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Capital 'Cross Classic: Finishing The Super 8 In Style

by Bill Schieken, Cyclocross Contributor

The BikeReg.com / MABRACross Super 8 Series finishes this Sunday with Capital Cross Classic. The series finale will be the last chance for those chasing the Verge Sport leader jersey to make a move. And in many categories the jersey may change hands depending on the outcome of the final race.
The elite men is a two man race between Wes Schempf (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes) and Chris Beck (TeamCF). Schempf has 255 points and Beck has 235. With 60 points going to the winner, 50 for second, 45 for third and on down the line, Beck still has a chance to take the jersey but Schempf has been getting stronger as the season goes on. This is definitely a race worth watching.

The elite women's field has a similar scenario as the men with a bit of a twist: Libbey Sheldon (4 Boys Racing) holds a 26 point lead over Allyson Tufano (Sportif Coaching). Unlike the men, in which Schempf has finished ahead of Beck every time they've raced together, Tufano and Sheldon have each traded higher steps on the podium throughout the Super 8 calendar. To take the jersey, Tufano must finish near the top of the podium and more than four places higher than Sheldon.

The masters elite 45+ men has been a fascinating field to watch all series and the finale will be no exception. Andrew Shaw (NCVC) has finished no lower than fourth in all series races. That consistency has earned him the Verge Sport leaders jersey. Randy Root (Evolution) has been equally consistent and sits just five points behind Shaw. Both Shaw and Root have raced all seven races. Jerzy Wozniak (Winchester Wheelmen) has only raced five races. But he has won all five. That means that he now sits only 20 points off the series lead. If we pencil Jerzy in for another win this Sunday, Shaw and Root will still be battling for the lead as long as they finish in the next two spots. If they slip down the results, it could be Jerzy in the jersey.

Patapsco Cross Unleashes Tough New Track on Competitors

by Jay Morali, GamJams Contributor

The Patapsco Cross introduced a new track to cyclocross racers last week that is destined to be an area "favorite".  The race, #4 in the Sportif Cross Cup, was put on by Patapsco Bike and Sport and was contested in Mt. Airy, MD.  The course featured significant elevation changes, really fast flowing sections and the dreaded "run or ride" sand pit.  "It was definitely one of the better courses this year" said Elite Master's winner Jason Lins.  Lins, who races for Adventures for the Cure, grabbed his first career win by edging out series leader Ron Huebner of Evolution Cycling Club.  "The move that gave me the gap I needed was through the log run-up.  I was really messing up through there on previous laps but finally seemed to get it right" added Lins.  Huebner, winner of race #1 in the series, still holds the overall leader's jersey.    

For the second week in a row, a Sportif Coaching Group rider captured the first win of his cross racing career with a victory in the Masters 3/4 race.  This week it was Cory Smith who stepped on to the top step of the podium.  Smith said he jumped in with about 4-5 riders that formed the lead group right after the prolouge. "No one really wanted to show their hand to early so it stayed together for a while.  We came up on the sand pit and I got through clean and found myself on the front.  I then just started to build my lead.  I did see someone closing in late in the last lap but was able to ride smoothly to the finish."  

Super 8 Cross Series Update: Frederick and Sheldon Retain Jerseys

by Bill Schieken, Cyclocross Editor

As we head in to race six of the BikeReg.com MABRAcross Super 8 Cyclocross Series, the Verge Sport points competitions are really starting to heat up. Schooley Mill Cross, which goes down this Sunday, could be the race folks look back on as the one that turned the tide in several categories. And in case you did not know, there is more to the points-chase than those sweet looking Verge Sport jerseys. There is cold hard cash for the winners in the masters 1/2/3 35+, 45+ and 55 + fields, women and men elite fields, and single speed. Depending on the field, payouts go anywhere from five to 10 deep. Final points prizes will be awarded at Capital Cross Classic, the Super 8 finale.

Racers get 60 points for the win, 50 points for second place, 45 for third and on down the line. This means that a good showing by any of the riders near the top of the standings, or an off day by others could drastically change the outcome in most of the categories.

In the excitement of last week's points update we failed to report on the womens 3/4 category. To make sure there is no repeat of that transgression, this week's rundown starts with that very field. At the top is Emily McDonald (Momentum Racing) who holds a 35 point lead over Madi West (Adventures for the Cure). Amanda Gilbert is another 21 points back in third place. Laura Murray (Baltimore Bicycle Works) and Diedre Ribbens (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes) are tied for fourth 70 points out of the top spot.

