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by Tim Westmore and Cyclocross Magazine

Former Tour de France stage winner Dag Otto Lauritzen raced his first cyclocross race ever. © Cyclocross Magazine

Former Tour de France stage winner Dag Otto Lauritzen raced his first cyclocross race ever at Candlestick. © Cyclocross Magazine

In the second installment of the Bay Area Super Prestige (BASP) cyclocross races presented by Clif Bar, the top Elite Men’s and Women’s racers took to alternatives to the traditional cyclocross bikes to grab commanding victories. Hidden deep in the Master B 35+ race was a racer on a traditional cyclocross bike with a more storied past and path to the finish line, as former Tour de France stage winner, Norweigian road pro Dag Otto Lauritzen brought a television crew to document his first-ever cyclocross race (stay tuned for more on that story).

Ben Jacques-Maynes (Ritte/Bear Development Team) rode his disc brake singlespeed and made it two-for-two for his weekend’s cyclocross racing, by overtaking a fast-starting Walton Brush (MashSF) to win the Elite Men’s race. The windy and dusty racing at Candlestick Point also saw a new Bay Area Super Prestige cyclocross women’s race winner, as Helene Drumm, taking advantage of the loose terrain and sand with her mountain bike, won the Elite Women’s race ahead of Masters World Champ Karen Brems. The small but NorCal strong women’s field resulted in competitive, world-class racing.

The holeshot at Candlestick #2 mattered as this little rise caused traffic jams and crashes. © Cyclocross Magazine

The holeshot at Candlestick #2 mattered as this little rise caused traffic jams and crashes. © Cyclocross Magazine

Candlestick Point Repêchage ran in reverse to the course used earlier this month but was the same twisting, bumpy course. The loose sections were more torn up, creating Holland-like sand pits, but also rocky sections that created technical challenges. An awful lot of flats and double flats were reported from the day’s racing — misery had plenty of company. As the wind picked up, dust made visibility and breathing more challenging.

Drumm Floats Through Sand to Elite Women’s Win

For the Elite Women’s race, Drumm grabbed the holeshot and took off from there. At the first set of TRP Brake Zone plank barriers, Drumm’s lead over Masters World Champion Karen Brems (Team Rambuski Law) was a whopping 22 seconds. The next lap the gap grew to 38 seconds and kept growing.

Helene Drumm remounts her mountain bike on the way to victory. © Tim Westmore

Helene Drumm remounts her mountain bike on the way to victory. © Tim Westmore

The wider tires on Drumm’s mountain bike provided an advantage for the many soft, sandy sections. Although this was a significant edge for her, Drumm still had her work cut out for her to stay ahead of the capable and threatening former world time trial champion Brems.

World Champ Karen Brems gives chase. © Tim Westmore

World Champ Karen Brems gives chase. © Tim Westmore

“I think I had a good advantage with [the bike],” said Drumm, “It smoothed it out nicely and I was able to stay nice and smooth. I never had any issues [and] just cruised right through everything.” Drumm explained she has difficulty in finding a cyclocross bike comfortable enough for her to race.

Brems took second in the race, finishing one place away from matching Jacques-Maynes’ two-win weekend, both contesting the previous day’s Lion of Fairfax race. In third place was Kristin Drumm (Cycles Fanatic Racing), sister of Helene. Sarah Jordan (Bicycle Bluebook/HRS/Rock Lobster) was fourth whilst Jen Jordan (Mellow Motors) secured her first BASP-podium in three years by coming home in fifth place.

Jacques-Maynes Singlespeeds to Elite Men’s Victory

Brush grabbed the holeshot for the Elite Men’s race and set a cracking pace for the first lap. He didn’t falter  much, as he remained well ahead of the rest of the field, but midway through the second lap Jacques-Maynes passed the MashSF racer.

 Walton Brush shot out of the field for a quick lead, and only Jacques-Maynes could catch up. © Tim Westmore

Walton Brush shot out of the field for a quick lead, and only Jacques-Maynes could catch up. © Tim Westmore

Brush said that going out fast is “my strategy going into most any race. I just think the more time you can put out in the beginning the harder it is for everybody else to catch up.” On being passed by Jacques-Maynes and trying to close the gap later in the race, Brush said, “I don’t think I am the most motivated rider on my own so seeing somebody or being on somebody’s wheel is my ticket to stay up there or keep the pace high.”

From here to the finish, Jacques-Maynes continued to apply pressure and build his lead, and the professional road racer and former collegiate cyclocross National Champion made it look easy on the tough course. The only remaining threat in Jacques-Maynes’ race was a dollar grab on the small hill just before the finish. Spectators had been encouraging racers on the tricky section to go for the money and, on the final lap, Jacques-Maynes obliged. The attempt ended up with him putting his bike down. He had enough of a gap by then to recover and claim his win as well as the dollar bill.

Racing on a singlespeed bike, Jacques-Maynes reported “I had to pick and choose how I go fast, where I go fast. Racing guys when they [have] gears and good legs, I’ll wait for a lap to really start hitting the gas. Guys were starting to bobble, I was picking guys off, and it was just Walton [Brush] and me. I just had to apply some power [and] ride him down a little bit. [Brush] put up a good fight.”

Jacques-Maynes bobbled grabbing a dollar but had plenty of time to recover for the win. © Tim Westmore

Jacques-Maynes bobbled grabbing a dollar but had plenty of time to recover for the win. © Tim Westmore

About his dollar grab, Jacques-Maynes reported, “It was fully sketchy. It’s a big pile of gravel. Taking one hand off the bars didn’t go so well. Only had to put a foot down and remount. I had the race in the bag so I thought I’d have some fun.”

