September 26/10 17:01 pm - US Gran Prix of Cyclocross Season Opener

Posted by Editoress on 09/26/10
 

Compton, Powers Repeat at Greenware USGP Season Opener, September 25th

Jeremy Powers (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com) led a New England sweep of the podium over a world class field in the opening round of the Greenware  US Gran Prix of Cyclocross Planet Bike Cup. Powers attacked early and never looked back to score a repeat win over his teammate Tim Johnson and Jonathan Page (Planet Bike).

The riders who failed to podium proved as impressive as the top three. Having won three straight American events, Francis Mourey (FDJ) collapsed under the pressure applied by North American riders. Christian Heule (Champion Systems) could only finish in fifth and Ryan Trebon (Kona) did not finish,with reports of knee pain.

Coming off her own knee issues suffered at the UCI World Mountain Bike Championship, Katie Compton (Planet Bike/Stevens) decided to race the day before. And she rode right back to her top form, rolling away from Luna challengers Georgia Gould and Amy Dombroski.  

Although able to solo to victory, Compton did not seem as dominant early on as Sue Butler (Hudtz Subaru) and Andrea Smith (Milton CAT) opened strongly. When Compton did launch an attack, only Dombroski could respond. A second surge from Compton disposed of  Dombroski just Meredith Miller (California Giant/Specialized) came forward. Gould would pass Dombroski to score a second place finish. Dombroski held for third with Miller in fourth, Butler in fifth.

The SRAM Most Aggressive Rider award went to Teal Stetson-Lee (California Giant/Specialized), who lined up last but drove up to a seventh place finish.

When the men lined up all expected another dominant performance from Mourey. Instead Powers went early and hard and broke loose on the first lap. Trebon drove the initial chase and Mourey seemed content to wait. Johnson and Driscoll set up to play defense for Powers. But then Johnson changed things up and attacked. He went halfway across the gap and drew the attention of Mourey, who then attacked towards Johnson. He nearly got to the wheel of Johnson but then blew a fuse and drifted back to the  chasers only to be dropped by them. He would roll in for 14th.

With Mourey gone, the race for third proved fantastic with Page, Jamey Driscoll (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld), Geoff Kabush (Rocky Mountain/Maxxis), Todd Wells (California Giant/Specialized) and Christian Heule (Champion Systems) trading attacks. Davide Frattinin (Hudtz Subaru) came off from a brilliant start as Tristan Schouten (Planet Bike) pushed up to the group, earning himself the SRAM Most Aggressive rider honors. 

After each rider took turns attacking, it came down to a sprint which clearly favored Page, who held for the final podium spot ahead of Wells and Heule.

Press release