The womens elite field continues to be ruled by consistency. The top five riders after five races have accounted for just two victories. Libbey Sheldon (Four Boys Racing) continues to lead the field with 221 points. Allyson Tufano (Sportif) remains in second with 175 points. Laurel Larsen (November Bicycles CX Experience) and Jennifer Maxwell (Van Dessel) are tied for third with 145 points and Elizabeth Harlow (C3) rounds out the top five with 134 points. 

Frederick, Sheldon Lead MABRAcross Super 8 Series

by Bill Schieken, Cyclocross Editor

After a much needed recovery week following DCCX, the BikeReg.com MABRAcross Super 8 Series is back in full swing this Sunday with the always exciting Ed Sander Memorial Cyclocross. Heading into the second half of the season, the Verge Sport leader jersey races begin to really heat up as the points become scarcer with only four races left on the schedule.

In the men’s elite field, jersey-holder Ben Frederick (Team Traveller) has hung up his zebra stripes for 2011 and will not defend his lead this weekend. With the next four contenders for the top spot all signed up for Sunday’s race, the points lead is truly up in the air. Jared Nieters (Haymarket), Chris Beck (TeamCF), Pat Blair (AFC) and Wes Schempf (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes) will all have their eyes on the prize in the coming weeks.

In the women’s elite field, Libbey Sheldon (Four Boys Racing) holds a 31 point lead over Jennifer Maxwell (Van Dessel) and is 41 points ahead of Allyson Tufano (Sportif). The battle for the final jersey will most likely come down to these three racers. Late season spoilers, however, have shown up in the past, so keep your eyes on this field in the coming weeks.

If the Super 8 featured a “field of the week” -- and who’s to say it can’t? -- the men’s elite masters field would definitely be in the running. Wily old veterans doing wily ol’ things  on bikes are always worth watching. Paul Rades (November Bicycles) sheds the Raymond "Eternal Second" Poulidor sobriquet with a big win at DCCX and now holds a 25 point lead over Dave Fuentes (XO Communications/Battley Harley). Jason Lins (Adventures for the Cure), Mike Birner (Sportif) and Rob Huebner (Evolution) are also within striking distance. 

Sportif Cross Cup: Kinder 'Kross Yields Belgian Weather

by Jay Morali, Cyclocross Contributor

The Kinder ‘Kross welcomed in the first real winter weather of 2011, which made for a fun, yet challenging day of racing in Severna Park, MD.  The race, #3 in the Sportif Cross Cup, tested the rider’s ability to hit corners with speed and navigate through mud.  “ABRT did a great job of setting up the course.  It really had a little bit of everything…elevation, speed, and mud.  Not only was it fun to race, it was great spectating.  You could see 90% of the course from the team tent area.” said Antietam Velo’s Eric Krause after finishing 2nd in the 3/4 Men race to Series Leader Stephen Hyde.   

Jon Hicks (Sportif Coaching Group) bagged the first win of his cross racing career with a victory in the 3/4 35+ race.  Hicks got off to a good start by successfully navigating the muddy up and down section after the sprint without any problems.  “I was 6-7 wheels back throughout the first lap just looking for the right opportunity to make a move. When the lead group came to the muddy stretch on the backside most of the guys went to the left and I went right and was able to slip right through and get to the front.  From there it was all about staying upright and keeping the pressure on." Hicks, who knows a little bit about course design -- he has been instrumental in the lay-out of Winchester Apple Cross, Psycho Cross, Luray Caverns, and this weekends Patapsco Cross -- had this to say about the course, “I really liked it.  It was a very unique course.  There was a lot of turn/sprint to the course which really tests a rider’s ability.”  

George Schulz, Jr. of The Bike Lane regains the Leaders Jersey in the series after his 6th place finish just edging out Patrick Dolan who finished 10th. The race series sponsor also got a win from Allyson Tufano (Sportif Coaching Group) who edged out Jennifer Maxwell (Van Dessel Factory Team) in the Women’s 1/2/3 race.  Tufano, who now sits in 2nd place in the series, has two more races to try and unseat current leader Elizabeth Harlow (C3/Athletes Serving Athletes) from the top spot.  Hopefully, both ladies will be out this weekend with their 'cross guns blazing.

