December 5, 2010 (Portland, Oregon) – Winner took all. In what proved to be the most thrilling conclusion to any Greenware® USGP of Cyclocross to date, Jeremy Powers (Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld.com) defeated teammate Tim Johnson to claim back to back victories in Portland and claim the overall series title today in Portland.

The race had too many story lines to recall. The veteran vs. the rising star; the local hero against the juggernaut; and the emerging youth movement in American cyclocross.

The race started with Ryan Trebon (KONA), a northwest icon, pounding away at the front. Johnson struggled to hold on. Powers, meanwhile, barely survived the opening salvo. Firmly attached to Trebon rode Todd Wells (Specialized) and Geoff Kabush (Maxxis/ Rocky Mount). The elite five immediately established a gap on the rest of the field. Powers admitted the damage done to his legs in Saturday’s victory nearly cost him the race today in the first lap.

After 2 laps with Trebon on the front, Johnson applied the gas and put everybody under pressure on the course’s tough twists and turns. Only Powers could respond, leaving Trebon, Wells and Kabush behind. Johnson opened up a gap on Powers but simply could not widen the margin. Powers clawed back, counterattacked and left Johnson in arrears.

With 2 laps to go Powers seemed to be in full control of the race and the series. But Johnson, the ultimate competitor, never relented. In the final lap he pushed Powers into a mistake and drew even. The pair charged into the final barriers just before the l turn onto the pavement for the final sprint. To the surprise of all, Johnson, with a traditional dismount and run over the barriers, was faster than the bunny-hopping Powers. Although this equalized the race, Powers was commanding in the sprint and drove home a career victory to take the day and the series. Equally impressive, Trebon and Wells matched each other in a similar battle with Trebon beating Wells to claim the final spot on the podium and claim the SRAM Most Aggressive Rider Competition.

The U23 contest signaled to all the arrival the next generation of US cross stars with Danny Summerhill, the silver medalist from the 2007 World Championships, out sprinting Zach McDonald from a group of 5 riders. The emergence of a half dozen U23 superstars during the Greenware® USGP season, displayed not the height of US cyclocross but it’s depth and hope for the future. Luke Keogh, in the U23 series leader’s jersey, was pulled from the race after being lapped by Johnson and Powers, but retained the overall series jersey with Jeremy Ferguson and Cody Kaiser behind him on the overall podium. With one week to go before the National Championships it is evident that Summerhill and McDonald are on form for another epic battle.

In the Elite Women’s race Katerina Nash (LUNA) pounded out another dominant victory, solidifying her reputation as a cyclocross super power. Her win was not enough to take the overall series jersey from the shoulders of her teammate Georgia Gould. LUNA teammate Amy Dombroski bounced back from a poor race on Saturday to stand on the third step of the day’s podium behind her two teammates.

The race opened as expected with Nash and Gould at the front. But Dombroski surprised all with an equally good start. Meredith Miller (California Giant Berries/ Specialized), coming off a ridiculous first lap on Saturday, rode steadily near the front to retain her position at the front of the field to finish fourth on the day and second overall for the series with Canadian National Champions Wendy Simms riding a ripping strong race behind her for 5th. Simms powerful ride earned her the SRAM Most Aggressive Rider Award for the day.


The surprise of the weekend was Embrocation Cycling Journal writer Linnea Koons who started strong but faltered as the race wore on. In many ways the real story of this race was not at the front but in the second wave that included Wendy Simms, Sue Butler, and Kathy Sherwin as well as the emerging youth movement with Kaitlin Antonneau and Ashley James showing they’ve got the talent to race at the top of the sport too.

Results

1. Katerina Nash (Cze) Luna Pro Team 0:40:32
2. Georgia Gould (USA) Luna Pro Team 0:19
3. Amy Dombroski (USA) Luna Pro Team 1:12
4. Meredith Miller (USA) California Giant/Specialized 1:39
5. Wendy Simms (Can) Ridley-FSA 2:16
6. Katherine Sherwin (USA) Hudz-Subaru 2:24
7. Susan Butler (USA) Hudz Subaru 2:28
8. Kaitlin Antonneau (USA) Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.Com 2:31
9. Maureen Bruno Roy (USA) Mm Racing P/B Seven Cycles 2:33
10. Ashley James (USA) Team Kenda 2:40
11. Linnea Koons (USA) Embrocation Cycling Journal 2:43
12. Pepper Harlton (Can) Juventus Cycling Club 3:00
13. Katy Curtis (Can) Bow Cycle/Cyclemeisters 3:02
14. Barbara Howe (USA) Ibis And The Danger Twins
15. Amanda Carey (USA) Kenda/Felt 3:17
16. Devon Haskell (USA) Bh Usa 3:32
17. Teal Stetson-Lee (USA) California Giant/Specialized 3:56
18. Alice Pennington (USA) S&M 4:05
19. Coryn Rivera (USA) Peanut Butter & Co.Twenty12 4:29
20. Kari Studley (USA) Velo Bella 4:51
21. Rebecca Blatt (USA) Silverbull Centralwheel 5:03
22. Wendy Williams (USA) River City Bicycles 5:13
23. Linda Sone (USA) Planet Bike 5:25
24. Lisa Curry (USA) Gas/Intrinsik 5:44
25. Katrina Baumsteiger (USA) Team Rambuski Law 5:51
26. Serena Bishop (USA) Sunnyside Sports
27. Abby Watson (USA) Embrocation Cycling Journal 6:12
28. Anna Dingman (USA) Gas/Intrinsik Cycling Team 6:22
29. Shannon Gibson (USA) Velobella #NAME? 6:41
30. Corey Coogan (USA) Team Plan C Pb Stevens 6:56
31. Laura Winberry (USA) Elite Endurance/Cascade Couriers 7:10
32. Emily Thurston (USA) Missing Link/ 3Rd Rail 7:18
33. Becca Blay (USA) Mafia Racing 7:30
34. Annie Usher (USA) Bridgetown Velo
35. Carrie Cash (USA) Team Vera Bradley Foundation 8:16
36. Megan Chinburg (USA) Veloforma -1 lap
37. Brigette Stoick (USA) River City Bicycles -1 lap
38. Megan Elliott (USA) Black Mountain Bicycles -1 lap
39. Tina Brubaker (USA) The Vanilla Workshop/Speedvagen -1 lap
DNF Joele Guynup (USA) Island Racing Club/Everti/Shimano
DNF Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Lotto Ladies Team

