October 17, 2009 (Toronto, ON) – There are 40 riders lining up for the Elite men’s UCI race at the GNC Toronto International Cyclocross in Centennial Park, now part of the North American Cyclocross Trophy (NACT) Series. The men will race for 60 min. on the 2.85km course. Cannondale-cyclocrossworld.com is here with a strong squad including Jeremy Powers, Tim Johnson and Jamey Driscoll, while Canada’s Derrick St. John (Ride with Rendall), Mike Garrigan (Jetpower) and Aaron Schooler (Team H&R Block Kona) are aiming for the podium as well.

Lap 1
Garrigan took the holeshot with Powers right behind followed by Andy Jacques-Maynes (US) Bissell then Johnson and Driscoll. Schooler and St. John are up there in the top 10…

Lap 2
Jacques-Maynes is leading a group of 5 including Powers in 2nd, Jesse Anthony (US) Jamis in 3rd, Johnson in 4th and Driscoll in 5th. Then it’s a Canadian chase group lead by Tyler Trace (Trek Red Truck) in 6th with Schooler in 7th, St. John in 8th, Warren MacDonald (EMD Serono-Specialized) in 9th, Tristan Schouten [CORRECTION not James Lalonde and we’ve fixed throughout this report] (US) Planet Bike in 10th with Andrew Watson (Can) Norco in 11th.

Lap 3
Jacques-Maynes continues to lead with 3s over St. John who has surged into 2nd with Driscoll in 3rd followed by Anthony in 4th with Johnson looking a bit strained in 5th. Canada’s Watson has advanced into 6th followed by Schouten in 7th with Schooler in 8th, Powers now in 9th (may have had a mechanical) and it looks like U23 rider Jared Stafford (Bikesports Racing) in 10th.

Knocking on the top-10 door are Trace, Garrigan, MacDonald…

Lap 4
St. John attacks before they hit the barriers on lap 4 and is leading followed by Johnson who has recovered in 2nd with Jacques-Maynes in 3rd, Driscoll now in 4th, Anthony in 5th with Watson still in 6th and Schouten in 7th. This lead group has a 15s gap over Schooler alone in 8th followed by Nat Ward (Can) Speary/NCC Venda in 9th with Trace and Garrigan behind.

Lap 5 – 4:35 PM EST
Now over the half way point Johnson attacks and takes over the lead with Driscoll now in 2nd at 5s – then it’s St. John leading a group of 4 including Jacques-Maynes, Watson and Schouten as Anthony has been dropped and is in 7th alone followed by Schooler in 8th also on his own.

Lap 6
Johnson continues to lead with Driscoll in second – three laps to go – with St. John in 3rd still leading the small chase group with Jacques-Maynes in 4th, Schouten in 5th and Watson in 6th. Watson dropped off for some reason but now is back on. Then it’s Anthony about 10s behind in 7th with Schooler in 8th followed by Garrigan, Powers (who took a nasty fall over the barriers) and CORRECTION it’s not Nat Ward but 19 year old Jared Stafford behind Powers.

Lap 7
Two to go as Johnson looks strong with a 15s lead over Driscoll in 2nd. Then it’s St. John in 3rd with Watson now in 4th and Schouten is 5th as they’ve dropped Jacques-Maynes now trailing at 15s.

On the climb it’s Johnson and Driscoll 1-2 but behind it’s a race for 3rd as Watson has attacked.

Lap 8 Final – 4:53pm EST
Johnson looks like he’s got this one with 20-25s over his team mate Driscoll with Watson in 3rd and St. John in 4th as they’ve dropped Schouten in 5th. Jacques-Maynes is 6th followed by Anthony in 7th and Schooler in 8th who is trying to move up.

Unofficial

1. Tim Johnson (US) Cannondale-cyclocrossworld.com
2. Jamey Driscoll (US) Cannondale-cyclocrossworld.com
3. Andrew Watson (Can) Norco
4. Derrick St. John (Can) Ride with Rendall
5. Tristan Schouten (US) Planet Bike
6. Andy Jacques-Maynes (US) Bissell
7. Jesse Anthony (US) Jamis
8. Jeremy Powers (US) Cannondale-cyclocrossworld.com
9. Aaron Schooler (Can) Team H&R Block-Kona
10. Mike Garrigan (Can) Jetpower