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Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) takes the holeshot! © VeloVivid Cycling Photography

Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) takes the holeshot! © VeloVivid Cycling Photography

by Grant Berry

Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) used every weapon in his arsenal to come back from a mid-race spill, and overcome Ryan Trebon (LTS-Felt) to win Day 2 in Fort Collins. Geoff Kabush (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) continued to impress with his consistency, and raced into third.

Racers and spectators were greeted with weather and course conditions that could not be much different for the second day of racing in Colorado. The deep slop and endless tufts of wet grass dried out overnight and then was pounded down by the early classes of the day to set up the racing line with “hero dirt” for both Pro fields taking the start line. The level of traction and speed was staggering, and made for a much different race on a course that was mildly modified from Saturday’s race.

One thing that did not change was the winner of the Avid Shorty Holeshot award; Jeremy Powers ripped up the start straight and led Geoff Kabush by a bike length into the first turn followed closely by Trebon. As the field hit the flyover for the first time, Kabush assumed the lead followed by a quick starting Chris Jones (Rapha-Focus), Trebon, Powers, Christian Heule (Cannondale –Cyclocrossworld.com), Jamey Driscoll (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com), Barry Wicks (Kona) and Ben Berden (Ops Ale-Stoemper). That group did not last long together as Powers’ teammate Jones hit out and gapped the group immediately. Trebon gave chase with Powers on his wheel, and the selection was made.

Once Trebon closed the gap to Jones, Powers was poised for an attack, and made his move at the railroad-tie infested run up. While Trebon ran, Powers rode, and was able to put some daylight between himself and the big man. After the fast bumpy downhill that followed, Powers had stretched his gap to four seconds. As they hit the barriers, which Powers also rode, Trebon seemed to close up slightly but Powers would have none of it and hit out again to stretch his lead to ten seconds. That gap would hold for a couple laps until Powers hit the ground in his least favorite corner on course.

Powers in front with some storm clouds brewing behind him. Grant Berry

Powers in front with some storm clouds brewing behind him. © Grant Berry

“I go down in the same corner every year at this place. I crashed there yesterday too, and last year as well. I don’t know what it is about that corner,” said Powers.

Once Trebon saw the carnage and passed the scuffed up Powers, he hit the gas hard himself, and his ten second deficit suddenly became a ten second lead.

“I punched it hard once I got to the front. At that point I felt I just had to go for it,” explained Trebon.

With endless traction, Trebon was able to put down his massive power and stretched the gap to a maximum of 15 seconds. Powers had picked himself off the ground and could be seen adjusting his helmet and shoes as he tried to regain composure, and refocus on the race that seemed as if it was his to lose.

Behind the two leaders, Kabush continued to ride in third, followed by a highly motivated Tristan Schouten (Cyclocrossracing.com-Blue Bikes) and Tim Johnson (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com).

With two laps to go, Trebon held on to an eight second lead, and seemed to be fading slightly as he looked over his shoulder and could see Powers making small gains as he continued to ride the run up and also hop the barriers.

Entering the bell lap, Trebon clung to a four second advantage, and as they hit the run up for the last time, Powers stuck to his game plan and rode as Trebon ran. At the top, Powers had erased the deficit and was now on Trebon’s wheel. With half a lap to go, Powers surged past Trebon and it looked like it was going to come down to a sprint up the 200 meter finish straight.

As the riders hit the barriers for the last time, Powers had forced a small gap and elected to run and not take any chances.

“I didn’t have any blood in my hands, and I had a gap. I have jumped the barriers in that position just because in the past, and it has turned out to not be the right decision. I played it safe,” explained Powers.

As he sprinted up the climb that followed the barriers he did not look back and put all of his energy and efforts into the pedals. By the time they passed through the pits for the last time, Trebon appeared to be running on empty as Powers poured it on and the gap grew ever so slightly. As Powers came on to the finish straight, he had to time to sit up and enjoy his first USGP win of year for his new team. Trebon trailed in for second, followed by Kabush. Schouten pipped Johnson at the line for fourth.

“If people came out to watch, we gave them a show. I am going to enjoy this one,” Powers said with a smile.

As the series heads to the Louisville next month, Trebon will continue to wear the leader’s jersey as he has a 42 point lead over Powers, with Kabush trailing a further 27 points in third.

The Exergy US Gran Prix of Cyclocross presented by Greenware® resumes on November 12th and 13th in Louisville as the racers descend on Louisville, Kentucky, for the Derby City Cup presented by Papa Johns.

Photos:

Results:

