New S-WORKS - cross bike MID season 2009Monday, November 23rd, 2009
Southern California/Nevada Cyclocross Championships
Southern California/Nevada Cyclocross ChampionshipsSCPS #12: Convert CrossPhoto: Kate Ybara
Southern California/Nevada Cyclocross Championships
Southern California/Nevada Cyclocross ChampionshipsSCPS #12: Convert CrossPhoto: Kate Ybara
With clear skies, no winds, and a fantastic course Lake Casitas park was this year’s venue for the Southern California/Nevada Cyclocross Championships. The wonderful location and beautiful views made for an epic day. The course supplied one of the most consistently flowing raced this season. The combination of turns with loose dirt, fast sweeping grass sections, climbs, and the two flat road sections gave riders a lot of opportunities to race more tactically, which was evident all day.
We have to say congratulations to all the new champions who went out and worked so hard.
We have to say congratulations to all the new champions who went out and worked so hard.
Elite Men:The long road start was taken by last weeks winner John Behrens (Bailey Bikes) who came out in the lead through the first loose turn and he continued his pace through the first half of lap one. Then it was series leader Brent Prenzlow (B&L/Celo Pacific) who commanded the front spot going up the long climb and through the triple barrier section. He had the lead position but the front group was not breaking up. All race it was a group of at least six to seven riders as they tactically watched each other, applying their efforts in their chosen sections but it would not crack the group. On the third lap going into the fast flat barrier section Sid Taberlay (Sho-Air/Specialized) went over the bars hard as he was hopping the barriers. It was a hard crash but not enough to put him out of contention because he has the power and pedaled back onto the front group within half a lap. Prenzlow was racing smart at this point with the other lead riders as the exchanged pulls through different sections continuing to pull away from the rest of the elite field. We saw Gary Douville (Platinum Performance) up front, and then Taberlay, Mountain Bike Legend Ned Overend and others as the group came through each lap. With four to go Prenzlow dropped off the front pack with his foot unclipped, maybe with a pedal issue, but by the fifth lap he was back in the group. Finally, with one to go pack of six came to the last turn before the barriers. Mark Noble (Nonstop Ciclismo) made a move in the tight corner to pass Overend but he lost traction and slid out which made Prenzlow run into the back of him. It was just what was needed for Taberlay, Douville, and Brandon Gritters (Rock N’ Road Cyclery) who monopolized on the two tangled riders. Taberlay instantly attacked leaving Douville and Gritters in the chase. Prenzlow and Noble were back in the chase quickly but it was close. Taberlay kept attacking through the final climb and onto the road for the final sprint for the win. However, while he did have an impressive race to take the win, his Australian citizenship does not allow him the Southern California/Nevada Championship so Gary Douville took the championship title and second on the day. And, behind sprinting up the road it was Brent Prenzlow who just passed Gritters before the line for third, with Gritters Fourth and Ned Overend to round out the top five.
Pro/Elite, Gary Douville (Platinum Performance)







1 comment:
Dad, you are clearly my biggest fan! Thanks for the post
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