September 19, 2009 (Redmond, WA) – Helen Wyman (Kona), the UK Cyclocross national champ, scored the win this evening taking the 2009 FSA Star Crossed amplified by Redline, the first UCI cyclocross season opener race on the west coast, and the first event in the North American Cyclocross Trophy (NACT) which includes ten events in five cities across the US and Canada.

The rain held off until the last two laps as the women raced for 40 min. Sue Butler (Monavie-Cannondale) was second and Alison Dunlap (Luna), now out of retirement, was third. Canada’s Alison Sydor (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) was fourth as she and Dunlap got tangled up near the finish and crashed allowing Butler to pass them and claim 2nd. Dunlap recovered quicker to take third as Canada’s Sarah Stewart placed 8th, Joelle Guynup was 16th and Kelly Jones (BC) finished in 17th.

Men’s Report
The skies opened up and it poured early on in the men’s race. The wet velodrome and pavement with slick grassy/mud corners lead to numerous crashes. It let up for a bit but then poured again.

The lead group of about eight riders lead by Christian Heule (Rendemenhypo Cycling), Jeremy Powers (Cyclocrossworld.com) and Jonathan Page (Planet Bike) saw attacks and crashes resulting in numerous changes at the front as riders went down and recovered.

Along the way 2008 USGP winner Tim Johnson (Cyclocrossworld.com) abandoned holding his hand/shoulder. Canada’s Aaron Schooler (Team H&R Block-Kona) and Trace Tyler (Trek Red Truck) were in the mix as the chasing continued in wet and slippery conditions.

In the end Heule attacked and proved the fastest of the bunch as he lead the charge to the finish taking the win with Powers claiming second and Page 3rd. Top Canuck was Schooler in 9th.

Results (brief)

Elite Women

1. Helen Wyman (Kona)
2. Sue Butler (Monavie-Cannondale)
3. Alison Dunlap (Luna)
4. Alison Sydor (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain)
5. Kari Studley (Velo Bella)
6. Emily Van Meter (Hudz-Subaru)
7. Wendy Williams (Hudz-Subaru)
8. Sarah Stewart (Total Restoration Cycling Team)
9. Jenni Gaertner (Vertical Earth)
10. Kristi Berg (Redline)

16. Joelle Guynup
17. Kelly Jones (BC)

Elite Men

1. Christian Heule (Rendemenhypo Cycling)
2. Jeremy Powers (Cyclocrossworld.com)
3. Jonathan Page (Planet Bike)
4. Ryan Trebon (Kona)
5. Andy Jacques-Maynes (Bissel Pro Cycling)
6. Troy Wells (Clif Bar)
7. Jesse Anthony (Jamis)
8. Russell Stevenson (Banaroya Research Institute)
9. Aaron Schooler (Team H&R Block-Kona)
10. Trace Tyler (Trek Red Truck)