9/20 weekend race reports

while CXM has weekend reports of Nittany, Double Cross, Star Crossed and Rad Racing, what happened in your local area?

Here's the monterey area's race report:
Snead, Carey, Cannard, Myall, Gile, Hammond, Hopkins, Calley, Cuaresma, James, Flynn, MacDonald, Mendoza, Schultz, Fattor, Dominguez, Hubbard, Mai, all victorious in fast paced CCCX #1 in Ft Ord.

The track was full of high speed-full throttle sections. Including touches of sand, hard-packed dirt, tricky turns and pavement. In the end it was HRS/Rock Lobster riders Stella Carey and Josh Snead who walked away with high honors amongst some of Nor-Cal's finest Cyclocross racers.

Many of the divisions witnessed very competitive races and super tight finishes, here is a quick break down of some of the action.

Elite Women- Carey and Melodie Metzger(Gal Giant Inc.) put on quite a tussle in the Elite women's division. The two ladies went at it toe to toe for most of the race until Carey separated herself from the tenacious Metzger to claim a 8 second win at the line. Karen Brems(Webcor Builders) finished 1 minute later to claim the 3rd place on the day. Next across the line were Katrina Baumsteiger( Black Market Racing), Bev Chaney(Roaring Mouse Racing), Natasha Perry(Velo Bella), Megan Cordes(The Great Chiweenies), and Sarah Piccolo(NorCal Velo) in that order.

Elite Men- HRS Rock Lobster claimed the top 3 places with Josh Snead holding off Scott Chapin by 16 seconds and David Wyandt by 42 seconds. Jason Rahlwes(Fox Racing Shox) was 4th and the legend Larry Hibbard(Family Cycling Center) rounded out the top five. Other riders who had an impact on the outcome were Alex Work(HRS Rock Lobster), Chris Brown(Nor-Cal Bike Sport), Lance Doherty(Clif Bar), Don Myrah(Buy-Cell. com), Nick Hanni(Scott/ Ritchey/SRAM) , Dean Poshard(HRS Rock Lobster), and George Smith(Webcor/ Alto Velo), who all finished in that order.

Master 35+ A Men- Gannon Myall(Cal Giant Inc.) set a blistering pace on a stacked field of national caliber Master's racers that only Keith DeFiebre(Scott/ Ritchey/SRAM) could follow on lap one. Myall's steady tempo distanced the field and gave way to a well deserved victory. DeFiebre continued to chase solo until Mark Howland(Black Market Racing) joined in on the pursuit with 2 laps to go. Next to chase was a re-surging Henry Kramer(Cal Giant Inc.) who took a fall in action and was joined by Anastasio Flores of La Selva Beach. These riders rounded out the top five behind the hard charging Myall. This Masters division was super competitive with all the riders in the group fighting tooth and nail to solidify a placing. Filling out the rest of the competitive top 10 were Murray Swanson(Peninsula Velo/Kondra Systems), John Mundelins(Wells Fargo), John Kammeyer(Altezza 40), and Cesar Chavez and Brock Dickie who both ride for Buy-Cell.com.

Master 45+ A Men- Steve Gile(HRS Rock Lobster) had a incredible year on the road where he was the top 45+ ranked roadie for some of the NCNCA season. Gile backed this fine riding up with a excellent 45+ win in the CCCX opener. Gile topped ragin" and rad" Rob Meighan(Cal Giant Inc.) by 11 seconds when all was said and done. A further 1 minute back was Norm Kriess(Cal Giant inc.) who opened up his cross season with a fine ride claiming 3rd on the day. Mark Abele(Black Market Racing) and Philip Sims(ABS/SCCC) went neck and neck to the finish playing out a thrilling sprint with the strong armed Abele man handling Sims by a tire length on the line. this division was super competitive and the rest of the top 10 are all tremendous racers. Rounding out the top 10 were Thomas Feix(Pen Velo/Kondra Systems), Tom Ryan(Cal Giant Inc.), George Smith, Logan Kelsey(Vertical Online), and Edwin Rambuski(Black Market Racing).

