Jen Hanks runs through the barriers with Heather Edwards behind
Just one day after the crowning the new Utah State Champions, Utah’s crossers were back at it again. This time on the more technical Wheeler Farm course.
Early in the day small patches of snow clung to the edges of the course and as the temperature rose during the women’s event the snow began to melt turning a dry track slippery and even more challenging.
Erika Powers (Revoluton/Peak Fasteners) took the lead off the start .Dayna Deuter (Church of the Big Ring) was determined to retake the top spot after just missing out on a State Championship yesterday. She jumped into the lead group with Powers as did Chantel Olsen (PCIM) who has been consistently challenging the leaders in this year’s Utah Cyclocross series.
Chantel Olsen and Dayna Deuter attack the barriers
The lead group was short-lived. Just before the end of the first lap Deuter had moved into the lead but crashed on a tight, slick, downhill corner. Erika cruised past and once out front, she never looked back. She quickly built a lead of 20 seconds.
Deuter recovered but not in time to catch a charging Erika Powers. She was left defending second place from Chantel Olsen who stuck close to the Church of the Big Ring rider.
Behind the lead trio Jen Hanks was once again making up for a slow start working her way past Laura Patten (Ski Utah), and Heather Edwards to put herself in the fourth spot.
Powers built on her lead finally crossing the line with a large lead. Deuter took her her second runner-up in two days as Olsen held on for third just in front of Jen Hanks who needed a last lap surge to detach Heather Edwards.
Alex Grant leads Ali Goulet and Bart Gillespie through the singletrack
By the time the men’s race started most of the muddy spots had dried leaving the course fast and tacky. And once again the State Champion, this time Ali Goulet (Church of the Big Ring), was looking to prove himself with a repeat win.
At first it seemed Goulet would have a much harder time as both Bart Gilllespie and Alex Grant, both of team Monavie-Cannondale.com accompanied him in the lead group.
Goulet had his hands full in the opening laps as Gillespie and Grant took turns attacking him unable to drop the State Champion and after three laps Goulet had had enough.
Ali Goulet on his way to another win
Goulet launched a wicked attack sending him clear of the Monavie duo who were unable to reel the leader back. From that point on it was a solo race with Goulet, Grant, Gillespie, and Eric Rasmussen (Specialized) fighting the wind and course on their own.
Goulet kept pouring it on at the front and in impressive fashion turned in his fastest lap time on the penultimate lap. He finally crossed the line well ahead of his challengers taking his second win of the weekend. Grant finished second with Gillespie behind and Mitchell Petersen (Monavie-Cannondale.com) taking fifth.
Race Notes:
RMCC rider Alison Vrem has been turning in strong races every weekend. After moving up to the A class early in the ’09 season, Vrem has gotten strong with every race finishing 6th in today’s event.
Results
Men
1, Ali Goulet
2, Alex Grant
3, Bart Gillespie
4, Eric Rasmussen
5, Mitchel Petersen
Women
1, Erika Powers
2, Dayna Deuter
3, Chantel Olsen
4, Jen Hanks
5, Heather Edwards
6, Alison Vrem
7, Laura Patten
8, Stephanie Falls
9, Rachel Cieslewicz
10, Meaghan Cunningham
11, Heather Gilbert
