September 11, 2014 (Las Vegas, NV) – The big kick-off race of the Cyclo-cross season took place under the lights at Desert Breeze Park in Las Vegas on a grassy 3.2km track. Freshly crowned MTB XCO World Champion Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team quickly switched to her ‘cross bike this week and logged the best Canadian result in fourth, after a last-lap crash took her out of contention in the lead group. Underdog Meredith Miller (USA) Pepper Palace Pro Cycling won the pro women’s race, besting cyclo-cross greats Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team and US Champ Katherine Compton (USA) Trek Factory Racing.
The pro men’s race saw top Euro riders take to the start, including legend Sven Nys (Bel) Crelan-Aa Drinks, Lars Van Der Haar (Ned) Development Team Giant-Shimano, and Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Crelan-Aa Drinks, as well as American stars Jeremy Powers (USA) Rapha Focus, James Driscoll (USA) Raleigh Clement, and Jonathan Page (USA) Fuji/Spy. Nys out-foxed Van Der Haar at the finish to take top spot, while the young Dutch rider had to settle for second. Powers was the top North American in third, while Canadian Champ Geoff Kabush (Can) Scott-3Rox Racing was the best Canuck in 18th.
Pro Women
American Miller sprinted ahead of Nash of he Czech Republic and American Champion Compton to win the 2014 Clif Bar CrossVegas presented by Lazer.
“Helen (Wyman) (Kona Factory Racing) started fast,” stated Miller (Noosa Pro Cyclocross Team). “She is a very good starter but I know this race is a race of attrition. I knew that I had to just follow the right wheels. At one point, I had to jump across. Once I did I felt okay. I settled in and took a deep breath. I told myself to just stay with these awesome women.”
“The last sprint was the craziest part of the race. During the pre-ride, I told my friend that at the finish if you are not first you are last. I went into the sprint last. I kept trying to pass Katie. I almost took myself and her out. Being patient was the key because this grass takes it out of you. I waited to the very last minute to sprint.”
“I knew that I did not have the best legs today,” said Compton. “It’s a tactical race here. I was just waiting for the sprint. The last few turns we were all being aggressive and passing each other. I ended up leading in the last sprint. Meredith came around me like a rocket.”
The trio were joined by current World Mountain Bike Champion, Pendrel, for most of the race. In the last lap Pendrel slipped on the wet grass and was quickly gapped by Miller, Nash, and Compton. She was unable to get back in the lead group. Miller, Nash, and Compton stayed together for a bunch sprint to the finish.
Pro Men
Belgian Champion Nys claimed back-to-back victory at the Clif Bar CrossVegas on Saturday evening. An enthusiastic crowd cheered as the 2013 World Champion accelerated away from a select lead group on the final lap. Dutch Champion van der Haar, a three-time competitor at CrossVegas and winner of the 2011 edition was second. American Champion Powers rounded off the podium.
“It was a tactical race. I wanted to wait until the last two or three laps before the end to do something special. A big group in the front [of the race] and it was always waiting, waiting but I felt myself really strong the whole race. I did a few accelerations to close the gap at the beginning of the race, and then I say okay if I can do this in the last lap, I can win if I don’t make any mistakes. It went like I hoped and I’m really happy with a victory here, my second one. It’s good for the motivation for the next races in Europe.” Nys (Crelan-AA Drink) stated.
Van der Haar (Shimano-Giant) added, “I know Sven pretty well, I know what he does, I know where he does it so I knew that I had to be in front before the barriers but he was still able to get across. Then he knew where my two worst corners were, and he took advantage of that.”
“I felt good enough to do something tonight, I just didn’t know what.” Powers (Rapha-Focus) said. “It’s good company to be with. It’s a good ride, at this time of the year it’s good for me.”
Tactics were at the forefront for the first major event of the cyclocross season. A few solo attacks were attempted in the early laps but no rider was able to stay away for long. Halfway through the race, a select group of 12 riders was at the front, testing and watching each other.
Van der Har explained, “In the middle of the race, I tried to close a gap, I saw that it was pretty easy to close the gap but it took a lot of energy so you had to be careful with your energy. Everyone was taking it a little bit calmer, seeing what everyone was capable of.”
The group shuffled and reformed until Nys put in his attack on the barriers. Powers concluded, “As soon as he went, boom boom over the barriers, he had five seconds. His technique obviously helped him there and then he rode away.”