Single Speed A- Micha Mozel(Pissed Off) came ready to rumble in a pair of tight blue jean cut shorts that hugged his body long a long lost love. His wife beater tank top made him look like a member of the old 80's band The Village People. Or maybe Mozal's Cross dress was making up for missing out on Saturdays last DFL pirate race. However it was Tim Cannard(Buy- Cell.com) who answered Mozel's challenge and rode away with the Single Speed victory in fine fashion. Cannard and Ruben Villareal(Marciel Velo/T Mobile) had one of the best finishes of all the races and the two riders took it to the sprint to decide the days winner. In the end it was Cannard's bike throw ability that was the difference in this great battle for the win. John Cheetham(InfoVista) was next across the line in 4th. Cheetham put 45 seconds into 5th placed Mozal. Next across the line were Ron Castia(Info Vista), Russell Pratt of Oakland, Chris Coffee of Oakland, and Stella Carey who competed in her second race of the day.

Master Women 35+- Melanie Dominguez(SCCC/ Bike Trip) raced slightly injured proving she is a true trooper and fighter. She raced valiantly during the event and her determination pushed her to the category win. Speaking of true fighter and strong determination, 2nd place on the day was Janel Lodge(Black Market Racing). Lodge is a fine example to all cyclists to chase your dreams and do not let adversity stand in your way.

Category B Women- Melissa Schultz(Kaiser Permanente) had one of the best rides on the day using all of her technical skills to post a solid win in this group. Schultz smooth Cross skills really shinned on this sunny day of racing. Lindsay Collins(SCCCC) was 2nd place on the day, and fast riding Lainey Aldridge(Bike Trip) was 3rd. Another bike rider from the Bike trip was next to finish, this was Angela Rebol of Aptos. Next to finish the challenging circuit was Rita Celeste Leon(SCCCC), Jasmins Parsins(InfoVista) , and Katherine Butler of Oakland.

Category B Men- This division had some of the closest racing among the top seven riders as the racing progressed. These seven racers were separated by only 30 seconds at the finish. In the end it was Andrew Hammond(Specialized - SBCU) who rode off with bragging rights grabbing a nice win. Scott/Ritchey/ SRAM rider Cody Klasna posted his best Cross result making a stellar 2nd place on the day only 3 seconds behind Hammond. Three small seconds later came Abe Rostien of Watsonville. Next in line was 17 year old Nico Cerna(VOS) who showed great promise doing his first Cross race ever. Cerna was getting tutored by 45+ A race winner Steven Gile in Cross skills, and these secret lesson seemed to have paid off. A mere 2 seconds later finished Specialized racer Jean Luc Callahan who was 5th place on the day. Matt Young(SYCIP) then edged Mark Shaw(Vertical Pandas) by a bike length in the sprint between the two strong riders for sixth place. Tyler Frasca(SV Cyclesport), Joshua Rebol(Specialized) , and Bryon Duke(SHS Cowboys), made up the rest of the top 10.

Master Women 45+- Winona Hubbard(SCCCC) had a very strong race day performance topping some very powerful and smooth riding ladies on her way to the win. Hubbard had to distance herself form last years series champion Henrietta Stern(Hot Flash Chicks), and did so by about 1 minute in the end. Amy Abele(Velo Bella/Kona) pushed it very hard all the way thru the race and all the way to the line to claim 3rd place on the day. Abele has some of the best looking racing kits in her custom Velo Bella gear, showing fashion and cycling do mix. Roaring Mouse rider Cathy Morgan of San Francisco was 4th placed on the day.

Master Men 35+ B- Team Santa Cruz's David Hopkins held off local boy Courtney Grossman(HRS Rock Lobster) by 10 seconds for a strong win. Mathew Carinio(Art' s Cyclery), Mike Morgan(SYCIP) , and Eric Brouillete(Eden Bicycle Club), were locked in a strong fight to make up the rest of the top five. Each rider made a push for an advantage on course with Carinio getting the best of Morgan and Brouillete at the line by only a few seconds.

