Advertisement

Frattini (r) leads Grand and Scherz up the stairs. © Jamie Mack

Frattini (r) leads Grand and Scherz up the stairs. © Jamie Mack

by Jamie Mack

The number of people that descended on Druid Hill Park in Baltimore made the park seem larger than it was, as the energy of the crowd and anticipation of the weekend’s events quickly drew your attention away from the fact that you were in the midst of one of the East Coast’s largest cities. This weekend was all about ’cross, and the Charm City crew delivered.

With over 1,000 pre-registered riders for the event, it’s easy to say that Charm City Cyclocross was a success before the first gun went off. The big question going into the weekend would be the effect on the event, and the volunteers, of expanding to include a second day of racing.

Chris Nystrom, race director and Elite Masters racer, explained that without the volunteers the event wouldn’t be possible. “We ask a lot of our volunteers,” said Nystrom, adding that getting up a 4am to reset the course for Sunday was difficult after all the action of the first day. But even with all the activity involved in promoting such an event, Nystrom and C3 director Kris Auer were out there themselves tearing around the course in the Elite Masters races on Saturday and Sunday.

The course laid out by C3 took advantage of many of the natural features of the historic Baltimore park, using the slopes of the grounds to great effect. The technical nature of the first day’s course gave way to a slightly faster version the second day, but the fundamentals of each remained the same. Riders were treated to a short prologue before diving into the grass for twisty sections with a few off-camber moments for good measure. Around the beer garden (so close, and yet so far!) riders were taken through straight sections, 180-degree turns and up a set of stairs built especially for the event. Riders cruised through a set of high barriers built on another 180, only to find a final set of barriers before cruising through a few more turns to the finish.

Laura van Gilder, riding for the hometown favorite C3-Athletes Serving Athletes, picked up where she left off last season and again demonstrated she’s among the strongest riders in the mid-Atlantic. Van Gilder swiftly dealt with most of the field, but fought most of the day to shake Kristin Gavin (Team CF). Van Gilder seemed to have gotten free of Gavin on the last lap, but the two were together at the start of the final stretch. Despite her best efforts, Gavin couldn’t match her competitor’s explosive sprint. Given van Gilder’s reputation as one of the most feared sprinters on the road, Gavin gained the respect of those in the crowd by not giving in without a fight. Behind the two leaders were smaller battles for position within the field. Dee Dee Winfield (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes), Arley Kemmerer (C3-Athletes Serving Athletes) and Nicki Thiemann (Team CF) battled throughout the race to determine the final podium spots. In the end, Winfield would claim third and Kemmerer would claim the final five-deep podium spot, with Erica Yozell (pavalleys.com) slotting into fourth.

The first men’s Elite race of the 2010 Charm City Cyclocross was ruled by the Europeans.  Italian Davide Frattini and Swiss speedsters Valentin Scherz and Anthony Grand proved to be the riders to beat as they rode away from the best of the mid-Atlantic. Grand would be the first to fall from the accelerations of the two stronger riders, and would settle into one of the more exciting races within the race. As Frattini was fighting to separate from 2009 MAC Champion Scherz, Grand was locked in a fight for third with Ryan DeWald (Haymarket Bicycles) and Ryan Knapp (Bikereg.com). Frattini pulled away from Scherz slowly and then accelerated away in the final two laps to cruise in and repeat his 2009 Charm City victory. Once the two leaders had claimed their spots, Grand was able to hold off the first Americans and claim third.

Charm City Day 2
The first lap of the Elite women’s race on day 2 of Charm City was a testament to the home team advantage. Watching the entire field be led around the revamped course by the C3-Athletes Serving Athletes trio of Laura van Gilder, Arley Kemmerer and Dee Dee Winfield was an impressive site, likely enjoyed by C3 Director Kris Auer. The camaraderie was short-lived though, as Laura van Gilder dominated the field on her way to her third MAC series victory of 2010. Behind van Gilder, Kemmerer chased with Kristin Gavin of Team CF and Dee Dee Winfield riding most of the race on her own in fourth. Van Gilder cruised in for a solo victory, while behind her riders fought through every pedal stroke seeking an advantage over one another.