Pro Women
1. Meredith Miller (USA) Pepper Palace Pro Cycling 0:40:01
2. Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team
3. Katherine Compton (USA) Trek Factory Racing
4. Catharine Pendrel (Can) Luna Pro Team 0:00:22
5. Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team 0:00:36
6. Rachel Lloyd (USA) California Giant Cycling 0:00:49
7. Caroline Mani (Fra) Raleigh Clement 0:00:56
8. Amanda Nauman (USA) Sdg-Bellwether Pb Krema Peanut 0:01:02
9. Erica Zaveta (USA) Amy D Racing 0:01:07
10. Cassandra Maximenko (USA) Rare Vos / Vandessel / Power Ba 0:01:13
11. Gabriella Durrin (Gbr) Neon Velo Cycling Team 0:01:14
12. Maghalie Rochette (Can) Luna Pro Team 0:01:24
13. Courtenay McFadden (USA) Gecapital/American Classic 0:01:36
14. Kelli Emmett (USA) Giant Factory Off Road Team 0:01:47
15. Elle Anderson (USA) California Giant Cycling 0:01:53
16. Teal Stetson-Lee (USA) Luna Pro Team 0:01:55
17. Lisa Jacobs (Aus) Rapha-Focus 0:02:08
18. Crystal Anthony (USA) Optum P/B Kelly Benefit 0:02:16
19. Jessica Cutler (USA) Fcs|Cycling: P/B Zngine + Mr. 0:02:24
20. Arley Kemmerer (USA) Pb2 Pro Cycling 0:02:34
21. Mical Dyck (Can) Stans No Tubes 0:03:01
22. Nina Baum (USA) Stan’s No Tubes 0:03:05
23. Emily Kachorek (USA) Squid 0:03:07
24. Carolina Gimez (Arg) Vanderkitten Cx 0:03:49
25. Andi Zolton (USA) Nemesis Racing 0:04:15
26. Kristin Weber (USA) Boulder Cycle Sport 0:04:25
27. Diane Lee (Gbr) 0:04:29
28. Sofia Gomez Villafane (USA) Ft Lewis Cycling 0:04:44
29. Beth Ann Orton (USA) Team S&M/Sellwood Cycle Repair 0:04:59
30. Rebecca Gross (USA) Vanderkitten Cx 0:05:15
31. Nicole Brandt (USA) Michelob Ultra – La Grange +21 0:05:21
32. Katie Arnold (USA) First Internet Bank Cycling Tea 0:05:42
33. Vicki Barclay (Gbr) Stan’s No Tubes 0:05:51
34. Suzie Godart (Lux) Team Differdange-Losch 0:06:03
35. Rachel Dobrozsi (USA) Red Zone Elite 0:06:07
36. Heidi Wood (USA) 333Fab Cx Factory Team 0:06:13
37. Lisa Hudson (USA) Feedback 0:06:19
38. Karen Hogan (USA) Team Kappius 0:07:07
39. Liz Barcheck (USA) Team Small Batch
40. Katherine Santos (USA) Red Zone Elite 0:07:17
41. Michelle Khare (USA) Dartmouth 0:07:18
42. Mackenzie Green (USA) Red Zone Elite 0:07:31
43. Julie Hunter (USA) Seavs/Haymarket Pb Van Dessel 0:07:54
44. Natalie Koncz (USA) Nemesis Racing 0:08:06
45. Meghan Korol (USA) Don Walker Cycles Racing 0:08:28
46. Jennifer Nordhem (USA) Hudson Furniture/Cycling Cross -1 lap
47. Shane Ferro (USA) Rockstar Games/Signature Cycles -1 lap
48. Kelly Chang (USA) Voler/Hrs/Stevens Creek Bmw/Roc -2 laps
49. Gemma Kernich (Aus) Focus Bikes Australia/Port Adel -2 laps
50. Stace Cooper (USA) -2 laps
51. Sarah Lukas (USA) Quantum Mesa Cycles -4 laps
DNF Helen Wyman (Gbr) Kona
DNF Ally Stacher (USA) Ally’s Bar
DNF Jenna Blandford (USA) Vo2
DNS Amy Bradley (Aus)
Pro Men
1. Sven Nys (Bel) Crelan-Aa Drinks 1:03:17
2. Lars Van Der Haar (Ned) Development Team Giant-Shimano 0:00:04
