 22:10.9
15 Nina Baum (USA) Stans No Tubes Women Elite Team 22:51.6
16 Siobhan Kelly (Can) Two Wheels Epic Sports Performance 22:53.3
17 Andrea Waldis (Sui) Luna Pro Team 22:54.0
18 Elisa Otter (USA) Bicycle Express Racing 22:54.4
19 Rosalie Auger (USA) -1 Lap
20 Meghan Korol (USA) Pisgah Tavern Elite Women MTB -1 Lap
21 Cayley Brooks (Can) -1 Lap
22 Andreane Lanthier Nadea (Can) Rocky Mountain Factory Team -1 Lap
23 Kaylee Blevins (USA) Stans Notubes Niner -1 Lap
24 Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team -2 Laps
25 Abbey Alexiades (USA) Liv/Giant Co-Factory Team -3 Laps
DNF Evelyn Dong (USA) Team Sho-Air/Cannondale
DNF Rachel Pageau (Can) Team Quebec/Devinci
DNF Frederique Trudel (Can) Equipe De Quebec/Specialized
DNS Kate Courtney (USA) Specialized Factory Racing
DNS Malene Degn (Den)
DNS Shayna Powless (USA) Liv Cycling
 
Pro Men
1 Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Factory Racing 20:14.5
2 Sergio Mantecon Gutierrez (Esp) Trek Factory Racing Team 20:27.4
3 Kohei Yamamoto (Jpn) Trek Factory Racing Team 20:33.4
4 Leandre Bouchard (Can) Equipe Quebec/Cyclone D'Alma 20:34.1
5 Cole Oberman (USA) Rare Disease Cycling 20:36.8
6 Stephen Ettinger (USA) Team Sho-Air/Cannondale 20:37.5
7 Martin Loo (Est) 20:42.1
8 Andrea Tiberi (Ita) FRM Factory Racing Team 20:48.3
9 Russell Finsterwald (USA) SRAM/TLD Race Team 20:54.1
10 Howard Grotts (USA) Specialized Racing 20:54.4
11 Hector Fern Riveros Paez (Col) Raleigh Clement Cycling Team 20:54.7
12 Troy Wells (USA) 20:55.1
13 Ryan Geiger (USA) FRM Factory Race Team 20:56.0
14 Kerry Werner (USA) Raleigh Clement Cycling Team 20:56.9
15 Ricardo Alex Pscheidt (Bra) 21:04.1
16 Spencer Paxson (USA) Kona Bicycles 21:13.3
17 Quinn Moberg (Can) Rocky Mountain Factory Team 21:15.0
18 Felix Burke (Can) Equipe du Quebec/Jo Velo p/b Cannondale 21:20.3
19 Ryan Woodall (USA) Team Top Gear/Felt Bicycles 21:26.0
20 Alex Wild (USA) 21:26.9
21 Jeremy Martin (Can) Rocky Mountain Bicycles/Equipe du Quebec 21:28.7
22 Keegan Swenson (USA) Team Sho-Air/Cannondale 21:30.4
23 Evan Guthrie (Can) Norco Factory Team 21:32.8
24 Alexandre Vialle (Can) Equipe du Quebec 21:33.8
25 Noah Tautfest (USA) Bicycle Express/Kona 21:34.2
26 Stephan Davoust (USA) Giant Southwest 21:35.9
27 Trevor Deruise (USA) Ktm Bikes Factory Racing 21:36.2
28 Rotem Ishay (Isr) Team Jamis Bikes 21:39.2
29 Jose Alfred Pacheco (Mex) Buena Park Bicycles 21:42.3
30 Christopher Hamlin (USA) Bicycle Express Racing -1 Lap
31 Tom Sampson (USA) Vittoria/Yeti/Adigga Racing -1 Lap
32 Luke Di Marzo (Can) -1 Lap
33 Ryan Standish (USA) -2 Laps
34 David Flaten (USA) US Military Cycling/Air Force -3 Laps
35 William Melone (USA) Ata/Ridebikeralliance -4 Laps
36 Mitch Bailey (Can) Trek Canada -4 Laps
37 Nolan Brady (USA) Giant Co-Factory Offroad Team -4 Laps
38 Nick Thomas (USA) AZ Devo -4 Laps
39 Jt Toepel (USA) Groove Subaru Excel Sport -4 Laps
40 Tj Woodruff (USA) Momentum Endurance -4 Laps
41 Matthew Turner (USA) Summit/Competitive Cyclist -4 Laps
42 Mahon Lamont (Can) -5 Laps
43 Taylor Squillaci (USA) Get Out! New Mexico -5 Laps
44 Ian Wilkey (USA) AZ Devo -5 Laps
45 Derek Hermon (USA) Bear Valley Bikes -6 Laps
46 Trey Jarno (USA) Bear Valley Bikes/Spy Optics -6 Laps
DNF Cameron Wurf (Aus) Ridebiker Alliance
DNS Colin Osborn (USA) Giant Co-Factory
DNS Raphael Gagne (Can) Rocky Mountain Factoru
DNS Max Plaxton (Can) Sho-Air/Cannondale
DNS Adam Morka (Can) Trek Canada
DNS Barry Wicks (USA) Kona
DNS Alex Grant (USA) Ridebike/Sho-Air
DNS Eric Bostrom (USA) Ridebike Alliance/Cannondale/
DNS Craig Wohlschlaeger (USA) Giant Co-Factory Off Road Racing
DNS Jakub Valigura (Cze) 92fifty/Elevated Legs

 

 

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