The women's race included all the biggest names in Utah cyclocross were on hand. Kathy Sherwin (Velo Bella/Ellsworth) made her 2009 cross debut against last week's winner Kris Walker (Church of the Big Ring) and teammate Dayna Deuter, while '08 UTCX series champion Erika Powers (Revolution/Peak Fasteners) looked to be on great form after a second place last weekend.
Off the start Jen Hanks (Revolution/Peak Fasteners) got the holeshot but was quickly overtaken by a high-powered group including Sherwin, Deuter, Walker, and Tiffany Pezzulo. Once through the opening section of barriers Sherwin powered her way off the front putting a 20 second gap on Walker. Behind the leaders it was Pezzulo settling into 3rd followed by Deuter and Erika Powers who was picking off riders after a slow start.
As Powers closed on Deuter she banged her rear wheel while crossing a barrier dislodging it from the dropout. The stop to fix her wheel would drop her out of the top-10.
At the halfway point Kris Walker continued to maintain her 20 second gap behind race leader Kathy Sherwin. Sherwin clearly had waited to push the pace. The Velo Bella rider shifted into high gear and began putting big chunks of time into her rivals finally crossing the line with a healthy margin.
Walker held onto second ahead of Tiffany Pezzulo and Danyna Deuter. The final podium spot came down to a battle between early leader Jen Hanks and UTCX newcomer Stephanie Skoreyko (Univeristy of Utah). The two worked together through the middle portions of the race until Skoreyko struggled on the run-up giving Hanks a 5 second gap. Hanks pushed the pace and put in a strong closing lap to take the 5th and final step on the podium.
The men's race featured the always exciting match up between perennial cyclocross powerhouse Bart Gillespie (Monavie-Cannondale.com) and challenger Ali Goulet (Church of the Big Ring). Goulet shot out to his usual early lead only to be reeled in by Gillespie after sliding out in a sandy corner. Once the two hooked up they began laying down the fastest laps ever on the Weber course crushing the opening laps under 6 minutes each. Contender rider Reed Wycoff dangled just seconds behind the leaders. Despite his best efforts Wycoff was never able to close the 5 second gap to the leaders.
Behind the leaders Thomas Bender (Kuhl/Scott) and Jason Sager (Jamis) pounded out the laps locked together. Bender used his power to push the pace on the open sections while Sager hammered through the tight winding sections and jumped the log barriers on his converted rigid mountain bike.
Up front it was Goulet who seemed to have the upper hand as he jumped the barriers allowing him to ride the entire run-up. The leaders continued to charge through the course with Goulet finally charging to the front. Gillespie came across in second with Wycoff coming home in third.
Behind the leaders, Thomas Bender held off Sager for the 4th spot.
Race Notes:
Eric Rasmussen (Specialized) turned in what could have been the strongest ride of the day. After hitting the deck hard trying to jump a log on the opening lap last year's Utah cyclocross state champion languished in last place. It took him a full lap to get himself collected and he immediately began picking his way through the pack. Rasmussen passed rider after rider catching and dropping groups of riders all throughout the course. At the finish he worked his way up to 6th.
Women A:
1, Kathy Sherwin (Velo Bella)
2, Kris Walker (Church of the Big Ring)
3, Tiffany Pezzulo
4, Dayna Deuter (Church of the Big Ring)
5, Jen Hanks (Revolution/Peak Fasteners)
6, Stephanie Skoreyko (Univeristy Of Utah)
7, Erika Powers (Revolution/Peak Fasteners)
8, Rachel Cieslewicz (Church of the Big Ring)
9, Heather Edwards
10, Chantel Olsen
11, Laura Patten
12, Christy Clay
13, Mary Foss
Men A:
1, Ali Goulet (Church of the Big Ring)
2, Bart Gillespie (Monavie-Cannondale.com)
3, Reed Wycoff (Contender)
4, Thomas Bender (Kuhl/Scott)
5, Jason Sager (Jamis)
6, Eric Rasmussen (Specialized)
