jhanscom posted on October 24, 2009 20:56
October 24, 2009 (Louisville, KY) - Racing in front of record crowds and through heavy mud Katerina Nash and Ryan Trebon raced to victory and into the Series Leader's Jerseys at Day One of the USGP Derby City Cup.
The elite races could not have been more different. While the Czech superstar Nash powered away to a solo victory, Trebon won in a thrilling come-from-behind sprint finish.
It was once again a battle of KONA versus Cannondale/CyclocrossWorld.com as Trebon and teammate Barry Wicks took a first lap lead only to be chased down by the tenacious trio of New England racers Tim Johnson, Jamey Driscoll and Jeremy Powers. The addition of Canadian National Champion Geoff Kabush (Maxxis/Rocky Mountain), Chris Jones (Champion Systems), and Jesse Anthony (Jamis). After a barrage of attacks, the lead group boiled down to Trebon, Johnson, Driscoll and Anthony.
For three laps the pace cooled off. The leaders rode just hard enough to preserve their lead. With two laps to go the artillery barrage started. A Trebon attack dropped Anthony. An attack by Driscoll required Trebon to chase. A second attack by Driscoll pinned Trebon down with Johnson waiting to counter his teammate.
Trebon chose to wait. Over barriers and berms, Trebon held his last card for the end. With 200 meters to go Driscoll charged into a muddy bog before the finish stretch. But Trebon charged away from Johnson and reached the wheels of Driscoll as both arrived on to the pavement of the finish stretch.
Trebon passed Driscoll, but the Vermont rider surged back even. And Trebon found the kick to win in a bike throw at the line.
Johnson finished third; Anthony closed for fourth.
The win gave Trebon the overall series lead after three races.
Erik Tonkin, who started on the back row, rode a strong race and survived a rolled tubular to finish sixteenth and claim the SRAM Most Aggressive Rider prize.
The Elite Women's race started with a strong group of six that included Team Luna riders Nash, Georgia Gould, and Alison Dunlap, with Sue Butler (Mona Vie/Cannondale), Alison Sydor (Rocky Mountain/Maxxis) and Kristen Wentworth (Planet Bike). The move by Nash not an attack but a tourniquet. The Czech rider pounded away. Gould clung to second and Sydor held for third.
Farther back, the rising 22-year-old star Amy Dombroski (Richard Sachs/RGM Watches) wound up on the ground, having folded up the front of her bike in a ditch. By the time she re-mounted, more than 20 riders had passed.
As Nash and Gould pulled away, Dombroski started to recover. Sydor faded. Butler faded. Wentworth faded. But Dombroski, along with National Road Champion Meredith Miller (Callifornia Giant) surged forward. With two laps to go Dombroski drew even to the legendary Dunlap, an Olympian and former World Champion, rode alongside briefly with her one-time idol.
Dombroski and Jamey Driscoll both grew up in the Vermont hamlet of Jericho. And neither have much reverence for Olympians. Dombroski surged away to finish third. For her strong efforts on the day Dombroski was also named the SRAM Most Aggressive Rider.
Top Ten Men
1. Ryan Trebon - KONA
2. Jamey Driscoll - Cannondale/CyclocrossWorld.com
3. Tim Johnson - Cannondale / CyclocrossWorld.com
4. Jesse Anthony - Team Jamis Bikes
5. Geoff Kabush - Team Maxxis - Rocky Mountain
6. Christopher Jones - Team Champion System
7. Davide Frattini - Team FUJI
8. Nicholas Weighall - California Giant Berry Farms/ Specialized
9. Barry Wicks - KONA
10. Brian Matter - Team Geargrinder
Top Ten Women
1. Katerina Nash - LUNA
2. Georgia Gould - LUNA
3. Amy Domboski - Richard Sachs - RGM Watches- Radix
4. Alison Dunlap - LUNA
5. Meredith Miller - California Giant Berry Farms / Specialized
6. Alison Sydor - Maxxis - Rocky Mountain
7. Kristin Wentworth - Planet Bike
8. Sue Butler - Monavie/Cannondale
9. Kari Studley - Velo Bela
10. Kaitlin Antonneau - Planet Bike