After the race, van Gilder told Cyclocross Magazine she was “really happy with how the season has started and looking forward to [Cross]Vegas.” With three wins in three races so far in the MAC Series this season, van Gilder has a firm grip on the title that she’s held for the past three seasons. However, Kemmerer seems to be riding stronger than ever and teammate Dee Dee Winfield is likely to be there to ensure that C3 will be represented on podiums throughout the series this year. But the one-two punch of Gavin and Nicki Thiemann from Team CF, a group of competitive cyclists committed to the development of a cure for cystic fibrosis, will be there to capitalize on any opening that the C3 racers give them.

“Hot, but good,” was how Frattini described day 2, adding, “I felt better than yesterday.”  Given the ease with which he rode away from the entire field, that may be a bit of an understatement.  Unlike the race at the front yesterday, Frattini had no problem with the Swiss Duo in the Cyfac colors and spent most of the day alone off the front. Soon after the first lap, Frattini gained a small gap that he’d gradually grow throughout the race. Grand and Scherz rode together throughout the day, and while they never caught the Italian up front, they held off all comers and finished with a crowd-pleasing sprint. The field behind the three Euro riders was spread across the course, with Ryan Knapp finding himself on the five-man podium for the second time this weekend.

Talking with Frattini after the race, the joy of taking his fourth and fifth victories at Druid Hill Park – he’s won each edition since 2007 – was obvious. Just moments after finishing the race, he was sporting the grin that any ’crosser can recognize: the one that says the wait is over. Frattini was beaming as he recounted his race and explained that he was impressed with the new Ridley he was riding. Equally impressive was that Frattini had only ridden the bike once or twice before Charm City. The MAC Series lead is likely to fall into the hands of Frattini if he continues his winning ways, though with Scherz being more consistent in the events thus far (Frattini skipped the previous weekend’s MAC opener) there’s still some calculations to be sorted out to see who will sport the jersey next week at Whirlybird cyclocross.

In just six editions, Charm City has grown from an event with a budget less than many riders pay for a set of race wheels to become a race weekend that sets a standard few events can match. Charm City has raised the bar again this year by providing an event that sets a new standard while remaining true to its roots; it’s all about racing, without the spectacle that many other events rely on.

Within the tightly-knit mid-Atlantic community, the success of the event is not likely to escape the notice of the people behind other MAC races, including the upcoming Granogue races, which have also expanded to a full weekend this year. The season may just be getting underway, but we may have seen the end of the calm before the storm. Charm City has stoked the fires and the MAC series is roaring out of Baltimore.

Photo Gallery:


Results:

Day 1 Elite Women

1 36:41 61 VAN GILDER LAURA C3 – Athletes Serving Athletes
2 36:42 63 Gavin Kristin Team CF
3 37:37 62 Winfield Deidre C3 – Athletes Serving Athletes
4 38:02 65 Kemmerer Arley C3 – Athletes Serving Athletes
5 38:12 66 Yozell Erica PAValleys.com
6 38:15 71 Pipes Lenore The Wistar Institute
7 38:22 73 Silliman Erin Fruit66/Artemis
8 38:38 64 thiemann nikki Team CF
9 38:57 67 MAXWELL JENNIFER Van Dessel Factory Team p/b Sterke Meiden
10 39:22 68 Church Kristine Human Zoom/ Pabst Blue Ribbon
11 39:24 85 Morrison Frances Wheelhouse / NCC
12 39:57 69 Webber Lauri Secret Henry’s Team
13 40:25 70 Boswell-Vilt Evie Performance Bicycle Racing
14 40:44 75 Hillesheim Lindsey Squadra Coppi
15 40:48 74 Maldonado Lynda Cannondale/Cadence Women’s Racing
16 41:04 76 Harlow Elizabeth C3 – Athletes Serving Athletes
17 41:05 82 Applegate Cara Performance Bicycle Racing
18 41:50 79 Most Lisa Wissahickon/Engin Cycles
19 42:21 81 Shields Katherine Carolina Masters Cycling
20 42:28 77 Cutler Amy Team EPS/CSS p/b Brielle Cyclery
21 43:10 80 Shields Emily Carolina Masters Cycling
22 43:48 84 Grim Diane C-3 Athletes Serving Athletes

