VERONA, WISCONSIN — The D2 Collegiate men were the first of the racers to take to the freshly frozen course in Verona this morning at the 2013 Cyclocross National Championships, with temperatures plummeting down to the low teens. Some racers elected to race in balaclavas, while a few brave (or foolhardy) students opted for shorts and long sleeved jerseys. But it was Robert Rimmer from Virginia Intermont College in tights and a long sleeve jersey who soloed to a solid victory on the icy tundra.
Casey Hildebrandt (Ripon) and Robert Rimmer (Virginia Intermont) battle for the early lead before rimmer escaped. © Cyclocross Magazine
Keeping the rubber side down has never been more important than a day like today, where the frozen mud is rougher than a spill on the pavement, and iced over ruts jostled riders across the course. Casey Hildebrandt (Ripon College) took an early lead, with Rimmer and Douglas Ansel (University of Notre Dame) right on his tail. Andrew Lysaght (MIT), Timothy Jenkinson (Mars Hill), Patric Rostel (Colorado Mesa University), Caleb Welborn (Brevard) and Wesley Lamberson (Union) all followed in a group.
The 10 minute lap time was one of the fastest we’ve seen this week, and conditions are ripe for a fast and furious battle later today in the elite race. At one lap in, Rimmer had worked his was up to Hildebrandt and was working with him to keep Ansel and Jenkinson at bay. Behind those four, a large gap opened to the rest of the field.
Timothy Jenkinson (Mars Hill) had a strong second half to overtake Casey Hildebrandt (Ripon) for second. © Cyclocross Magazine
A shift of power a half lap later saw Rimmer alone at the front and Hildebrandt and Jenkinson working together behind him, with Ansel following. A group led by Lamberson was behind.
Halfway through the race, Rimmer still had the top spot, and Ansel had moved into second with Jenkinson and Hildebrandt chasing, and a huge gap to the rest of the field. With one to go, it was clear something happened to the Notre Dame rider as Rimmer took a dominant lead with Jenkinson and Hildrebrandt behind, and Ansel back with Lamberson. Michael Michetti (U Wisconsin- Platteville) was also in contention for a top spot.
Rimmer sailed in with a comfortable lead to take the win, running to hug his father immediately after. Jenkinson rolled in for second, and Hildebrandt took third.
Robert Rimmer (Virginia Intermont College) took a commanding victory in the Division II Collegiate Men’s Race. © Cyclocross Magazine
Interview with Robert Rimmer:
[youtube d-9bixFDRwU 580 380]
Stay tuned for more photos, video interviews and full results. And don’t forget to enter to win a trip to Worlds courtesy of Raleigh!
2013 Cyclocross National Championships - Collegiate Men Div 2 Results
| Place | Bib | Name | City, State | Time | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 156 | Robert Rimmer | Friendsville, TN | 0:47:38 | Virginia Intermont College |
| 2 | 126 | Timothy Jenkinson | Mars Hill, NC | 48:31 | Mars Hill College |
| 3 | 150 | Casey Hildebrandt | Weston, WI | 48:47 | Ripon College |
| 4 | 136 | Wesley Lamberson | Limestone, TN | 50:44 | Union College-KY |
| 5 | 161 | Michael Michetti | Elkhorn, WI | 50:51 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville |
| 6 | 133 | Richard Cypress Gorry | Brevard, NC | 50:51 | Brevard College |
| 7 | 132 | Lewis Gaffney | Angel Fire, NM | 50:54 | Brevard College |
| 8 | 140 | Patric Rostel | Grandjunction, CO | 50:59 | Colorado Mesa University |
| 9 | 146 | Andrew Lysaght | Somerville, MA | 51:27 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| 10 | 141 | Morgan Ryan | Ventura, CA | 52:13 | Colorado Mesa University |
| 11 | 155 | Douglas Ansel | South Bend, IN | 52:17 | University of Notre Dame |
| 12 | 139 | Cullen Easter | Claremont, CA | 52:18 | Colorado Mesa University |
| 13 | 159 | Stephen Vogel | Winston Salem, NC | 55:07 | Wake Forest University |
| 14 | 127 | Corey Davis | Danville, VA | 55:08 | Mars Hill College |
| 15 | 134 | Spencer Lowden | Diamond Mo | 55:23 | Brevard College |
| 16 | 154 | Anders Nienstaedt | Iron Mountain | 56:20 | Saint Olaf College |
| 17 | 152 | Benjamin Senkerik | Wauwatosa, WI | 56:39 | Ripon College |
| 18 | 144 | Zachary Semian | Mertztown, PA | 57:33 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania |
| 19 | 135 | Caleb Welborn | Brevard, NC | 57:36 | Brevard College |
| 20 | 153 | Eric Smith | Ripon, WI | 57:40 | Ripon College |
| 21 | 162 | Mitch Nordahl | Anoka, MN | 59:11 | North Dakota State University |
| 22 | 148 | Devin Wagner | Marlborough, CT | @1Lap | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
| 23 | 128 | Chad Capobianco | Watkinsville, GA | @2Lap | Mars Hill College |
| 24 | 160 | Keith Marek | Fremont, MI | @2Lap | Brevard College |
| 25 | 147 | Joseph Near | Somerville, MA | @2Lap | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| 26 | 138 | stephen cochran | Grandjunction, CO | @2Lap | Colorado Mesa University |
| 27 | 129 | Tyler Hutchinson | Starkville, MS | @2Lap | Mars Hill College |
| 28 | 145 | Zachary LaBry | Somerville, MA | @2Lap | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| 29 | 142 | Aaron Casey | Kingsport, TN | @2Lap | East Tennessee State University |
| 30 | 158 | James McCabe | Bridgewater, NJ | @2Lap | Wake Forest University |
| 31 | 131 | Jake Possinger | White Haven, PA | @2Lap | Mars Hill College |
| 32 | 151 | Tony Kaatz | Ripon, WI | @2Lap | Ripon College |
| 33 | 137 | Ray Dangelmaier | Brighton, MI | @2Lap | Union College-KY |
| 34 | 149 | Matthew Warbrick | Tuxedo Park, NY | @3Lap | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
| 35 | 143 | Alan Sparks | Johnson City, TN | @3Lap | East Tennessee State University |
| 36 | 157 | Dakota Smith | Glade Spring, VA | @3Lap | Virginia Intermont College |
| 37 | 130 | R Maitland Jones | Tallahassee, FL | @3Lap | Mars Hill College |
Tune in regularly right here to Cyclocross Magazine’s 2013 National Championship Homepage for the most comprehensive source of Nationals 2013 info. We will be updating this page hourly for race reports, results, photos and videos!
