October 2/06 8:25 am - Starcrossed Cyclo-cross

Posted by Editor on 10/2/06
 

Clif Bar/Hagens Berman Starcrossed Cyclocross - Redmond, Washington

Record crowds, record beer consumption and a surprise winner were the most talked about moments at the 2006 Clif Bar/Hagens Berman Starcrossed Cyclocross race this year. A total of about 2500 spectators packed into Redmond, Washington's Marymoor Park to see some great bicycle racing. Andy Jacques-Maynes (Cal Giant) took the men's title, while the women's race was won by Canadian, Wendy Simms, who overcame a 3-way battle for first.

The men's main event was fast, painful, and exciting and it certainly did not disappoint the rowdy pumped up crowds who had been feasting on Pabst Blue Ribbon in the beer garden all day long. Just a few laps into the race a select group of men pulled away from the rest of the field to form the lead freight train that would never look back. This select group included Andy Jacques-Maynes, Carl Decker, Jonny Sundt, Chris McGovern, Dan Neyens, Morgan Schmitt, Geoff Kabush, and Russell Stevenson. Stevenson pinned it from the start with Kabush, Sundt, Decker, and Jacques-Maynes taking short lived attacks and flyers.

The surprising move of the day was by 21 year old Dan Neyens of the Hagens Berman Cyclocross Team who was able to get a significant gap quickly but a late race bobble ended this excellent move. With a few laps to go Decker moved up with an eye on a late charge but Jacques-Maynes had other ideas and was able to keep the wily Decker at bay and take the win. Kabush would finish third, Chris McGovern fourth, and the resurgent Sundt would finish fifth after spending 3 long days setting up for the event.

Men's Elite Race

1 Andy Jacques-Maynes (Cal Giant)
2 Carl Decker (Giant Bicycles)
3 Geoff Kabush (Maxxis)
4 Chris McGovern
5 Jonny Sundt (Hagens Berman)
6 Russell Stevenson (Benaroyal Research)

Women's Elite Race

1 Wendy Simms (Kona)