On Day 1, Elite men raced up the "Hillside Strangler." Day 2, Wellons managed to outrace Trebon for the win. © Aaron Johnson
Today at the Planet Bike USGP, Katerina Nash was again victorious, and Bart Wellens demonstrated that he, too, had winning power on this muddy, wet course. This morning, TheRoadDiaries warned of dire weather, saying, “weather getting worse by the minute here in Sun Praire, rain is heavy, winds picking up, thunder all around.” Photo ops were few and far between as spectators and racers alike battled the elements, and while some racers made their way onto the podium both days, there were certainly a few surprises in the mix, including a second place by Jonathan Page.
Nash has been on a winning streak for the season so far, and Luna teammate Georgia Gould has been close behind. In today’s race, Gould finished nearly a minute back from her teammate. After her impressive day one finish, Gould had tweeted, “Second behind Katerina in the first USGP today. Awesome hecklers on the run-up! Looking forward to tomorrow.” The one-two punch of the Luna ladies is going to be an interesting challenge for other top female racers this season. Nicole Duke took third place, with one of cyclocross’s best loved ladies, Mo Bruno Roy, snatching up fourth place.
The elite men get ready to roll out at the start of Sun Prairie. © Aaron Johnson
While Trebon bested Wellens on Day 1 of the first USGP of the season,Wellens was back on day two to prove that he could take the win — and the early season UCI points that go with it. Wellens wasn’t the only Belgian out to impress on the course today, and teammate Rob Peeters took the hole shot to start the race. However, while Peeters finished in an impressive fourth place, it was a mud-covered Wellens who finished the race solo, after breaking away on a solo attack. Jonathan Page and Ryan Trebon chased, but to no avail, and Page ultimately went on to beat Trebon by ten seconds. Trebon said afterward, “That was a muddy slimy race today. The bikes and tires were working great, Wellens was just too fast. Fun to relearn racing in the mud.”
Christian Heule snatched up fifth place, and Jamey Driscoll, one of the few US racers to break into the top 10, finished sixth. Noticeably absent from the results was Tim Johnson, who, as he said, “fell down and went boom” early in the race.. After hitting a slippery rock on a downhill, Johnson’s race was finished for the day.
The men struggle up the "hillside strangler" later on in the race, some carrying, some merely pushing their bikes. © Aaron Johnson
Full Results:
Elite Men & U23 Results, 2011 Planet Bike Cup Day 2
Pos Bib Name Team U23 Nat Time
1 1 WELLENS Bart Telenet Fidea Cycling Team BEL 59:42
2 6 PAGE Jonathan Planet Bike/Blue Bicycles USA 59:57
3 8 TREBON Ryan LTS USA 1:00:09
4 5 PEETERS Rob Telenet Fidea Cycling Team BEL 1:00:31
5 2 HEULE Christian Cannondale pb CyclocrossWorld.c SUI 1:00:43
6 7 DRISCOLL James Cannondale pb CyclocrossWorld.c USA 1:01:27
7 16 BERDEN Ben Ops Ale - Stoemper BEL 1:02:07
8 9 KABUSH Geoff Team Maxxis / Rocky Mountain CAN 1:02:14
9 3 POWERS Jeremy Rapha/Focus USA 1:02:33
10 14 WELLS Troy Team CLIF BAR USA 1:02:43
11 13 MCDONALD* Zach Rapha/Focus * USA 1:02:47
12 33 ECKMANN* Yannick Pearlizumi/Shimano * GER 1:02:48
13 12 MATTER Brian Gear Grinder / Clif Bar USA 1:03:44
14 19 WELLS Jake Stan's NoTubes Elite Cyclocross USA 1:04:38
15 11 SCHOUTEN Tristan Cyclocrossracing.com p/b Blue B USA 1:05:44
16 17 WEIGHALL Nicholas California Giant Berry Farms/Sp USA 1:06:01
