GamJams.net: Where Mid-Atlantic bike racers roll: MAC Series Builds to Snowy Crescendo at Capital Cross

By Bill Schieken, Cyclocross Editor

The Capital ‘Cross Classic took place Sunday December 6 at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston, Virginia. Throughout the week the Internet was abuzz with talk of snowy conditions for the MAC finale. And, although mother nature upheld her part of the bargain with a wintry mix all day Saturday, course conditions on Sunday were an ever-changing affair.

If you raced early, you did experience some snow and some nice patches of ice that limited the ridable lines on the course. But by the time the ten a.m. race hit the course, mud and slop was the order of the day. The normally fast reservoir road was limited to one plausible line because of the ice, but the rest of the course was wide open, albeit wet. By the time the elite men were on the course, there was almost no ice or snow, just thick mud and cold slop. If you look at pictures of the race, by kit condition alone, you can tell at what time a rider was on the course. The early birds left the course with some mud on the face and the back. The elites crossed the line looking like brave survivors of a chocolate pudding disaster.

Chip Sovek's Potomac Velo Club has been organizing 'Cross races at Lake Fairfax Park for over a decade. With that much experience, Sovek and his club were prepared for any type of weather, but some things are out of their control. "Any promoter can prepare for the worst but weather is always a factor and typically the biggest," Sovek said. "With Lake Fairfax—barring severe weather—I knew Potomac Velo could pull the race off. We were prepared weather-wise, but the real unknown was the park service. They have the ultimate decision making-authority and have pulled the plug in the past."

Sovek said that that despite the bad weather, the park service gave the green light to hold the race. The decision to do so emphasizes one of the tenets of 'cross racing and a lesson that anybody that loves the sport should keep in mind: respect the grounds and leave the site the way you found it. Sovek said that it was the club's ten-year track record of repairing and restoring the park that led the authorities to allow the race to take place despite the wet conditions. "The head grounds keeper actually told me we're the best return users of the park by far. And that is critical if we want our sport to continue."

Promoters must also prepare for poor conditions dictating course changes. "The only consideration was to use certain sections of the park grounds that I knew would wear better," Sovek said. "For example, the higher ground, and maybe a little more hard-pack, wider turns … this stuff is necessary if you want your racers to actually race and not complain that they can’t even ride." He added that the course was a soupy muddy mess, but totally ridable. The incline after the pit was not intended to be a run-up but that’s what it turned into. "I saw many of the stronger riders actually pedal up it which proved to me that the ground did offer some traction."

The final concern Sovek had about the conditions effect on the course was lap times. He was prepared to cut out portions of the course to compensate for slow lap times. "I didn’t want to have a 9-plus minute lap. After my officials told me they were sub 9 minutes I didn’t change anything."

The first race at Lake Fairfax Park was in 1999. Back then, PVC actually promoted two cross races each fall. One at the end of October, All Hallows Cross, and Capital Cross on the first Sunday of December. " We did this for 4 years…thinking back now that’s insane and I would never commit to that but that’s what we did to offer more races," Sovek said.

Field sizes in those early years were a bit smaller. Sovek said that he may have had fifty entrants for the entire race. Today, that's the size of one of the smaller fields on race day.

Blair Saunders (BPB) on his way to winning the masters elite race.

With the sloppy conditions dictating pace, most races were decided early with one or two riders taking control and riding away from the field. The starkest reminder that anything can happen in 'cross probably took place in the Masters 2/3/4 race. Stephen Robinson (Squadra Coppi) held a sizable gap coming into the final sectors on the bell lap. That is when his chain dislodged and became jammed in the drivetrain. The ensuing struggle between man and bike took long enough for Jay Morali (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes) and Neil Sapp (Ben's Performance Bicycles) to make the catch. Robinson was able to get his machine in working order and sprint back on and reclaim second place, but Morali held on for the win.

The women's elite race ended up being the most exciting of the day. Teammates Nikki Thiemann (Human Zoom/Pabst Blue Ribbon) and Kristin Gavin dictated the pace from the gun with Jennifer Maxwell (ATAC Sportswear p/b Bike Rack DC), Arley Kemmerer (Hub Racing), and Lauri Webber (Secret Henry’s Team) chasing. Thieman and Gavin started to pull away by the third lap, acting as teammates and working together throughout the race.

Lindsey Hillesheim (Squadra Coppi) crosses the spillway.

That alliance ended as the pair hit the finishing stretch. Gavin and Thiemann went head-to-head in a two-up sprint with Gavin pulling ahead for the win. Kemmerer came across for third with Maxwell fourth and Webber fifth.

Back in August, JBV Coaching and Fulcrum Coaching held a 'cross clinic that featured Jeremy Powers at Lake Fairfax Park. On Sunday, Valentin Scherz (Pro Cycles Scott Network) put on his own 'cross clinic. Before the first lap was halfway over, the Swiss U-23 champion already held a sizable lead over a small group of pursuers.

The course features one long run-up and another shorter section that was so muddy many in the field found it faster to carry their bikes. Scherz did not dismount for either section. He rode the run-up with ease putting time on his chasers with each pedal stroke. On the muddy descents he seemed to float over the surface.

By the time it ended, Scherz had accumulated close to a minute and a half lead over second place "I was feeling pretty good during the race. My technique and my ability to ride in the slippery turns was good, which is really important for me," Scherz said. "I tried yesterday to ride every lap better than the previous one. In fact, the day played out better than what I was expecting."

Scherz said that he was expecting a hard race. "I spent the two previous days visiting Washington, walking and standing for long periods of time. Before that I did one week of rest without training and I did only slow rides last week." He said that on Sunday it was difficult to get ready before the race or even get out of the car to warm up and check the course because, for him, the conditions were the worst possible.
"It wasn't cold enough to have frozen ground, but enough to get your feet freezing in the really cold mud. So I was feeling not 100% on the start line. But everything always changes just after the start-shot. You become a warrior and give all you have. And then you see how fit you really are!"

Valentin Scherz made it look easy all day long.

Scherz said his feelings on the bike were great, and the legs were good. "The only unknown is what my fitness level is versus the best riders after that break. It's difficult for me to know now. But I'll know next weekend for my first race in Switzerland."

Despite being at the beginning of his career, racing in the U.S.—Scherz did an extended stint in the states, earning enough points in recent weeks to take the MAC title—has left an impression on the rising Swiss star. "I'm going to come here when I will be a master racer, because your masters races are so cool! So many racers, so nice contests," Scherz said. "You have nothing to envy from Europe. Enjoy the 'cross."

Filling out the remaining spots on the Men's elite podium were Greg Wittwer (ALAN North America Cycling), Andrew Wulfkuhle (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes), Jared Nieters (Haymarket Bicycles-HomeVisit) and Wes Schempf (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes).

So that's a wrap for cyclocross in the Mid-Atlantic region. For most of us it's time to tear down the bikes, peel the tubulars off the rims and start looking forward to a little rest before the road season kicks in. Several of our fellow racers, however, are heading across the country for Nationals later this week in Bend, Oregon. The plan is to be back here next week with an update on how those racers fared.

photo credits: Bill Schieken. More at www.cxhairs.com/photos.

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