October 15, 2017 (Boulder, Colo.) – The U.S. Open of Cyclocross featured a full docket of UCI races on Saturday, and points for USA Cycling’s Professional Cyclocross Calendar (ProCX). Strong winds provided as much of a challenge as the new courses at Valmont Bike Park, which began with the second event of the year for the Junior 17-18 Men. It would be the first Under-23 competition of the season for USA Cycling’s Professional Cyclocross Calendar (ProCX).

Benjamin Gomez Villafane (Scotts Valley, Calif./Top Club CycloCross) would claim his second Junior victory of the 2017 season, adding to a win and a third place he earned at KMC Cross Fest two weeks ago.

Gage Hecht of Parker, Colo. was well off the front on the bell lap and won the U23 contest. Among the chasers were a Boulder duo of Grant Ellwood (21) and Eric Brunner (19), who would finish would finish second and third, respectively.

“Today was a super fun race. It’s probably the best I have felt this season,” said Hecht about winning the opening U23 race of the ProCX calendar. “I was excited to put some power into it today. It was so windy out there. A couple of sections out there I was actually having to run just because you couldn’t keep the bike underneath you. It definitely made it a huge challenge out there. It was a blast.”

The UCI Category 2 Elite Women’s race was won by 2017 U.S. National Short Track Cross Country national champion Erin Huck of Boulder. She made her move in the final half lap of the women’s event to outdistance France’s Caroline Mani (Van Dessel) and 17-year-old Katie Clouse (Littleton, Colo./Alpha Bicycle Co.).

“I figured I might as well go for it,” said Huck about her first cyclocross race of the year. “I was using my mountain bike skills to descend pretty well. Definitely noticed that I had a lack of some cyclocross skills, any time it came to a dismount section. So I figured the girls would catch up to me on the back side (final lap), but fortunately I was able to keep my distance.”

The UCI C2 Elite Men came down to a wild-west sprint between Jamie Driscoll (Donnelly Sports) of Park City, Utah and Canadian Michael van den Ham (Garneau Easton), with Driscoll scoring his first ProCX win of the year. Twenty-three-year-old Keegan Swenson (Cannondale/3Rox) of Park City would finish third.

“It was just fast and bumpy out there. I had the classic diesel engine, but I thought I’d have a little more pop. I was able to climb my way back after many accelerations, so I knew it wouldn’t be a late move that would give me any success,” said Driscoll about his C2 sprint win, which was won by centimeters rather than inches. “I went full gas the entire (last) lap. Because of the head wind on the sprint, I was expecting people to come around me. It was a short enough sprint that I held them off. Honestly, when I crossed the line, I didn’t know I took it (the win). Michael was there. We both threw the bike and it was inches.”

ProCX racing continues in at Valmont Bike Park in Boulder on Sunday, with additional contests for all UCI events. Sponsors for the event include Clif Bar, Shimano and Giant Bicycles. The Ska Brewing Beer Garden opens to the public at 11 a.m., with proceeds benefiting the Believe Ranch and Rescue Foundation. There are also C2 races in Massachusetts at the the CRAFT Sportswear Gran Prix of Gloucester.