17 10 WICKS Barry Kona USA 1:06:06
18 22 KAISER* Cody California Giant Berry Farms/Sp * USA 1:06:37
19 20 BABCOCK Sean Kona USA 1:06:44
20 50 ROBINSON Justin California Giant Berry Farms/Sp USA 1:07:05
21 23 VAN NUFFEL Tim DCM-GB vorselaar BEL 1:07:15
22 29 KERSTING Mitchell Bob's Red Mill Cyclocross USA 1:07:28
23 51 FISH* Kevin KCCX/Fuji by Challenge Tire * USA 1:07:56
24 24 HOKE Mitchell Team Clif Bar USA -1 LAP
25 54 WHITE Bradley UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Te USA -2 LAP
26 21 FAWLEY Bryan ORBEA USA USA -2 LAP
27 26 BATTY Mark SpiderTech Powered By C10 CAN -2 LAP
28 15 KNAPP Ryan Bob's Red Mill Cyclocross USA -2 LAP
29 43 TILFORD Steve TradeWind Energy/Eriksen Cycles USA -2 LAP
30 59 SCHMALZ* Joseph KCCX * USA -2 LAP
31 49 NEFF Isaac USA -2 LAP
32 35 WOODRUFF Travis Trek-Boulder/MomentumEndurance. USA -2 LAP
33 25 SHERER Mike The Pony Shop USA -2 LAP
34 34 ALLEN Tim Feedback Sports USA -2 LAP
35 36 GLASSFORD Peter Trek Canada CAN -2 LAP
36 31 LASLEY Jacob Team Soundpony USA -2 LAP
37 42 CAMERON Molly Metafilter-Portland Bicycle Stu USA -3 LAP
38 53 STROTHMAN Jay Rokkit racing USA -3 LAP
39 37 JOHNSON* Josh BikeReg.com * USA -3 LAP
40 41 PARMELEE Mark Cycletherapy USA -3 LAP
41 28 MORKA Adam Trek Canada CAN -3 LAP
42 48 HEMME Michael CHICAGO.CX USA -3 LAP
43 47 WONDERGEM Eric Hup United USA -3 LAP
44 46 REARDON Andrew Bob's Red Mill Cyclocross USA -3 LAP
45 38 GEROW* Daniel Wolverines/ACFSTORES.COM * USA -3 LAP
46 62 GANTZER Jeremiah Double I Cycling USA -3 LAP
47 60 MILLS Adam USA -4 LAP
48 32 MACKAY Chris RealCyclist.com USA -4 LAP
49 45 REMO* Thomson Team Wheel & Sprocket * USA -4 LAP
50 52 STEVENSON Russell Raleigh USA -4 LAP
51 44 HAUGH Spencer Behind Bars/LGR USA -5 LAP
DNF 40 COLE Brad Mercy Elite Cycling Team USA
DNF 4 JOHNSON Timothy Cannondale pb CyclocrossWorld.c USA
Elite Women Results, 2011 Planet Bike Cup Day 2
Pos Bib Name Team Nat Time Gap
1 1 NASH Katerina Luna Pro Team USA 40:15 -
2 5 GOULD Georgia USA 41:11 56
3 8 DUKE Nicole Cannondale pb CyclocrossWorld.c USA 42:10 1:55
4 6 BRUNO ROY Maureen Bob's Red Mill pb Seven Cycles USA 42:24 2:09
5 2 MANI Caroline FRA 43:37 3:22
6 9 SHERWIN Katherine Stan's NoTubes Elite Cyclocross USA 43:53 3:38
7 4 MILLER Meredith California Giant Cycling USA 44:09 3:54
8 7 ANTONNEAU Kaitlin Cannondale pb CyclocrossWorld.c USA 44:11 3:56
9 13 HARLTON Pepper Juventus Cycling Club CAN 45:01 4:46
10 12 STETSON-LEE Teal California Giant Berry Farms/Sp USA 45:16 5:01
11 3 BUTLER Sue River City/Ridley USA 45:41 5:26
12 25 BINGHAM Kelsy USA 45:48 5:33
13 34 GILBERT Sunny Michelob Ultra - Big Shark Raci USA 46:20 6:05
14 17 SONE Linda cycle-smart.com/flanders USA 46:27 6:12
15 11 JAMES Ashley KCCX Elite USA 46:35 6:20
16 19 BATTY Emily Subaru-Trek CAN 47:05 6:50
17 28 FORSMAN Chloe Race Club 11 USA 47:38 7:23
18 15 DALLAIRE Annajean Racin' for Riley p/b Alderfer B USA 48:01 7:46
19 29 FLECK Jeanne VELO Duluth - Twin Ports Cycler USA 48:31 8:16
20 10 CURTIS Katy CAN 49:07 8:52
21 27 BENJAMIN Kelly KCCX / Verge Elite Cyclocross T USA 49:42 9:27
22 21 GAERTNER Jenni Raleigh America USA 50:42 10:27
23 20 OSBORNE Corrie ISCorp 51:49 11:34
24 33 COOGAN CISEK Corey Team Plan C p/b Stevens USA -1 LAP
25 22 HUANG Sarah IS Corp USA -1 LAP
26 24 SEVERN Alyssa cyclocrossracing.com USA -1 LAP
27 32 GIBSON Shannon Stan's NoTubes Elite Cyclocross USA -1 LAP
28 16 KOROL Meghan bob's Red Mill Cyclocross USA -1 LAP
29 18 SMILEY Marne Bob's Red Mill Cyclocross USA -1 LAP