3. Jeremy Powers (USA) Rapha Focus 0:00:12
4. Quinten Hermans (Bel) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team 0:00:17
5. Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Crelan-Aa Drinks 0:00:19
6. Daan Soete (Bel) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team 0:00:30
7. Allen Krughoff (USA) Noosa Professional Cyclocross 0:00:34
8. Shawn Milne (USA) Boulder Cycle Sport/ Yoga Glo 0:00:36
9. Ben Berden (Bel) Raleigh Clement
10. Cameron Dodge (USA) Pure Energy/Scott Bikes 0:00:38
11. James Driscoll (USA) Raleigh Clement 0:00:42
12. Adam Craig (USA) Giant Factory Off-Road Team 0:00:57
13. Jake Wells (USA) Stans No Tubes 0:01:09
14. Simon Zahner (Sui) Ekz Racing Team 0:01:14
15. Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) Telenet Fidea Cycling Team 0:01:26
16. Jonathan Page (USA) Fuji/Spy 0:01:38
17. Lukas Winterberg (Sui) Mueller Landscaping / Bh Bicycl 0:01:48
18. Geoff Kabush (Can) Scott-3Rox Racing 0:02:17
19. Craig Richey (Can) Trek Red Truck Racing P/B Mosai 0:02:21
20. Marcel Wildhaber (Sui) Scott-Odlo Mtb Racing Team
21. Anthony Clark (USA) Jam/Ncc Squid Bikes 0:02:22
22. Timothy Johnson (USA) Cannondale Pb Cyclocrossworld.C 0:02:48
23. Derek Zandstra (Can) Scott 3 Rox Racing 0:02:55
24. Barry Wicks (USA) Kona 0:02:56
25. Justin Lindine (USA) Redline / Nbx 0:02:58
26. Mitchell Hoke (USA) The Pro’S Closet Cx 0:03:04
27. Jacob Sitler (USA) Seavs/Haymarket Pb Van Dessel 0:03:10
28. Carl Decker (USA) Giant Factory Off-Road Team 0:03:19
29. Lewis Gaffney (USA) American Classic Raleigh Pro Cx 0:03:48
30. Jeremy Durrin (USA) Neon Velo Cycling Team 0:03:49
31. Benjamin Sonntag (Ger) Team Clif Bar 0:04:02
32. Zach Mcdonald (USA) Kccx Elite Cyclocross Team P/B 0:04:42
33. Kerry Werner (USA) Optum P/B Kely Benefit Strategi 0:04:45
34. Adam Myerson (USA) Cycle-Smart 0:04:46
35. Thomas Turner (USA) Team Jamis
36. Troy Wells (USA) Team Clif Bar 0:05:14
37. Elliot Reinecke (USA) Focus Bikes 0:05:26
38. Cody Kaiser (USA) Langetwins/Specialized 0:05:39
39. Michael Van Den Ham (Can) Trek Red Truck P/B Mosaic Homes 0:06:38
40. Joshua Johnson (USA) Giant Factory Off-Road Team 0:06:54
41. Tobin Ortenblad (USA) California Giant Berry Farms – 0:07:33
42. Christopher Aitken (Aus) Focus Bikes Australia -2 laps
43. Robert Marion (USA) American Classic Pro Cyclocross -2 laps
44. Jared Nieters (USA) Seavs/Haymarket Pb Van Dessel -2 laps
45. Garry Millburn (Aus) Attaquer -2 laps
46. Chris Jackson (USA) Castex Racing -2 laps
47. Mark McConnell (Can) Synergy Racing P/B Sri Importin -3 laps
48. Tyler Coplea (USA) Velo Vie/ Hammer Nutrition -3 laps
49. Brady Kappius (USA) Team Clif Bar -3 laps
50. Tom Chapman (Aus) Focus Bikes Australia -4 laps
51. Jade Lean (Aus) Focus Bikes Australia Cx Team -5 laps
52. Alex Ryan (USA) Mock Orange Pro Cx Team -5 laps
53. Sean Dunlea (Gbr) Neon Velo Cycling Team -5 laps
DNF Mike Garrigan (Can) Van Dessel
DNF Hugo Robinson (Gbr Neon Velo Cycling Team