Results

Men

1. James Driscoll (USA) Donnelly Cycling Cyclocross Team 1:00:47
2. Michael Van Den Ham (Can) Garneau – Easton P/B Transitions Life C
3. Keegan Swenson (USA) Cannondale/3Rox Racing 00:01
4. Hector Fernando Riveros Paez (Col) Stan’s Notubes P/B Maxx / Construction 00:11
5. Allen Krughoff (USA) Krughoff Racing 00:28
6. Cody Kaiser (USA) Lange Twins / Specialized 00:29
7. Garry Millburn (Aus) Speedvagen X Maap 01:15
8. Chris Baddick (USA) Boulder Cycle Sport 01:17
9. Yannick Eckmann (USA) Cuore Racing Team 02:22
10. Ian Mcpherson (USA) Evol Racing
11. Cody Cupp (USA) Gillespie Eye Care/Set Coaching/Arlberg 02:25
12. Kevin Bradford-Parish (USA) Gillespie Eye Care/Setcoaching 02:47
13. Mark Flis (USA) X-Men/ Trek/ Storm Cycles 02:50
14. Josh Whitney (USA) Evol Racing
15. Alex Wild (USA) Trail Head Racing / Specialized 03:17
16. Samuel Dolzani (USA) Honey Stinger / Bontrager 03:18
17. Allan Schroeder (USA) Project Aka 03:47
18. Terol Pursell (USA) Redspoke Racing P/B Remax Pros. 04:07
19. Kyle Johnson (USA) Team Yacht Club 04:12
20. Kevin Day (USA) Rollout App 04:14
21. Skyler Mackey (USA) Kccx Elite Cyclocross Team 04:49
22. Jayson Jacobs (USA) Breismeister Factory 05:35
23. Jacob Huizenga (USA) Chicago Cuttin Crew 05:36
24. Eric Fossell (USA) Cos Racing 05:37
25. Chris Ganter (USA) Rolf Prima P/B Niner Maxxis Champsys 05:38
26. William Allen (USA) Feedback Sports 05:42
27. Ryan Rinn (USA) Vive La Tarte Cx 05:43
28. Jeremy Ostrowski (USA) Reynolds Roofing 06:57
29. Aaron Vaughn (USA) Rallysport 07:26
30. Zachary Dolzani (USA) Honey Stinger 07:39
31. Nick Thomas (USA) Trek Cyclocross Collective 08:24
32. Timber Weiss (USA) Lit Af
33. James Coats (USA) Spokesman Cyclocross
34. Braden Kappius (USA) Team Clif Bar
35. Steve Hindman (USA) Pen Velo Racing / Summit Bikes
DNF Josh Direen (USA) Groove Subaru-Excel Sports
DNF Spencer Downing (USA) Panache Houndstooth Racing

Women

1. Erin Huck (USA) 3 Rox Racing-Cannondale 43:50
2. Caroline Mani (Fra) Van dessel /atom composites 43:56
3. Katie Clouse (USA) Alpha Bicycle Co 43:57
4. Sofia Gomez Villafane (Arg) Pivot Cycles pb DNA Cycling 43:58
5. Courtenay Mcfadden (USA) Pivot Cycles p/b DNA Cycling 44:18
6. Sunny Gilbert (USA) Van Dessel Factory Team 45:01
7. Caitlin Bernstein (USA) Vive La Tarte CX 45:16
8. Samantha Runnels (USA) 45:20
9. Emily Kachorek (USA) 45:34
10. Danielle Arman (USA) Tenspeed Hero/Firefly Bicycles 45:43
11. Rebecca Gross (USA) Zero-D Racing 45:53
12. Laurel Rathbun (USA) Donnelly Cycling Team 45:55
13. Georgia Gould (USA) Boo Bicycles 45:56
14. Christa Ghent (USA) Amy D Foundation 45:57
15. Anna Katrina Engelsted (USA) Boulder Cycle Sport 46:15
16. Petra Schmidtmann (USA) Van Dessel Factory Cycling 46:16
17. Kristen Legan (USA) EVOL DevoElite Racing 46:18
18. Amy Beisel (USA) Kenda tire 47:00
19. Shannon Mallory (USA) NWCX Project 47:15
20. Jolene Holland (USA) Ultra Violet 47:18
21. Heidi Franz (USA) NWCX Project 47:28
22. Suzie Livingston (USA) TOPO Cycling 48:12
23. Fiona Morris (Aus) Speedvagen x MAAP 48:30
24. Maria Larkin (Irl) The Meteor p/b Allied 48:38
25. Meghan Newlin (USA) Full cycle/Topo 48:39
26. Marsa Daniel (USA) MD Endurance Coaching 48:41
27. Ava Lilley (USA) Bend Endurance Academy 49:12
28. Leslie Ethridge (USA) Topo Designs Cycling Club 49:31
29. Turner Ramsay (USA) Alpha Bicycle Co.- Groove Subaru 50:06
30. Nicole Jorgenson (USA) Bauerhaus x Tenspeed Hero 50:49
31. Ashley Zoerner (USA) Groove Subaru excel sports 53:02
32. Laura Jeddeloh (USA) MD Endurance Coaching
DNF Meredith Miller (USA) Rapha
DNF Anna Dorovskikh (USA) Boulder Cycle Sport
DNF Jenna Downey (USA) Peachtree Bikes
DNF Dana Kuper (USA) Team Roaring Mouse