September 23, 2010 (Las Vegas, NV) – The moon was full, the Las Vegas lights shimmered in the distance, the crowds were noisy and the racing was hot at CrossVegas. In a show of force, Czech National Cyclocross Champion Katerina Nash (Luna Pro Team) soloed to victory, her first at the race after taking second the past two years.

“This is one of my favorite races and it’s a good crowd tonight.” Nash said. “Every time you win it’s super exciting it wasn’t easy out there, it’s a super tough course. I just put in a good effort maybe half-way through the race, the gap kept growing. I had teammates back there, they were super strong but they weren’t going to let me go so I put my head down and Mary was riding extremely strong today. CrossVegas is a big deal and it’s exciting to win out here.”

From the start of the race, the women of Luna Pro Team were in total control of the 40-minute race. Nash and her teammates Georgia Gould, and Amy Dombroski went immediately to the front and established a fast paced tempo. Joining the lead group was former US National cross country champion, Mary McConneloug (Kenda/Seven Cycles).

With three laps to go Nash attacked hard and established a huge lead.
The battle was on for the remaining podium slots.

“I knew where my race was and I had to be smart about it. I was pretty much soft-pedaling on the front, neither of them would come around. Finally a little bit of help on windy sections but got a little blocked off on the last hillclimb” McConneloug.

Though McConneloug pressed the Luna Pro Team riders, Dombroski timed her attack in the final lap and prevailed to take second.

“Last year that was where I was able to get out of the group that I was with.” Dombroski used her knowledge of the course to attack on the climb. “You have to attack where it’s hard, I think that’s probably one of the hardest part, because it’s a steep hill, the grasses are real dry, I just of gave it everything there and tried to keep turning the pedals over even though I was totally inside out.”

McConneloug came in third, with Gould finishing fourth. The Elite Men’s race looked to be a repeat of last year when defending champion Jamey Driscoll Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com) took a solo flyer halfway through the race and looked to set to repeat. But that wasn’t counting on French Cyclocross Champion Francis Mourey (FDJ), just coming off from back-to-back wins in Seattle, who nipped Driscoll at the line after a final lap surge to take the win.

“Tonight, an enormous crowd. I think that for Americans, cyclocross is a big party, and we saw that tonight the crowd was present, it was a really beautiful evening.” Mourey said. It is Mourey’s first visit to Las Vegas and he compared it to the first time a child see a Christmas tree. “Grandiose.”

“It’s a bummer to be out there and try so hard and get nipped by half a wheel at the line, but his reputation precedes him, he’s a darned good bike rider.” Driscoll said after the race.

Two laps into the 60-minute race, Driscoll attacked the lead group and managed to build a gap of up to 24 seconds. Behind him, a chase group was formed which included Ryan Trebon (Kona), Chris Jones (Rapha Focus), Jonathan Page (Planet Bike), Christian Heule (Vc Gippingen Champion System), Gerben De Knegt (Rabobank-Giant Off Road) and Driscoll’s teammates US National Cyclocross Champion Tim Johnson and Jeremy Powers. Even though Johnson and Powers were playing defense, the gap slowly started to come down, with Trebon and Jones taking turns at the front.

Driscoll could see them coming but was buoyed by the fans. “That was pretty crazy. I was getting blinded by the flashes but the crowd was totally electrifying it was awesome to have hem cheering me on, it definitely raised my spirits out there.”

Tired from traveling, the Frenchman bided his time in the group.”I knew that I had a chance to win in a sprint and I wagered my race on a sprint and it worked”.

With half a lap to go, Mourey put in a huge surge and was able to sprint ahead of Driscoll to pip him at the line. De Knegt came in third right after Driscoll.

