All Hallows 'Cross: A Tricky Treat

By Bill Schieken, Cyclocross Editor

Cyclocrossers in the Mid-Atlantic region had three choices this weekend. They could head to New Jersey for a MAC Series double-header, stay at home and make the most of the MABRA off-week, or head to Southern Maryland for All Hallows 'Cross presented by Patuxent Velo Club.

All Hallows 'Cross took place October 31, 2009, in Hughesville, Maryland. On a dry day the course would have been a drag strip. It featured plenty of long grassy stretches, straight dirt roads and not one off-camber turn. Even the rooty double-track section wasn't super technical. Mix in a steady dose of late-fall rain, however, and the course took on an entirely new character. Every turn was a sloppy adventure, the roots became increasingly treacherous and the long grassy straights turned to a muddy soup. It almost made racers want to stop in the on-course barn for some respite from the conditions.

Embracing the holiday spirit, some racers in the Men's and Women's Cat 4 races started trick-or-treat early and donned wigs, disco pants and super-hero capes. The men's cat 3/4 race even featured a race within the race between two equally matched Lieutenants Dangle, from television's Reno 911. Although it was all meant in good fun, there was a wig-related mechanical that ended one Dangle's race prematurely.

In the future, if you decide to dress up for a cyclocross race, here are some tips: (1) wigs go under, not over, helmets, (2) wear your wigs and costumes during a practice lap and make sure you do at least one portion of the course at speed, and (3) rethink the whole enterprise—most likely you are already wearing a skinsuit and high socks, isn't that ridiculous enough?

The Men's 1/2/3 field may have been small but in cyclocross that really doesn't mean much. In most races a handful of riders are going to form a small selection at the front and that is where the race plays out. This was no different on Saturday. The Battley Harley-Davidson/Sonoma duo of Dave Fuentes and Keck Baker stormed out of the starting grid and only Jared Nieters (Haymarket Bicycles) was able to match their pace. 

Nieters said the trio was rolling pretty hard and all three tried multiple attacks for the second and third laps. "I was actually caught out twice, but was able to claw my way back each time," Nieters said. "Fuentes put in a tough attack before the mud, and I didn't catch him until after the sand. Keck worked his way back to us on the start/finish straight, and I attacked hard when he got there."

Fuentes and Baker work together as Nieters closes the gap.

Nieters and Keck held a small gap over Fuentes but he was able to recover and catch back on to the pair. Nieters said he could hear the Harley riders breathing pretty hard, and although he was also hurting bad, decided strategically it was a good time for another attack.

"I went again and had a gap going into the barriers. I stayed on it and the gap continued to open up, though with three to go Dave put in an effort and cut the gap to about 15 seconds. When I saw he was getting close, I waited until I was out of sight and put in a final hard effort," Nieters said.

The Haymarket Bicycles rider worked his advantage to about 90 seconds on the final lap when things went south. "I stacked it in the woods, even though I was riding relatively conservatively. I broke the front brake (which pinned shut) and limped it to the pit, where I got my pit bike, and rolled into the finish line," Nieters explained. "It was a hell of a lot of fun racing Dave and Keck, they both like to ride aggressively, which really makes for exciting racing." Fuentes rolled in after Nieters for second and Keck slotted into third.

In the women's field Julie Kuliecza (Alan North American Cycling) followed up a strong second place finish at  DCCX with a victory at All Hallows. "I felt pretty good this weekend and decided to stay closer to home and race All Hallows," Kuliecza said. "I liked the course, especially the single track section. I felt like I could flow through the course." After sizing up the field, Kuliecza knew she had to make her move early in the race.  "I pushed it on the start and after I saw that I had a gap after the first barriers I just kept on pushing," she said. "Elizabeth Harlow (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes) is always really consistent so I didn't want to make any mistakes."

Kuliecza left nothing to chance, attacking early and staying away.

Harlow did indeed stay consistent and easily took second place. Krisitna Adams (NVRC/Cardio Sports Lab) held on for third.

The MABRA Cyclocross Series continues next week with the Mid-Atlantic's annual sausage-fest, also known as Tacchino Ciclocross. Squadra Coppi never fails to put on a spectacular race that features the coveted suitcase of sausage, currently under lock and key and guarded around the clock by Phil Pritchard, the white-gloved keeper of the Stanley Cup. This year's Tacchino course is the big mystery as the race has found a new home at the mountain-bike friendly confines of Rosaryville State Park. Fields are filling up quick so register now.

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photo credits: Bill Schieken.

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GamJams Cyclocross Editor Bill Schieken races for Route1Velo/Arrow Bicycle. He is also the editor of In The Crosshairs.

Comments

[Jim]

Thanks for the CoppiLove Bill. Yep, the Tacchino will be good, and we can't wait to see everybody tearing it up at our new venue. The meaty briefcase returns, along with equal $700 payouts for the 'L33t men and women fields, Ommegang Beer sponsorship and sweet swag for the Masters races, Contes gear and services for many classes, Sheila Moon gear... too much to mention, along with a funk band and a gourmet quality sausage & frites vendor.

We're also going to have special prizes in the Cat 4 races for Best NooB, Fastest MTB, and in the Men's 4 for Top Single Speed / Fixed Racer.

The racers who show up, hammer and cheer are what makes it spectacular though.

[GenghisKhan]

Nice write up and reading it is certainly better than the work I should be doing!

I've not heard of this suitcase full o' sausage, but it sounds like worthwhile prize!

On to more surfing...