Day 2 Eilte Women

1 36:25 61 VAN GILDER LAURA C3 – Athletes Serving Athletes
2 37:02 63 Gavin Kristin Team CF
3 37:17 65 Kemmerer Arley C3 – Athletes Serving Athletes
4 37:48 62 Winfield Deidre C3 – Athletes Serving Athletes
5 38:14 64 thiemann nikki Team CF
6 38:29 72 dowidchuk katrina Team TBB/Deep Blue
7 38:31 73 Silliman Erin Fruit66/Artemis
8 38:34 71 Pipes Lenore The Wistar Institute
9 38:37 67 MAXWELL JENNIFER Van Dessel Factory Team p/b Sterke Meiden
10 38:52 66 Yozell Erica PAValleys.com
11 39:24 83 Morrison Frances Wheelhouse / NCC
12 39:38 68 Church Kristine Human Zoom/ Pabst Blue Ribbon
13 39:57 69 Webber Lauri Secret Henry’s Team
14 40:16 70 Boswell-Vilt Evie Performance Bicycle Racing
15 40:29 79 Shields Emily Carolina Masters Cycling
16 40:40 80 Shields Katherine Carolina Masters Cycling
17 40:45 76 Cutler Amy Team EPS/CSS p/b Brielle Cyclery
18 40:45 84 Buerkle Patricia River City Womens’ Racing
19 41:10 75 Harlow Elizabeth C3 – Athletes Serving Athletes
20 41:35 81 Applegate Cara Performance Bicycle Racing
21 41:55 78 Most Lisa Wissahickon/Engin Cycles
22 42:19 77 Schumacher Kathrin Guy’s Racing

Day 1 Elite Men

1 0:59:26 1 Frattini Davide Team Hudz/Subaru
2 0:59:41 2 Scherz Valentin Cyfac-Champion System Racing Team p/b Revolution
3 0:59:55 16 Grand Anthony Cyfac-Champion System Racing Team p/b Revolution
4 0:59:59 5 Dewald Ryan Haymarket / SEAVS
5 1:00:03 4 Knapp Ryan BikeReg.com
6 1:00:12 47 Fawley Bryan Park Place Dealerships
7 1:00:17 7 Wulfkuhle Andrew C3-Athletes Serving Athletes
8 1:00:21 3 Livermon Travis Mock Orange Racing
9 1:00:27 8 Wittwer Greg ALAN North America Cycling Team
10 1:00:38 34 Lea Bobby Van Dessel Factory Team
11 1:00:43 22 Nieters Jared Haymarket / SEAVS
12 1:00:47 32 Frederick Scott Inland Construction
13 1:01:08 43 Vlinder Dieter Vander Hilton Head Cycling
14 1:01:20 14 cummings stephen Haymarket Bicycles  / SEAVS
15 1:01:29 11 nelessen guillaume Van Dessel Factory Team
16 1:01:34 10 Donahue Alec Wheelhouse / NCC
17 1:00:35 12 kersting mitchell Bob’s Red Mill p/b Focus Bikes
18 1:00:36 41 odell aaron Bay 101/HRS /Rock lobster cycles
19 1:00:55 9 Wyatt Nathanael Carolina Fatz pb Industry Nine
20 1:02:31 17 Weaver Dave ALAN N. America Cycling Team
21 1:02:43 15 Dombrowski Joseph Haymarket / SEAVS
22 1:02:52 6 Schempf Weston C3-Athletes Serving Athletes
23 1:03:09 39 snead joshua Bay 101/RHS/Rock Lobster
24 1:03:11 35 mihalik michael Freddie Fu Cycling Team
25 1:03:11 18 Feldman Mukunda Wheelhouse / NCC
26 1:03:32 31 Sherer Mike The Pony Shop
27 1:03:45 28 Blair Patrick Adventures For the Cure
28 1:03:49 21 Consorto Christopher Louis Garneau/Team TBB
29 1:03:49 40 Harshman Shawn Konig Racing pb Harshman Wealth
30 1:04:01 20 Broadwater Mark C3-Athletes Serving Athletes
31 45 Bradley Patrick Rutgers University | Raleigh | Kim’s Bike Shop
32 46 Adams Zach C3-Athletes Serving Athletes
33 24 Peppo Kyle Cyfac-Champion System Racing Team p/b Revolution Wheelworks
34 37 Lail Zach Mock Orange Racing
35 38 Larsen Chris ACE p/b Highland Brewing
36 25 Hanlon Charles Guy’s Racing Club
37 23 Jenks Michael Highland Park Hermes p/b Kim’s Bike Shop
38 19 Spohn Matt Cyfac-Champion System Racing Team p/b Revolution Wheelworks
39 42 Rugg Timothy Battley Harley-Davidson/Sonoma Restaurant/Teaism
40 27 Sommerville David Cyfac-Champion System P/B Revolution Wheelworks