Results

Women

1. Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team 0:46:10
2. Amy Dombroski (USA) Luna Pro Team 0:17
3. Mary McConneloug (USA) Kenda/Seven/Notubes
4. Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team 0:28
5. Susan Butler (USA) Hudz-Subaru 0:59
6. Meredith Miller (USA) California Giant/Specialized 1:21
7. Kelli Emmett (USA) Giant Bicycles
8. Alison Powers (USA) Team Vera Bradley Foundation
9. Kari Studley (USA) Redline
10. Teal Stetson-Lee (USA) California Giant/Specialized
11. Nicole Duke (USA) Hudz-Subaru
12. Natasha Elliott (Can) Garneau Club Chaussures-Ogilvy
13. Maureen Bruno Roy (USA) Bob’S Red Mill P/B Seven Cycles
14. Sara Bresnick-Zocchi (USA) Crossresults.Com/Pedalpowercoaching.com
15. Laura Van Gilder (USA) C3 Athletes Serving Athletes
16. Linnea Koons (USA) Embrocation Cycling Journal
17. Heather Holmes (USA) Yeti/Sunflower Markets
18. Rebecca Blatt (USA) Central Wheel
19. Lisa Strong (USA) Hudz-Subaru
20. Kelly Benjamin (USA) Kccx p/b Challenge Tires
21. Linda Sone (USA) Planet Bike
22. Katherine Sherwin (USA) Hudz-Subaru
23. Lisa Hudson (USA) Feedback Sports -1 lap
24. Kate Scheider (USA)
25. Courtney Dimpel (USA) Bike Station Aptos
26. Shannon Gibson (USA) Velo Bella – Ellsworth
27. Rebecca Gross (USA) Velo Bella – Ellsworth
28. Emma Bast (USA) Team Plan C -2 laps
29. Kendall Ryan (USA) The Team – Socalcross
30. Kristal Boni (USA) Blue Sky Velo
31. Miranda Long (USA) Team Pg-13
32. Erika Powers (USA) Revolution/Peak Fasteners
33. Carrie Edwards (USA) Sheila Moon/Big Suingin’ Cycles
34. Karen Oppenheimer (USA) Bend Memorial Clinic Race Team
35. Michele Bliss (USA) Justin’S-Titus
36. Christina Probert (USA)
37. Alexis Ryan (USA) The Team – Socalcross -3 laps
38. Dorothy Wong (USA) The Team – Socalcross
39. Vicki Thomas (Can) Disasterrecovery.com
40. Ivie Crawford (USA) The Team – Socalcross -4 laps
41. Pia Pensaari (Fin) Team Velo Cycling -5 laps
42. Annette Padilla (USA) Celo Pacific
DNS Katherine Compton (USA) Planet Bike-Stevens Bikes
DNS Krista Park (USA) Cannondale/Incycle

