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RACE REPORTS: US CYCLOCROSS NATIONALS: JOHNSON AND COMPTON REIGN
Road Bike Action
December 13, 2009
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At the Cyclocross National Championships in Bend, Oregon, Tim Johnson (Cannondale-cyclocrossworld.com) pulled off a stunning victory to capture his third national cyclocross championship. The race started fast with Johnson’s Cannondale-cyclocrossworld.com teammate Jeremy Powers setting a blistering pace. By the end of the first lap Powers had a three second lead on Johnson, Jonathan Page (Planet Bike), Todd Wells (Specialized) and Ryan Trebon (Kona-FSA). Powers held the lead until the third lap when he crashed in an off camber section.
 Powers set a blistering pace during the opening laps.
“It was an off camber section, I rode it fine before but that time I just lost it,” said Powers after the race.
With Powers being forced to swap bikes after his crash, Johnson took over at the front establishing a 3-second gap over Trebon. Behind the two leaders, Powers was chasing third with Wells and Jamey Driscoll (Cannondale–cyclocrossworld.com). By the start of the fifth lap Johnson had extended his lead over Trebon to 5-seconds. On lap six Johnson’s lead had grown to 9-seconds with the chase group of Powers Page and Driscoll a further 30-seconds down. Throughout the remainder of the race Johnson continued to extend his lead and by the finish was 20-seconds clear of Trebon.
 Trebon fought hard but was unable to stay with Johnson
Behind Trebon the battle for the final podium was being fought as Powers, Driscoll, Wells and Page all took turns swapping positions. Eventually it was Page and Wells that were able to open a gap on teammates Powers and Driscoll, with Page gapping Wells on the final lap to take third. Wells held on for fourth while Powers held off Driscoll for fifth.
Cyclocross National Championships Elite Men
1. Tim Johnson (Cannondale-cyclocrossworld.com)
2. Ryan Trebon (Kona-FSA)
3. Jonathan Page (Planet Bike)
4. Todd Wells (Specialized)
5. Jeremy Powers (Cannondale-cyclocrossworld.com)
6. Jamey Driscoll (Cannondale-cyclocrossworld.com)
7. Adam Craig (Giant)
8 Dan Timmerman (Richard Sachs)
9 Barry Wicks (Kona-FSA)
10 Chris Jones (Champion System)
Elite Women
The Elite Women’s race was a one-woman show as Katie Compton (Planet Bike-Stevens) dominated the race. Compton took the hole shot from Meredith Miller (California Giant Berry) Alison Dunlap (Luna Chix) and Amy Dombroski (Schlamm p/b Clement and Primus Mootry) and never looked back.
 Compton soloed from start to finish
Throughout the race Compton continued to build her lead while the battle for the remaining podium spots commenced behind with Dombroski holding second while Dunlap and Miller chased in third and fourth positions. On the second lap Dunlap crashed in a tight corner, allowing Miller to open a gap. Miller took advantage and bridged to Dombroski. Once with Dombroski, Miller wasted little time before attacking on the paved section and riding clear. Dombroski put up a strong fight and closed to within 8-seconds of Miller at the finish. Dunlap was able to hold on for fourth.
This was Compton’s the fifth straight national cyclocross championship. Compton will now return to Europe to defend her lead in the World Cup standings and prepare for the world championships.
Cyclocross National Championships Elite Women:
1. Katherine Compton (Planet Bike)
2. Meredith Miller (California Giant Berry)
3. Amy Dombroski (Primus Mootry-Schlamm)
4. Alison Dunlap (Luna Chix)
5. Laura Van Gilder (C3 - Athletes Serving Athletes)
6. Andrea Smith (Minuteman)
7. Mary McConneloug (Kenda/Seven/NoTubes)
8. Kelli Emmett (Giant Bicycles)
9. Maureen Bruno Roy (Seven Cycles)
10. Susan Butler (Monavie-Cannondale.com) |
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