Erika Powers leads Dayna Deuter through a corner
The vibe before today’s race was noticeably more tense than any other race this season. With the State Championship title on the line all riders were eying a chance to put their names in the record books.
The usual temperate Utah weather held out for the women’s event but things changed quickly as the wind picked up and winter snow storm blew through the men’s race., dropping the temperature another 10 degrees.
As the women rode from the line at 11am it was clear this would be a different race than we have seen this season. The Heber racecourse is wide and open. Add in a stiff head wind on the flats and it was clear fans would be rewarded with some close racing action.
Erika Powers (Revolution/Peak Fasteners) took the lead off the line but Dayna Deuter (Church of the big ring), Sarah Kaufmann (Roaring Mouse), and Chantel Olsen (PCIM) tucked in behind her. The four leaders opened up an early gap as confusion and a crash by Stephanie Skoryenko (Univerity of Utah) slowed the chasers.
Once free from the challengers the group took turns at the front while looking for the slightest advantage over their counterparts.
As the laps wore on Deuter and Powers started to take control. After chasing back on several times Kaufmann and Olsen finally dropped off the lead group. With just two laps left, Powers started to pull away. She looked to be on her way to a state championship just when she crashed on a tight turn transitioning from the pavement to gravel.
With Powers down Deuter charged into the lead. The Church of the Big Ring rider put in a tremendous effort and at the start of the bell lap it was now Deuter who had a 10 second lead over second placed Powers.
Powers was not about to give the race away yet. Giving it everything she had Powers, somehow bridged the gap to the leader and wasted no time overtaking the leader.
Once back in the lead, Powers gave Deuter no chance of contesting the sprint. She kept the pace high and crossed the line with a healthy gap and a State Championship title to go with it.
Deuter took second place ahead of Sarah Kaufmann, Chantel Olsen, and Jen Hanks who worked her way through the pack after a hectic start.
2008 State Champion Eric Rasmussen leads Bart Gillespie and Ali Goulet into the run upThe men’s race promised to be equally exciting with the cold and snowfall adding to the fun.
The headwinds held the group together on the first lap but Ali Goulet (Church of the Big Ring), Reed Wycoff (Contneder), Bart Gillespie (Monavie-Cannondale.com), and Eric Rasmussen (Specialized) created the first split of the race.
Reed Wycoff was the first victim of the leaders furious pace. Wycoff has a strong start but lacks the staying power of Goulet, Gillespie, and Rasmussen. After shedding Wycoff the pace up front slowed briefly. As the leaders got comfortable Alex Grant (Monavie-Cannondale.com) used the opportunity to bridge the gap. Grant displayed the strength that carried him to second place at last week’s La Ruta De Los Conquistadors stage race in Costa Rica.
For a moment it looked like Monavie would have two riders in the front group but the experience of Rasmussen and Goulet would not let that happen. Just as Grant finally closed the gap Goulet and Rasmussen launched a strong acceleration detaching Grant as quickly as he had jumped the gap to the leaders.
Once again the lead group was at three. The speed at the front stayed high with each looking comfortable. It was clear all three would be together until the finish and Goulet seemed to know exactly what to do.
Goulet takes the lead and the State Champion title
At the start of the final lap Goulet went to the front and picked up the pace. While he couldn’t quite shake Rasmussen or Gillespie they desperately clung to a half bike length gap. All throughout the final lap Goulet did just enough to insure that no one could come around him. Once they entered the final straight Goulet wound up his sprint gapping Rasmussen and giving him no chance to come around him at the line.
Rasmussen came in for second place followed closely by Gillespie for third. Alex Grant took the fourth spot, holding off Bryce Young.
Results
Women
1, Erika Powers
2, Dayna Deuter
3, Sarah Kaufmann
4, Chantel Olsen
5, Jen Hanks
6, Tanya Swensen
7, Allison Vrem
8, Jennie Wade
9, Laura Patten
10, Stephanie Falls
Men
1, Ali Goulet
2, Eric Rasmussen
3, Bart Gillespie
4, Alex Grant
5, Bryce Young