Master Men 45+ B- This division was full of strong riders. Placings were hard fought and just making the top 10 was quite an accomplishment. HRS Rock Lobster claimed another win with Monterey's Scott Calley making good by 46 seconds over 2nd placed Mike Bodge(Cal Giant Inc.). Brian Johnson(SCCCC/ Jahwind) was 3rd place another 49 seconds adrift. Another minute back come Strong riding and super talented Kyle Samuels(Cal Giant Inc.). Clifford Lee of San Francisco made the top 5 as he was next across the line in this competitive field. Filling up the rest of the top ten placing were Bob Skubis(Easton/ Sugar CRM), Bruce Lodge(Black Market Racing), Brian Birch(Team Oakland), Paul Sadoff( HRS Rock Lobster), and Russell Carmick(Roaring Mouse Racing).

Master Men 55+- Fast Frank Cuaresma(Cal Giant Inc.) has shown much improvement over the last 5 years of CCCX Cross races. Cuaresma posted another strong win in the 55+ division topping Larry Broberg(Team Bike Trip), Joesph Crabtree(Forest Hill Bike Shop), dangerous Doug Smith(SCCCC) , and Reid Schantz of Scotts Valley.

Single Speed B- Robert James(SVCS) topped Andy Copleman(Specialize d), Billy Hall(HRS Rock Lobster), Taylor Giger(Salinas High MTB Team), for the win. James won by 1 minute 23 seconds in his dominating ride.

Category C Women- Jill Fattor of Redwood City dominated this group on her way to a strong win. Susie Lerner(Art's SLO Cyclery) chased lap after lap trying to close the gap but Fattor simply did not stop charging for a full 33'40. Lerner was 2nd on the day while Michelle Perez(Velo Bella) made 3rd place, Lanora Rency of Scots Valley was 4th place, and Theresa Castia(East Bay Cyclist) finished top 5 on the day.

Category C Men- This division was very full of talented riders and was one of the strongest C Division races ever to be held in the 11 year CCCX history. Twenty six riders went at it, thus showing the strong desire for all levels of riders to race Cyclocross. Whent he dust settled it was the Hwy 68 Hilbillies who claimed 1st and 3rd place on the day. Shane Flynn and Tim Lukasko riding out of Salinas stamped their authority on the event with only Nicholas Navarro(Crossniacs) getting in the way of a clean sweep of the top two placings. Next across the line was Doug Aldrich(SJBC) who was a fine 4th place on the day. Amazingly the next six riders were separated by only 40 seconds, showing exactly how tight the racing was just to make the top 10 in this group. These riders in order of finish were Francis Cebedo(MTBR. com), Steve Anderson(Velo Club Monterey), Mark Knutson(SCCCC) , Eric Miller of Santa Cruz, sweet riding Samuel Sweetland of Solvang, and Mathew Davidson(MBTR. com).

Junior Women- Brenda Mai(Velo Bella) rode extremely well on the day claiming the junior win. Mai was taking part in her first ever Cyclocross race and judging by her fine finish she was liking all the action Cross provides. Look for Mai to continue to develop as a rider in both MTB and Cyclocross. Gabriela Crowley(Cowboy Racing) was 2nd placed in the end.

Junior Men 14-18- Bike Trip riders dominated this division thoroughly. Only Ian Samuels(Cal Ginat Inc.) could break up the full ownership claim, Samuels was 4th place. Dylan MacDonald was the winner. Other Bike Trip riders in the top 5 were Raymond Mendoza, who was only a few seconds away from the win, Kyle Vanderstoup, and Joshua Kenag.

Junior Men 13 & Under- Thomas Mendoza(Bike Trip/SCCCC) was the winner in this group, he bested fine riding Samuel Cerruti(Cal Giant Inc.) and Sterling Sports Group racer Mathew Vallencia of Los Altos.

full results here