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The tandem couple did finish Southern Cross – albeit slower than Brian Toone. © Cyclocross Magazine

The tandem couple did finish Southern Cross – albeit slower than Brian Toone. © Cyclocross Magazine

To get ready for Issue 20 of Cyclocross Magazine, which features a large section on the beauty of gravel racing, a couple of the East Coast CXM staffers traveled to Georgia to check out Southern Cross, a race put on by 55nine’s Eddie and Namrita O’Dea and held in Dahlonega, Georgia. The 50 mile gravel race features a start and finish on a cyclocross course in a winery, followed by a big buffet for race finishers. Last year, current Masters 30-34 World Champion Thomas Turner took the win, and this year he was narrowly edged out by Brian Toone, a roadie and MTBer. Turner’s explanation for why this wasn’t his year? He’d been focused on ’cross Worlds and putting in shorter, high end efforts. A worthy excuse!

Brian Toone, Open Men’s Winner:

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Cheryl Sornson, Open Women’s Winner:

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Thomas Turner, Second Place Open Men:

[youtube QxWf4SBZsMs 580 380]