Elite Men

1. Jeremy Powers (USA) Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld. 0:57:46
2. Timothy Johnson (USA) Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld. 0:01
3. Ryan Trebon (USA) Kona 0:28
4. Todd Wells (USA) Specialized 0:33
5. Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis/Rocky Mount 1:21
6. Christopher Jones (USA) Rapha/Focus 1:43
7. James Driscoll (USA) Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld. 2:03
8. Jesse Anthony (USA) Kelly Benefit Strategies Pro Cycling 2:14
9. Tristan Schouten (USA) Cyclocrossracing.Com/Blue/Rolf 2:16
10. Daniel Summerhill (USA) Felt 2:17
11. Zach Mcdonald (USA) Rapha/Focus 2:18
12. Alex Candelario (USA) World Bicycle Relief 2:58
13. Barry Wicks (USA) Kona 3:17
14. Troy Wells (USA) Team Clif Bar 3:55
15. Brian Matter (USA) Gear Grinder 3:56
16. Adam Mcgrath (USA) Thule/Van Dessel Cyclocross 4:12
17. Mitch Hoke (USA) Clif Bar Development Cyclo #NAME?
18. Adam Craig (USA) Giant 4:20
19. Jeremy Ferguson (USA) California Giant/Specialized 4:32
20. Aaron Schooler (Can) Team H&R Block 4:35
21. Matt Pacocha (USA) Hudz-Subaru 4:55
22. Allen Krughoff (USA) Boulder Cycle Sport 5:04
23. Erik Tonkin (USA) Kona 5:06
24. Justin Robinson (USA) California Giant/Specialized 5:08
25. Ryan Knapp (USA) Bikereg.Com 5:31
26. Scott Chapin (USA) Bay101/Hrs/Rocklobster 5:37
27. Spencer Paxson (USA) Team S&M 5:42
28. Ryan Iddings (USA) Team Redline 5:51
29. Sean Babcock (USA) Kona Fsa 5:54
30. Cody Kaiser (USA) California Giant/Specialized 6:01
31. Kevin Noiles (Can) La Bicicletta Pro Shop 6:03
32. Eric Emsky (USA) Cyclocrossracing.Com Pb Blue
33. Joshua Snead (USA) Bay 101/Rhs/Rock Lobster 6:42
34. Molly Cameron (USA) 7:37
35. Brady Kappius (USA) Team Clif Bar -1 lap
36. Luke Keough (USA) Champion System Pb Keough -1 lap
37. Brett Nichols (USA) Scott Usa -1 lap
38. Frank Spiteri (USA) Peninsula Velo/Pomodoro -1 lap
39. Tim Allen (USA) Feedback Sports -1 lap
40. Andre Sutton (Can) Hardcore Cycling Club -1 lap
41. Brad Cole (USA) Kccx/Verge P/B Challenge Tires -1 lap
42. Damian Schmitt (USA) Sunnyside Sports -2 laps
43. Dylan Tremblay (Can) Oak Bay Bicycles/Nanaimo -2 laps
44. Brennan Wodtli (USA) -2 laps
45. Clayton Omer (USA) Papa Johns’ Racing Team -2 laps
46. Patrick Jackson (USA) Buy Local -3 laps
47. Will Ross (USA) Kaladi Bro’s/Subway -3 laps
48. Derek Yarra (USA) Box Dog Bikes -3 laps
49. Matthew Fox (USA) Sunnyside Sports -3 laps
50. Matt Russell (USA) Evanplews.Com/Kenda -3 laps
51. John Frey (USA) All Access Productions/Hutch’sS -3 laps
52. Eric Colton (USA) The Team -3 laps
53. Kyle Mcgilvray (USA) Old Town Bicycle -3 laps
54. Chris Fisher (USA) Velorochester -3 laps
55. Aaron Mickels (USA) Stanwood Velo Sport -3 laps
56. Andrew Bennett (USA) Team Redline -3 laps
57. Connor Mccutcheon (USA) Rebound Spl/Bear Valley Bikes -3 laps
58. Eric Sheagley (USA) Rocky Mountain Bicycles -4 laps
59. Alan Adams (USA) Hagens Berman Llp -4 laps
60. John-Christian Flack (USA) Olympia Orthopaedic Associates -4 laps
DNF Joseph Schmalz (USA) Kccx/Verge Presented By Challenge
DNF Ryan Weaver (USA) River City Bicycles/ Backdoor Banditos
DNF Davy Yeater (USA) River City Bicycles/Cannondale
DNF Brue Syvertsen (USA) De La Paz Coffee
DNF Benjamin Kubas (USA) Tai Cycling Team/Genr8/Smith
DNF Travis Livermon (USA) Mock Orange Racing
DNF Mike Sherer (USA) The Pony Shop
DNF Chris Sheppard (Can) Rocky Mountain/Shimano/Giro