Men

1. Francis Mourey (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux 0:59:30
2. James Driscoll (USA) Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com
3. Gerben De Knegt (Ned) Rabobank – Giant Off Road Team 1
4. Ryan Trebon (USA) Kona
5. Christian Heule (Sui) Champion System LBS 2
6. Jonathan Page (USA) Planet Bike
7. Jeremy Powers (USA) Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com 3
8. Lars Van Der Haar (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team 4
9. Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain 8
10. Adam Craig (USA) Rabobank-Giant Off-Road Team 0:10
11. Christopher Jones (USA) Rapha Focus 0:13
12. Timothy Johnson (USA) Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com 0:17
13. Jesse Anthony (USA) California Giant / Specialized 0:23
14. Luca Damiani (Ita) Kenda Pro Cycling P/B Geargrinder 0:36
15. Todd Wells (USA) Specialized Factory Racing 0:45
16. Derrick St John (Can) Garneau Club Chaussures-Ogilvy 1:54
17. Jake Wells (USA)
18. Tyler Wren (USA) Boo Bicycles 2:02
19. Rene Birkenfeld (Ger) Harvesterhude Rv 2:09
20. Zach McDonald (USA) Rapha Focus
21. Craig Richey (Can) Cyclocrossracing.Com p/b Blue
22. Tim Van Nuffel (Bel) Van Goethem-Prorace-Cycling Team 2:10
23. Carl Decker (USA) Giant 2:11
24. Molly Cameron (USA) Portland Bicycle Studio 2:17
25. Barry Wicks (USA) Kona 2:19
26. Aaron Schooler (Can) Team H&R Block 2:35
27. Jonathan Baker (USA) Hudz-Subaru 2:43
28. Mitchell Hoke (USA) Clif Bar Development Team 2:54
29. Brady Kappius (USA) Team Clif Bar 3:25
30. Joachim Parbo (Den) Kch Leopard Cycles 3:31
31. Valentin Scherz (Sui) Cyfac-Champion System p/b Revolution
Wheelworks 3:37
32. Davide Frattini (Ita) Hudz-Subaru
33. Tyler Trace (Can) Trek Red Truck
34. Brandon Dwight (USA) Boulder Cycle Sport 3:43
35. Jeremy Ferguson (USA) California Giant/Specialized 3:48
36. Matthew Pacocha (USA) Hudz-Subaru 3:52
37. Mark Lalonde (USA) Specialized 4:00
38. Ryan Dewald (USA) Bikyle/Mazur Coaching 4:01
39. Jared Nieters (USA) Haymarket/Seavs 4:04
40. Kevin Noiles (Can) La Bicicletta Pro Shop 4:13
41. Adam Myerson (USA) Mountain Khakis F/B Jittery Joes 4:16
42. Kamden Reedy (USA) Web-Op 4:19
43. Troy Wells (USA) Team Clif Bar 4:34
44. Mathew Ankney (USA) Kccx/Verge Elite Cyclocross Team 4:37
45. Stephen Cummings (USA) Indiana Regional Medical Center 4:45
46. Aaron Bouplon (USA) Rocky Mounts / Izze 4:54
47. Jamie Newall (Gbr) Team Corley Cycles 4:56
48. Sergio Hernandez (USA) Jelly Belly Presented By Kenda 5:07
49. Anthony Grand (Sui) Cyfac-Champion System p/b Revolution Wheelworks
50. Ben Chaddock (Can) Rubicon-Orbea 5:08
51. Geert Wellens (Bel) Scott Usa Cycling Team 5:16
52. Scott Tietzel (USA) Mountain Khakis F/B Jittery Joes 5:20
53. Jason Siegle (USA) Bike Religion 5:49
54. Justin Robinson (USA) California Giant/Specialized 5:56
55. Kevin Mullervy (USA) Team Exergy 6:11
56. Morgan Ryan (USA) The Team So Cal Cross 6:20
57. Spencer Powlison (USA) 7:52
61. Roger Rilling (USA) Stoller
62. Jason Holbrook (USA) Boulder Cycle Sport
63. Dean Poshard (USA) Rockloboster
65. Mike Sherer (USA) Verizon U25 Team
66. Peter Sullivan (USA) Svelte Cycles
67. Luke Keough (USA) Bikereg.Com/Cannondale -1 lap
68. Dave Hackworthy (USA) Clement Cx
69. Nicholas Weighall (USA) California Giant/Specialized
70. Conor Mullervy (USA) Team Exergy
71. Kyle Reedy (USA) Web-Op -2 laps
72. William Gault (USA) Kccx/Verge Elite Cyclocross Team
73. John Bailey (USA) Bailey Bikes
74. Anton Petrov (USA) Bike Religion
75. Phil Grove (USA) Lake Washington Velo
76. Cody Kaiser (USA) California Giant/Specialized
77. Geoffrey Nenninger (USA) Colorado Multisport
78. Shawn Harshman (USA) Pm Racing Team
79. Kyle Peppo (USA) Gs Mengoni Usa
80. Zoltan Tisza (Hun) Tecnofilm-Betonexpr 2000 -3 laps
81. Bryan Alders (USA) S.O.L.O.
82. David McNeal (USA) Birmingham Bicycle Company
83. Bill Marshall (USA) Kccx/Verge Elite Cyclocross Team
84. Charles Coyle (USA) Hudz-Subaru Cycling Team
85. Brian Astell (USA) Lost Coast Brewery/ Marin
86. Daniel MacDonald (Can) Total Restoration -4 laps
87. Michael Hosang (USA) Team Tripower
88. Zach Lail (USA) Mock Orange Racing
89. John Behrens (USA) Bailey Bikes
90. Gary Douville (USA) Platinum Performance
91. Matthew McGee (USA) Unattached
92. Cort Cramer (USA) Svelte Cycles
93. Joshua Lehmann (USA) Sunapee/S & W Racing Team
94. Benjamin Popper (USA) Rock Lobster
95. Anastasio Flores Jr (USA) California Giant Strawberry
96. Andy Bestwick (USA) Allegiant Airlines/ Pain Md’S -5 laps
97. Tyler Wertenbruch (USA) Slo Nexus – Gym One
98. JP Partland (USA) Kissena
99. Danny Kam (USA) Herbalife La Grange -6 laps
DNF Greg Gibson (USA) Truckerco.Com Racer’S Cycle Service
DNF Guillaume Nelessen (USA) Van Dessel Factory Team
DNF Travis Livermon (USA) Mock Orange Racing
DNF Dylan McNicholas (USA)
DNF Martin Gujan (Sui) Cannondale Factory Racing
DNF Allen Krughoff (USA) Boulder Cycle Sport
DNF Nick Truitt (USA) Yeti Cycles
DNS Marco Aurelio Fontana (Ita) Cannondale Factory Racing
DNS Matt Shriver (USA) Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
DNS Jonathan Sundt (USA) Kenda Pro Cycling P/B Geargrinder
DNS Manuel Fumic (Ger) Cannondale Factory Racing
DNS Stephen Pierce (USA) Cambridge Bicycle / Igleheart Frames
DNS Oliver Vrambout (USA) The Bikery Du Nord
DNS Robert Marion (USA)
DNS Michael Friedman (USA) Jelly Belly P/B Kenda
DNS Bryan Fawley (USA)
DNS Elliott Craddock (USA)
DNS Shadd Smith (USA) Kccx/Verge Elite Cyclocross Team
DNS Christopher McGovern (USA)
DNS David Sheek (USA) Rock N’ Road
DNS David Wilcox (USA) Pedro’s Grassroots Cycling Club
DNS Lane Miller (USA)
DNS Stevie Cullinan (USA)
DNS Colby Pearce (USA) Hudz-Subaru
DNS Paul Adams (USA)
DNS Mike Stewart (USA) Tri Cities Road Club