(October 8, 2011) Fort Collins, CO.  The New Belgium Cup weekend of racing kicked off under stormy skies with the driving wind and rain complicating many a riders' race. Many pros had traveled under the presumption that the early week forecast of sunny and 70 would hold true and were underprepared for cold wet conditions and temperatures in the 40s.

The Elite Women's field included all of the nation's top female competitors in what was one of the most impressive fields assembled to race in the US this cross season. Katerina Nash and Katie Compton opened an early and sizable early lead - with Georgia Gould in the chase.  Nash and Compton were neck and neck for most of the race when Compton crashed in a corner.

Nash seized the opportunity and surged away from Compton never to be caught again.  She finished the race nearly 30 seconds of Compton and almost two minutes ahead of teammate Gould.  In the AVID Shorty Ultimate Holeshot competition Nicole Duke surged off the line and into turn one taking the holeshot prize cleanly.  By virtue of the victory Nash tightened her grip on the 2011 Series Overall.

In the Elite Men's Race the AVID Shorty Ultimate prize went to Jeremy Powers - who took home the first turn prize money.  It was clearly a day for the mountain bikers though as the rain and wind created perfect cyclocross conditions.  Powers built and early lead with Ben Berden and Ryan Trebon giving chase.  As Berden faded Powers and Trebon exchanged the lead until three laps to go when Trebon began to open a gap.  As Trebon's lead grew, Powers faded back to third and Geoff Kabush surged into second place - which is how it would finish - Trebon, Kabush, Powers.   Trebon soloed in and secured his ownership of the Series lead while Yannick Eckmann, had a storming ride himself - coming back from a 36th place start to finish 5th in the overall standing and cementing his hold on the U23 series leader's jersey.

Racing resumes on Sunday at 8:00am with a full slate of amateur racing before the pros take the field with the pro women scheduled to start at 2:45 and the pro men at 4pm. Admission is free to the public but there is a $3 per car parking charge.  In addition to all the race action, spectators are encouraged to visit the Race Expo, enjoy some food and New Belgium beer and cheer on participants in the Costume Cruiser Cross Race at 1pm.

Directions to the venue, located on College Avenue in Fort Collins adjacent to Tynan's Nissan, are available on www.usgpcyclocross.com along with a full race day schedule.

Brief Results:

Elite Women:

1. Katerina Nash, LUNA
2. Katie Compton, RaboBank Giant
3. Georgia Gould, LUNA
4. Mical Dyck, Pro City Racing
5. Caroline Mani
6. Sue Butler, River City/ Ridley
7. Kaitlin Antonneau, Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld.com
8. Nicole Duke,  Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld.com
9. Kathy Sherwin, Stan's NoTubes
10. Meredith Miller, California Giant Cycling

AVID Shorty Ultimate Holeshot:  Nicole Duke

Elite Men:

1. Ryan Trebon, LTS Racing
2. Geoff Kabush,  Team Maxxis / Rocky Mountain
3. Jeremy Powers, Rapha/Focus
4. Jamey Driscoll, Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld.com
5. Yannick Eckmann, Pearl Izumi / Shimano
6. Chris Sheppard
7. Troy Wells, Team Clif Bar
8. Ben Berden, Ops Ale / Clement
9. Christian Heule, Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld.com
10. Barry Wicks, KONA

AVID Shorty Ultimate Holeshot:  Jeremy Powers