Super 8 Series Announces New Verge Sport Points Leaders

by Bill Schieken, Cyclocross Editor

After three weeks of racing, the Verge Sport jersey competition is firing on all cylinders in the BikeReg.com MABRAcross Super 8 Cyclocross Series. With eight races on the calendar and no opportunity to drop a race, there was no easing into the season when races started three weeks ago at Tacchino Cyclocross. The intensity and high level of racing, in what is quickly turning into one of the largest cyclocross race series in the U.S., did not let up during week two at Winchester Apple Cross or week three's Hyattsville CX.

After all the mud and tears had been wiped away, here is where the Super 8 points battles stand going into Super 8 race #4, DCCX. In the Men's Elite field, 2010 jersey winner Jared Nieters (Haymarket-SEAVS) shot out to an early lead after two races but opted to race elsewhere this past weekend. That opened the door for Super 8 newcomer, and Acqua Sapone doppleganger, Ben Frederick (Team Traveller) to take the jersey. Patrick Blair (AFC) and Nieters sit tied for second, 35 points down.

In the Women's Elite field, Libbey Sheldon (Four Boys Racing), on the strength of a Winchester victory, and 3rd place finishes at Tacchino and Hyattsville, holds a 40 point lead over Jennifer Maxwell (Van Dessel). Elizabeth Harlow (C3-Twenty20 Cycling) is third, 53 points back.

The closest points battle can be found in the 35+ Masters Elite field where Paul Rades (The November Bicycles CX Experience), the Super 8's answer to Raymond Poulidor, has ridden a trio of strong second place finishes to top spot in the points standings. Dave Fuentes (Battley Harley-Davidson) relinquished the points lead after suffering an untimely mechanical at Hyattsville. Fuentes looked like he was poised to catch the front group and keep the jersey before swallowing a bee and falling back. Not the kind of Honey Stinger you want to ingest at a race. Fuentes holds on to second 25 points back with Dave Weaver (ALAN) 45 points back in third place.

Sportif Cross Cup Gets Crazy with the Psycho Cross

 - by Jay Morali

After a few weeks of racing in the cold and mud, racers were greeted with warm weather and a fast track at the Psycho Cross in Sykesville, MD.  The first-year race was set up on the campus of abandoned 1900 era buildings which gave it a unique feel.  Race #2 in the Sportif Cup did have one thing, however, in common with the race the week before…suffering!  Two run-ups (the first was only able to be ridden by a select few) really put the riders in the “hurt locker” and forced them to look for places to recover.  They also had to negotiate a log barrier shortly after the 2nd run-up.  The decision to ride it or dismount and run it was forced upon the racer’s each lap.  Steve Hyde of West Florida Wheelmen, winner of the 3/4 Men’s race two weeks in a row, said that smoothly bunny-hopping the barrier was one of the keys to his victory.  “I thought the course was fantastic!  It was really hard but fast.”  Steve plans on defending his Sportif Cup Leader’s Jersey in the upcoming weeks.

Patrick Dolan takes over as series leader in the 3/4 35+ with a victory on a course that he described as “perfect for me.”  Dolan, of District Velocity, took the win despite a last row start.  “I was very aggressive in the turns and quickly got up to the lead group.”  George Schulz of The Bike Lane, last week's winner, finished 5th on the day and sits only 4 points behind Dolan in the points standings.

The last race of the day saw the 2/3 Men fight it out over the biggest cash payout of the day.  Ben’s Performance Bikes threw in some additional dollars into the pot a few days before the race to attract some additional racers to come show their speed and get a little “psycho.”  Chris Beck of Team CF accepted the challenge and came out and took home the $225 first place prize.  Beck, an experienced mountain biker quickly making a name for himself in the cross world said, “This is the best cross course I have raced.”  When asked to describe the course, he simply said…“hard!”  Patrick Blair of Adventures for the Cure put in a solid performance and finished 2nd retaining his series lead.

Paul Rades of November Bicycles competed in his first Sportif race of the season and took the win in the Elite Master’s field by showing an impressive display of power.  The 60 points netted for the victory slots him into 6th place in the overall series standings.  Ron Huebner, winner at BCA last week, still sits on top of the leader board with his 2nd place finish on Saturday.