Brush took second place with Cameron Walters finishing in third. Keith Hillier (Team Rambuski Law) worked his way late up to fourth place whilst Juan Gomez-Villafane (Ibis/Buy-cell.com) crossed the finish line in fifth. These top five represented a new look for the Elite Men’s podium that has been typically dominated by Bay101/Rock Lobster and Cal Giant/Specialized racers in years past. Just outside the top five was Justin Robinson (California Giant/Specialized), who had put in a charge to get up to third but faltered late after winning the Masters 35+ race earlier in the day.

BASP heads a little south for their next race on 10 November. It is the popular and exciting Sierra Point Night Race – the self-described “high school football game” for the series. With the recent rains, there is a good possibility of less dust out on course but, either way, the racing is certain to thrill the spectators. Results below the photo and video.

Bay Area Super Prestige #2 – Candlestick Photo Gallery:

Helicopter View of the BASP Racing and Candlestick

[youtube lA3X8waJHf4 590 400]

Elite Men - 2012 Bay Area Super Prestige Candlestick #2

PlaceNumberFirst NameLast NameTeam
138BenJacques-MaynesRITTE/Beard envelopment
235WaltonBrushMASH SF
321CameronWalters
410KeithHillierTeam Rambuski Law
520JulianVillafaneBuy-cell
618JustinRobinsonCalifornia Giant/Specialized
714PhilipMooneyJamis-Sutter Home
840MitchTruxSterling CX
939KyleMurphyMASH SF
1030KirtFitzpatrickDelore Grotta
1113TimothyKnudsen
121Justin TAbbottDevil Mountain Cyclery
138KrishnaDoleSuperpro Racing
1415JohnnyMullaneBike Station Aptos
1519AdamSwittersTeam Mike's Bikes
1624MattYoungTeam Roaring Mouse
179AnastasioFlores JrCal Giant Strawberries
1831CameronFalconerFresh Air/Hunter
1937AndyGoesslingTeam Mike's Bikes
2022JamesWilliamsAdventures Edge
215EricColtonCynergy Cycles / Specialized
2223DerekYarraMASH/Cinelli
2312ChristopherKellyEvergreen Cycling
2417AaronOdellBicycle Blue Book/HRS/ Rocklobster
2532JoshuaWrightGeekhouse
2636JoeBrennanHagens Berman Cycling
272JasonBenfordFresh Air-Hunter Cycles
2833NicholasSloneDelore Grotta
2942RomanKilumMike's Bikes
3025RyanJohnsonTeam Mike's Bikes
3126DustinWhiteSuperpro Racing
3234AlfredCauthenChica Sexy
333GabrielByrneSquadra SF
3411IsaiasJobTeam Roaring Mouse
3527SteveOuzounianDelore Grotta
3643GrantCutlerMetromint Cycling
3744AeronNathanSuperpro Racing
3828DarylRogersFresh Air/Hunter
396StephenDeyTeam Mike's Bikes
4029StephenCzapigaHunter Freewheel

Elite Women - 2012 Bay Area Super Prestige Candlestick #2

PlaceNumberFirst NameLast NameTeam
1815HeleneDrumm
2801KarenBremsTeam Rambuski Law
3811KristinDrummCycles Fanatic Racing
4806SarahJordanBicycle Blue Book/HRS/Rock Lobster
5802JenniferJordanMellow Motors
6812KathleenHannonFresh Air/Hunter
7803LeahPlackFresh Air/Hunter
8809CarolineDezendorfWest Coast Women's Cycling
9813kellyChangSyCip
10814LindseyCollinsCaletti Bikes/Box Dog
11807HeatherPughChica Sexy
12808MonicaHarrisCycles Fanatic Racing
13805RusteSasserTeam Sasser
14804ColleenWantyDelore Grotta

Masters Men 35+ - 2012 Bay Area Super Prestige Candlestick #2

PlaceNumberFirst NameLast NameTeam
1624JustinRobinsonCalifornia Giant/Specialized
2629MurraySwansonPeninsula Velo
3621JohnMundeliusCal Giant/Specialized
4623GannonMyallcalifornia berry farms/specialized
5606BrockDickieBuy-Cell.com/IBIS
6613jeremiahkilleCaletti cycles
7631DonMyrahBuy-Cell.com/Ibis
8637AronBonarSyCip
9616RichMaileTeam Mikes Bikes
10628BrianStabyBicycle Blue Book/HRS/Rock Lobster
11642DanMcNallyFreewheel Hunter
12603JamesBadiaWebcor / Alto Velo
13612PhilipHynesIronData - Thirsty Bear
14607ChristopherElboMissing Link Cycling
15639WilliamKemperQuadzilla
16627EricRussellClif Bar
17617JesseMayberryRitchey Scott Cyclocross
18605JustinBucktroutDolore Grotta / Big Swingin Cycles
19602DavidAllenSpecialized / SCCCC
20626ChadRosserSJBC
21615TravisMaPeninsula Velo Racing
22633ChrisMatthewsSuper Pro
23630FritzWisorBreakaway Bikes
24620retomuellerMERCEDES BENZ OF SAN FRANCISCO
25638JohnCalettiCaletti cycles
26330forrestjohnsonsycip
26622DanMurrayTeam Roaring Mouse
27625mattrolandson
28641JasonRahlwesBicycle Blue Book/HRS/Rock Lobster
29614MattLeonardDolore Grotta/Big Swingin Cycles
30610JesseFreeseMissing Link
31640RobSayboltFreewheel Hunter
32611MarkFitzsimmonsFamily Cycling Fox
33619BasilMoutsopoulosHup United
34601MarkAckerHunter Cycles
35636MattJordanBicycle Blue Book/HRS/Rock Lobster
36604OdeBernsteinMissing Link/3rd Rail
37608ThomasFarleyFreewheel Hunter