October 23/10 22:42 pm - USGP Derby City Cup: Day one

Posted by Editoress on 10/23/10
 

Greenware US Gran Prix of Cyclocross
Derby City Cup presented by Papa John's Pizza.

Race Marks Debut of New Cyclocross Venue and Future site of 2013 Elite World Championships

Tim Johnson (Cannondale prepared by CyclocrossWorld.com) and Georgia Gould (LUNA) stormed to victories today at Day One of the Greenware® US Gran Prix of Cyclcoross Derby City Cup presented by Papa John's Pizza debut weekend of the new Eva Bandman Park Cyclocross Venue.

Racing in warm, dry and dusty conditions the racers sped through a course that took full advantage of the natural features afforded by the new venue including a sand dune section and steep run up and drops in addition to the now legendary Green Monster Fly-Over.  One racer remarked that this year "the Monster" was actually a relief.

In the men's race Johnson, Powers and Trebon took and early lead and rode together at a blistering pace sending up rooster tails of dust in their wake.  Eventually Powers was dropped, leaving Johnson and Trebon to battle it out for the top step of the Podium.  With five laps to go Johnson opened a gap coming out of the sand pits and never looked back, powering away to win his second race of the 2010 USGP.  Powers fought hard to hold on to third, holding off a hard charging group that Todd Wells, Tristan Shouten and Jesse Anthony.  Wells who was 20th in the call-up orders, sliced and diced through the field to earn himself the SRAM Aggressive Rider for the day.

In the women's race Georgia Gould showed that her form is excellent as a she opened a gap on lap one and never looked back.  Meredith Miller and Natasha Elliott, along with several other top women, suffered a crash in the sand which was all the opportunity Gould needed to seize the win.  While Miller experienced mechanical trouble, Elliott surged along  holding her position ahead of a four woman chase that included Laura Van Guilder, Kaitlin Antonneau, Kathy Sherwin, Duke and eventually Miller.  Nicole Duke, a former downhill champion, took the honors as the SRAM Most Aggressive Rider for her seventh place finish after moving herself up through the field in impressive fashion.