Other winners on the day include:
Libby Sheldon – Women 1/2
Alice Henriques – Women 3
Joyce Gearhart – Women 4
Jim Bronson – Men 1/2/3/4 55+
Nikolas Obriecht – Men 4
George Schulz, III – Junior 10-14
Samuel Lear – Junior 15-18
Anna Lausch – Women Junior 10-14

Thanks to Bob's Red Mill for their support of the series.  All podium finishers earned a bag of Bob's Steel Cut Oats.  Not sure how to make them? Visit www.bobsredmill.com for a wide selection of recipes and tasty ways to enjoy your prize.

Up next on the Sportif Cross Cup schedule is Kinder Kross.  Race #3 in the series, presented by ABRT, will be held on Sunday, October 30th in Severna Park, MD. Also, check out http://www.sportifcrosscup.com/ for overall series points standings and other Sportif Cross Cup details.

Sportif Cup Kicks off in Suffering Style with Cold, Wet Mud in Fort Ritchie

- by Jay Morali

The Sportif Cyclocross Cup was kicked off Saturday in Fort Ritchie at the Breast Cancer Awareness Challenge.  The race, presented by Antietam Velo Club, was the first of a 5 race series that will end on Thanksgiving weekend at the annual Turkey Chase in Taneytown.  Racers were greeted to cool temperatures and muddy conditions not seen around here in quite some time.  The course tested all of a rider's ability with sections demanding bike-handling, power, speed, and a whole lot of running.  Patrick Blair of Adventures for the Cure, winner of the 2/3 Men's race said, "I loved the course! Maybe some of the reason I liked it so much was the extreme conditions/mud but regardless the course design was far superior to that of BCA last year. There were quite a few interesting features that I attacked differently each lap, trying to figure out the best way to approach them."  Patrick also went on to say that he hasn't seen conditions like that since Granouge 2009 and 2010 CX Nationals. 
 
The 3/4 35+ race saw George Schulz, Jr. of The Bike Lane take the Sportif CX Cup Leaders Jersey with Cory Smith finishing up in 2nd.  The Sportif Coaching Group rider was working hard to try and catch up to Schulz, Jr. but was forced into the pit with a mechanical that needed a rear wheel change.  Speaking to George after the race it was clear he was having his own little game of angels & demons during the race.  "I really like the mud...but I really hate to run!"  He does plan on defending his jersey this coming weekend at Psycho Cross in Sykesville, MD at Race #2 in the series.
 
District Velocity's Patrick Dolan looked to be very comfortable in the muddy conditions as he took a convincing win in the 3/4 Men's race.  Dolan powered away on the first lap and never looked back.  A group of chasers jockeyed for a few laps until Eric Krause of Antietam Velo found a gap and held it for a runner-up finish.  Krause, an established roadie still young in his cyclocross career, is looking forward to trying to move up one step on the podium this week in Sykesville.
 
Other winners on the day include:
Ron Huebner - Men's 1/2/3 35/45+
Karl Kensinger - Master's 3/4 45+
Jim Bronson - Master's 1/2/3/4 55+
Elizabeth Harlow - Women's 1/2
Samantha Rynas - Women's 3
George Schulz, III - Junior 10-14
 
Will these folks hold on to their series lead or will we have a shake-up on the leaderboard this week at the Psycho Cross? The course is destined to be an instant favorite among racers in the area with its varied terrain which will include two run-ups.  It will be set on the campus of abandoned 1900 era buildings that were formerly the Springfield Medical Hospital, a state run mental institution.  We all know you have to be a little crazy to do this sport anyway!
 
Who will walk away with the cash and prizes?  $1000 cash is up for grabs to five fields plus we have prizes from various restaurants in town (including 100 free beer coupons to give away and gift certificates), coffee from Furnace Hills Coffee in Westminster, 150 pounds of oatmeal from Bob's Red Mill (Train with Grain), various microbrews and Belgian ales for the Masters and goodie bags from Roots Market for the first 150 participants.  And don't forget - every time you register for a Sportif 'Cross Cup event you are entered into the raffle for one of TWO Fuji Altimira cyclocross framesets!

