October 11, 2005 – The first weekend of the Crank Brothers US Gran Prix of Cyclocross kicked off this past weekend with a Saturday race in Portland at the Alpenrose Dairy and then on Sunday at Steilacoom Park just outside of Tacoma, WA.

After a week of constant rain, course conditions at the Alpenrose Dairy grounds couldn’t have been more saturated. This course featured many off-camber sections, single-track trails and a short burst around the velodrome track. Cloudy and dry skies welcomed the group to the starting grid as the hordes of spectators lined the course with cowbells in tow. The Kona twin towers Ryan Trebon and Barry Wicks immediately shot to the front with Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis), Andy Jacques-Maynes (Specialized-Giant Strawberries), Adam Craig (Giant), Mark McCormack (Clif Bar) and Tim Johnson (Cyclocrossworld-Louis Garneau) gathering and preparing the inevitable counter attacks.

Things started sorting themselves at the midway point with Trebon at the head of affairs with Wicks and Craig hot on his heals. Johnson, Kabush and McCormack worked well together trying to close the gap. Flying through the pits and down the small decent, Kabush led the chase until an untimely puncture at the worst possible place sent the Canadian Champ into tri-training mode, running his bike for nearly eight minutes to the pit for a bike change. Meanwhile, Trebon had separated himself from all chasers and charged hard at the front. At the line it was Trebon followed by Wicks, Craig, McCormack and Johnson. Kabush worked hard at the back, slicing his way through the back of the pack finally finishing in twenty-fourth position for the day.

Sunday’s race conditions couldn’t have been more different. Still with cloudy skies, the conditions were very dry and fast with a power riders course in store for the fans. The initial lap saw Andy Jacques-Maynes (Specialized-Giant Strawberries) hit the start/finish first with Ryan Trebon and Barry Wicks (Kona), Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis), Adam Craig (Giant), Tim Johnson (Cyclocrossworld-Louis Garneau) and Mark McCormack (Clif Bar) jockeying for position. These riders quickly pulled away from the remainder of the pack, creating an elite selection that would produce the podium for the day. Playing the accordion for the remainder of the event, the top six riders attacked and countered each other, unsuccessfully ejecting any of the fellow breakaways. With a single lap remaining, Craig attacked first dragging Trebon and McCormack along for the rider. Trebon took over just as Johnson made contact and Craig faltered on the run-up. With the two experienced roadies vying for position, it was up to Trebon to make the decisive move. A miscalculated attack relegated Trebon to third wheel with McCormack taking over with only one hundred meters remaining. The three man drag race to the finish line saw McCormack take the victory with Trebon in second, Johnson third and a late charging Kabush in fourth. Wicks kicked in a mean sprint to take fifth spot over Adam Craig.

Race Results
USGP #1 — Portland, OR

1. Ryan Trebon — Kona
2. Barry Wicks — Kona
3. Adam Craig — Giant
4. Mark McCormack – Clif Bar
5. Tim Johnson — Cyclocrossworld-Louis Garneau
24. Geoff Kabush — Team Maxxis