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VERONA, WISCONSIN – As conditions continued to turn increasingly Belgian, with thick, soppy mud throughout the foggy course, the Junior Men 15-16 shot off the line, with Spencer Petrov (Lionhearts) screaming into the holeshot and leading the first moves of the race. It was Gage Hecht (IC3 Colorado), however, who pulled to the front as Petrov’s energy waned and set about building up a lead that ballooned to over 40 seconds by the end of the race, securing another title for the talented racer.

Gage Hecht storms to another National Championship in the 15-16 age group. © Cyclocross Magazine

Gage Hecht storms to another National Championship in the 15-16 age group. © Cyclocross Magazine

“It felt great,” said Hecht. “I got second wheel into the first corner, from there I caught Spencer and then just worked my way around the course. I crashed right before the staircase on the first lap, and again on the third lap. I felt pretty good about the conditions, they were a ton of fun.“

Cooper Willsey (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld) and Jordan Lewis (MSG Cyclocross) chased hard in pursuit, while behind them Petrov recovered and began picking his way up from the back half of the top ten. Between him and Willsey were Gavin Haley (Red Zone Cycling) and Cameron Beard (Bend Endurance Academy), who were locked in a tight battle for position for much of the race.

Petrov, despite a number of crashes, clawed his way back to the front chase as Willsey dropped Lewis, sliding through the turns around five seconds behind the Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld rider, but not quite able to make contact. Then, Willsey slid out at the base of the final hill, giving Petrov just enough time to catch, and pass, Willsey and secure second place.

“That was a really hard race I had there,” said Petrov. “I went out too hard early. The last half of the first lap I had to rest. Those last two laps I was yanking people back.  When I caught Cooper, what I was telling myself was smooth smooth smooth. I loved today.”

Interview with Gage Hecht:

[youtube VhYDyxpT_CA 580 380]

Tune in regularly right here to Cyclocross Magazine’s 2013 Nationals Homepage for the most comprehensive source of Nationals 2013 info. We will be updating this page hourly for race reports, results, photos and videos!

Junior Men 15-16 Cyclocross National Championship Photo Gallery:

photos by Meg McMahon:

 

2013 Cyclocross Nationals Junior Men 15-16 Results

Place Points NameCity, StateTime BibTeam
1145.17Gage HECHT   Parker, CO0:29:58 225 IC3Colorado/International Christian Cycling Club
2151.36Spencer PETROV   Mason, OH30:30:00 235 Lionhearts/Queen City Wheels
3157.55Cooper WILLSEY   Hinesburg, VT30:38:00 245 Cannondale Cyclocrossworld/Cyclocrossworld
4163.75Gavin HALEY   Louisville, KY31:00:00 223 Red Zone Cycling
5169.94Cameron BEARD   Bend, OR31:17:00 206 Bend Endurance Academy
6176.13Brannan FIX   Fort Collins, CO31:37:00 218 
7182.32Ethan REYNOLDS   Boise, ID31:46:00 237 BYRDS (Boise Young Rider Dev Squad)
8188.51Liam DUNN   Denver, CO32:28:00 216 Clif Bar Development Cross Team
9194.7Samuel ROSENBERG   Eugene, OR32:34:00 239 
10200.9Ian KEOUGH   Sandwich, MA32:37:00 227 Corner Cycle Cycling Club
11207.09Seth RIDER   Germantown, TN33:06:00 238 901 Racing
12213.28Adin BAIRD   Denver, CO33:11:00 205 Boulder Junior Cycling
13219.47Cormac DUNN   Denver, CO33:15:00 217 Clif Bar Development Cross Team
14225.66Jordan LEWIS   Jonesborough, TN33:15:00 230 MSG Cyclocross/Tri Cities Road Club
15231.85Stuart MCKNIGHT   Boulder, CO33:37:00 232 Boulder Junior Cycling
16238.04Lance HAIDET   Bend, OR33:42:00 222 
17244.24Jack TANNER   Boulder, CO33:49:00 242 Boulder Junior Cycling
18250.43Ian MCSHANE   Louisville, KY33:50:00 233 Red Zone Cycling
19256.62Nicholas VORWERK   Southbloomfield, OH33:57:00 244 Team Type 1
20262.81Jedidiah FRITZINGER   Georgetown, IN33:59:00 220 Red Zone Cycling
21269Cade BICKMORE   Longmont, CO34:01:00 208 Boulder Junior Cycling
22275.19Eric BRUNNER   Boulder, CO34:15:00 212 Boulder Junior Cycling
23281.39John ALGERMISSEN   Albuquerque, NM35:18:00 203 NM Devo
24287.58Benedikt TOELDTE   Boise, ID35:28:00 243 BYRDS (Boise Young Rider Dev Squad)
25293.77Tanner BROWNE   Waldorf, MD35:40:00 211 Bayside Velo/Bike Doctor
26299.96Evan GEARY   Seattle, WA36:09:00 221 Slalom Consulting Racing
27306.15Maxx HALL   Niles, IL36:34:00 224 Verdigris-Village CX Team/Village-Verdigris Cycling
28312.34James FRANCISCO   Louisville, KY36:48:00 219 Red Zone Cycling
29318.53Joshua ANDERSON   Topsfield, MA37:27:00 204 Essex County Velo
30324.73Jonathan BROWN   Covington, TN37:36:00 210 Hot Tubes Development Cycling Team Inc.
31330.92Josiah LONGENECKER   Angola, IN37:39:00 231 Men of Steel Racing /Men Of Steel Racing LLC
32337.11Harrison WINKEL   Wauwatosa, WI38:01:00 246 KS Energy Services / Team Wisconsin/Team Wisconsin
33343.3Alexander DORSCHNER   Cedarburg, WI38:15:00 214 ISCorp Cycling/NCSF
34349.49Ian HENRIKSEN   Muscatine, IA39:17:00 226 Melon City Bike Club Inc.
35355.68Sam BESTE   Brookfield, WI@1Lap 207 ISCorp Cycling/NCSF
36361.88Zachary ROSS   Cincinnati, OH@1Lap 240 Lionhearts/Queen City Wheels
37368.07Nathan ROSS   Cincinnati, OH@1Lap 241 Lionhearts/Queen City Wheels
38374.26Luke MULLIS   Rochester Hills, MI@1Lap 234 Wolverine Sports Club
39380.45Justin BIRD   Louisville, KY@1Lap 209 
40386.64Will CURTIS   Saint Paul, MN@1Lap 213 Minnesota Junior Cycling Inc.
41392.83Jake MCENEANEY   Aurora, IL@2Lap 247 
42399.02Hugh ALESSI   Boise, ID@2Lap 202 BYRDS (Boise Young Rider Dev Squad)
DNSChris KEY   Boulder, CO228 BJC/Tokyo Joe's Junior Development /Boulder Junior Cycling
DNSIsaac DREW   Geneva, IL215 Verdigris-Village CX Team/Village-Verdigris Cycling
DNFAlec PORTER   Saint Paul, MN236 Bianchi/Grand Performance/St Paul Bicycle Racing Club
DNFSamuel LEAR   Ellicott City, MD229 Adventures for the Cure