Be sure to sign up for the raffle for TWO ROUNDTRIP AIRLINE TICKETS on JETBLUE.  The raffle is open on Bikereg now or at registration on the day of the event.  $5 buys you one chance, 5 chances for $20.
 
So come on out, bring the family and enjoy what looks like will be a beautiful day (fingers crossed!).

XO Communications Sweeps BAR; "Unattached" Team Makes Presence Known

by Gus Grissom, Combat Correspondent

Well, it's official: Team XO Communications / Battley Harley-Davidson Racing swept the Men's 1/2 podium in the 2011 BAR standings.  With Keck Baker on the top step, followed by Timothy Brown and Russell Langley, MABRA's elite team came through on the predictions many made for them during the off season.  

In like fashion, the team made its presence known in the Women's BAR where Monika Sattler was just edged out of the top spot by Ainhoa Perez-Diez of SpokesWomen Syndicate Inc.  Sara Clafferty of Annapolis Bicycle Racing Team rounded out the podium.  The three were separated by only seven points after a season's worth of heated competition.

In the team competition there were few surprises as the larger squads of NCVC / United Healthcare and Rock Creek Velo took the top honors by sticking to their "critical mass strategy."  They were followed by Annapolis Bicycle Racing Team with solid performances in many disciplines.  Fourth place, however, gave the upstart program "Unattached" the final say in the long-standing argument over whether or not cycling is really a "team sport."  They missed the podium by a mere forty-five points.  One rider for the club, who asked to remain anonymous, remarked that he was not surprised at the result.  "Ever since training camp," he noted, "we've had one goal: to find new ways of not supporting each other in the tough races throughout the year."  He added that the team was "completely united in our individual quests for glory and plans to remain focused on allowing riders to maintain their status as lone wolves in the next season."  Though he vowed the team would show improvement and make a run at the podium, another racer on the team grumbled "I don't know what that dude's talking about.  I hate that jerk and will do everything I can to chase him down if he makes a move out there.  We are a team only in the sense that we ride alone together in the same races, eyeing each other with suspicion and jealousy.  Seriously, we don't even know each other unless we happen to shake hands at the start."  Another rider added "heck, I've probably got more friends on NCVC and I don't work with them either!"

Overall it seems to have been another successful season across MABRA.  The full results for every category, from the very young to the very old, can be found here.  And, as always, special thanks must go out to MABRA BAR Coordinator, Dave Harrell, for consistently updating results and responding to rider inquiries.  It is through the selfless work of MABRA officials and volunteers such as him that the rest of us have a chance to race, unattached, uncommitted, or just simply untalented.  

 

Capital Criterium Cancelled: Rider Fatigue, Finances and Schedule to Blame

The Capital Criterium presented by Events DC, scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, has been canceled.

The Oct. 2 date was one of very few options available for the CapCrit in the 2011 season given the addition of new Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) races, including the US Pro Cycling Challenge. These additions caused events such as the Univest Grand Prix to be pushed back later into the season. In the end, the October date of the CapCrit presented difficulties for teams and riders (both men and women), as they face fatigue and injuries from an already long race season and/or depleted budgets and travel monies at the race year’s end. In addition, overlap and conflicts have surfaced for riders competing in multiple disciplines, such as the Elite Track Nationals, which are being held in Los Angeles during this time, and the Cyclo-cross season, which will be in full swing by Oct. 2.

While the decision was especially difficult given that the CapCrit was positioned as the men’s and women’s finals for the 2011 USA CRITS Series, the final race of USA Cycling’s 2011 National Racing Calendar, and the finals of the 2011 US Handcycling Series, it was made with the best interest of spectators, the local community, the event’s numerous partners and sponsors, and, of course, the riders, in mind.  We also did so knowing that, because of the substantial amount of financial, human, and city resources needed to secure and close a course in the heart of Washington, D.C., full fields of competitors are required to ensure the long-term success of the event.

We are presently working with various governing bodies and agencies to find a more desirable date during the 2012 professional race season and look forward to welcoming a critical mass of teams, larger fields of riders and top-cycling talent next year. We remain very grateful for all of the support we have received from our presenting sponsor Events DC, the DC special events task group (who were instrumental in securing one of the world’s most spectacular courses), the USA CRITS Series (who have been a very supportive partner over the years), and our many other event partners and sponsors.

Source: USA Cycling