PosBibCodeU23NameTeamNatTimeGap
12USA19830629POWERS JeremyRapha/FocusUSA56:02:00
25USA19810305TREBON RyanLTSUSA56:05:003
37CAN19770414KABUSH GeoffTeam Maxxis / Rocky MountainCAN56:53:0051
49USA19820311SCHOUTEN TristanISCorpUSA57:12:001:10
53USA19770805JOHNSON TimothyCannondale pb CyclocrossWorld.cUSA57:12:00s.t.
675CAN19730419SHEPPARD ChrisCAN57:25:001:23
714BEL19750929BERDEN BenOps Ale - StoemperBEL57:36:001:34
86USA19790806JONES ChristopherCannondale pb CyclocrossWorld.cUSA57:39:001:37
94USA19861111DRISCOLL JamesCannondale pb CyclocrossWorld.cUSA57:57:001:55
1011USA19910213*MCDONALD ZachRapha/FocusUSA58:11:002:09
1121USA19840219KRUGHOFF AllenBOULDER CYCLE SPORTUSA58:35:002:33
1222USA19880314HOKE MitchellTeam Clif BarUSA58:42:002:40
1310USA19780606MATTER BrianGear Grinder / Clif BarUSA58:47:002:45
1433GER19931130*ECKMANN YannickPearlizumi/ShimanoGER58:53:002:51
1520USA19920527*KAISER CodyCalifornia Giant Berry Farms/SpUSA59:14:003:12
1619CAN19910130*GUTHRIE EvanRocky Mountain Bicycles FactoryCAN59:18:003:16
1718USA19830805BABCOCK SeanKonaUSA59:24:003:22
188USA19811115WICKS BarryKonaUSA59:46:003:44
1950USA19851006ALDERS BryanUSA59:53:003:51
2015CAN19850620SCHOOLER AaronTeam H&R BLOCK - Sri ImportingCAN59:54:00s.t.
2126USA19790124PACOCHA MatthewBikeRadarUSA59:59:003:57
2217USA19780628WELLS JakeStan's NoTubes Elite CyclocrossUSA1:00:134:11
2336USA19921007*TRUJILLO SkylerCYF DivoUSA1:00:244:22
2448USA19880101HOWES AlexThe Service Course/WBRUSA1:00:334:31
2513USA19840513KNAPP RyanBob's Red Mill CyclocrossUSA1:01:025:00
2630USA19811015COLE BradKCCX Fuji p/b Challenge TiresUSA1:01:115:09
2723USA19870529KAPPIUS BradenTeam Clif BarUSA1:01:205:18
2824USA19910621*EMSKY EricCyclocrossracing.com pb Blue CoUSA1:01:20s.t.
2940USA19860612ALLEN TimFeedback SportsUSA1:01:315:29
3037USA19770606LASLEY JacobTeam SoundponyUSA1:01:355:33
3144USA19920730*FISH KevinKCCX/Fuji Presented by ChallengUSA1:01:435:41
3270USA19831116POWLISON SpencerPlains to Peaks RacingUSA1:01:43s.t.
3349USA19750622ROBINSON JustinCalifornia Giant CyclingUSA1:01:44s.t.
3428CAN19881002MCCONNELL MarkSynergy RacingCAN1:02:256:23
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3561USA19890407ANDERSEN ColtonRocky Mountain Chocolate FactorUSA1:03:237:21
3642USA19741127MICKIEWICZ BryanHammer NutritionUSA@1Lap
3743GER19920506*ECKMANN RobinPeral Izumi, shimano teamGER@1Lap
3841USA19740412BRANDT ChrisHoney Stinger/TrekUSA@1Lap
3912USA19840619WELLS TroyTeam CLIF BARUSA@1Lap
4066USA19880113WODTLI BrennanUSA@1Lap
4165USA19820304IAIA WilliamGroove Subaru CyclingUSA@1Lap
4255USA19830824BENESH KenFeedback SportsUSA@1Lap
4358USA19910422*GOODRICH JessePlains to Peaks RacingUSA@1Lap
4459USA19710118HARSHMAN ShawnBOULDER CYCLE SPORTUSA@1Lap
4576USA19810306COLLIER CoreyUSA@1Lap
4667USA19870621MACKAY ChrisRealCyclist.comUSA@1Lap
4757USA19880630FRETZ CaleyEchelon Energy Cycling TeamUSA@1Lap
4846USA19810621WHITNEY Joshrocky mounts~izzeUSA@1Lap
4931USA19830131WOODRUFF TravisTrek Bicycle Store - BoulderUSA@2Lap
5035USA19880826HAGA ChadKelly Benefit Strategies-OptumHUSA@2Lap
5152USA19780609FRIEDBERG MikeService Course/World Bicycle ReUSA@2Lap
5256USA19840328TIETZEL ScottPlains to Peaks RacingUSA@2Lap
5362USA19830317HOLBROOK RossBoulder Cycle SportUSA@2Lap
5472USA19790502LEWIS GregDirectory Plus/TrekUSA@2Lap
5573USA19790721TRUITT NickBreckenridgeUSA@2Lap
5634USA19760201STEVENSON RussellRaleighUSA@3Lap
5739USA19850806HAMILTON ErikPanther p/b Competitive CyclistUSA@3Lap
5864USA19910617*MILLER RyanPacific Power - Blue SkyUSA@3Lap
5945USA19800914LEVY CampbellYeti Jett Pro XCUSA@3Lap
6068USA19730628HOLICKY GrantPlains to Peaks RacingUSA@3Lap
6129USA19890507WENTZ AlexTeam Oregon p/b Laurelwood BrewUSA@3Lap
6232USA19770215PHILLIPS JohnTeam Rio GrandeUSA@3Lap
6374USA19801030PIRIE BrettColoBikeLaw.comUSA@3Lap
6453USA19850320SMITH RayBob's Red Mill CXUSA@3Lap
6560USA19800130DONALD Jasonkelly benefit strategiesUSA@3Lap
66661USA19760520SHEEK DavidSDG/Felt p.b. IRTUSA@3Lap
6771USA19871119BENNETT EricJET CyclingUSA@4Lap
DNF1SUI19750402HEULE ChristianCannondale pb CyclocrossWorld.cSUI
DNF38USA19810901HARDING RussellNatural Grocers Cycling TeamUSA
DNF51USA19900303*SCHMALZ JosephKCCXUSA
DNF27USA19890329EDWARDS ZacharyBoulder Cycle SportUSA
DNF63USA19730804MILLER LaneLouisville CycleryUSA
DNS16USA19870607WEIGHALL NicholasCalifornia Giant Berry Farms/SpUSA
DNS25USA19850320KERSTING MitchellSchellersUSA
DNS47USA19810227WILLARD TedSDG Felt pb. iRTUSA
DNS54USA19900606*HOGG DrewRGF SolutionsUSA