Day 2 – Elite Men

1 0:59:42 1 Frattini Davide Team Hudz/Subaru
2 1:00:16 2 Scherz Valentin Cyfac-Champion System Racing Team p/b Revolution
3 1:00:16 15 Grand Anthony Cyfac-Champion System Racing Team p/b Revolution
4 1:00:35 47 Fawley Bryan Park Place Dealerships
5 1:00:35 3 Livermon Travis Mock Orange Racing
6 1:00:53 4 Knapp Ryan BikeReg.com
7 1:01:04 21 Nieters Jared Haymarket / SEAVS
8 1:01:04 31 Frederick Scott Inland Construction
9 1:01:17 30 Sherer Mike The Pony Shop
10 1:01:17 10 Donahue Alec Wheelhouse / NCC
11 1:01:38 43 LEECH RYAN Hilton Head Cycling
12 1:01:48 5 Dewald Ryan Haymarket / SEAVS
13 1:01:48 8 Wittwer Greg ALAN North America Cycling Team
14 1:01:59 13 cummings stephen Haymarket Bicycles  / SEAVS
15 1:02:03 6 Schempf Weston C3-Athletes Serving Athletes
16 1:02:45 11 kersting mitchell Bob’s Red Mill p/b Focus Bikes
17 1:02:49 9 Wyatt Nathanael Carolina Fatz pb Industry Nine
18 1:02:49 39 snead joshua Bay 101/RHS/Rock Lobster
19 1:03:36 41 odell aaron Bay 101/HRS /Rock lobster cycles
20 1:04:09 35 mihalik michael Freddie Fu Cycling Team
21 1:04:19 16 Weaver Dave ALAN N. America Cycling Team
22 1:04:32 45 Adams Zachary C3-Athletes Serving Athletes
23 1:04:54 17 Feldman Mukunda Wheelhouse / NCC
24 1:05:12 40 Harshman Shawn Konig Racing pb Harshman Wealth
25 1:05:27 42 Rugg Timothy Battley Harley-Davidson/Sonoma Restaurant/Teaism
26 1:05:47 27 Blair Patrick Adventures For the Cure
27 1:05:56 20 Consorto Christopher Louis Garneau/Team TBB
28 1:06:27 29 Brown Timothy Battley Harley-Davidson/Sonoma Restaurant/Teaism
29 1:06:38 36 Runnals Michael JRVS/Casey Auto Group
30 1:06:56 19 Broadwater Mark C3-Athletes Serving Athletes
31 1:07:24 46 Stubna Mike Fort Pitt Velo
32 18 Spohn Matt Cyfac-Champion System Racing Team p/b Revolution Wheelworks
33 32 Ingram Callum
34 37 Lail Zach Mock Orange Racing
35 22 Jenks Michael Highland Park Hermes p/b Kim’s Bike Shop
36 24 Hanlon Charles Guy’s Racing Club
37 44 Bradley Patrick Rutgers University | Raleigh | Kim’s Bike Shop
38 26 Sommerville David Cyfac-Champion System P/B Revolution Wheelworks