NorCal Cycling News – Cycling and Racing in Northern California

College Cyclery Compound, West Sacramento

25 September 2011

 

With the cyclocross season now well underway in Northern California, the Sacramento Cyclocross Series opened its season yesterday at the College Cyclery Compound in West Sacramento. The wind blew throughout the day and was particularly strong toward the end of the event. Good fortune prevailed, however, and a repeat of last year’s dust bowl failed to occur.

The course is on a long, narrow stretch of land extending westward from the Sacramento River. There is a “BMX” section, with jumps, berms, and a flyover bridge, but the rest of the course is flat, bumpy single track. An outward leg goes headlong into the wind before a tailwind brings everybody back on the return leg. The wind made for challenging runs on the outward leg.

In the Women’s A race, Sarah Maile (Ventana Mountain Bikes) won over a battling Jen Jordan (Sycomp Racing/Team Affinity)…whose race was hampered by a mishap amongst the BMX berms and whoop-de-doos. Sarah’s win came despite last October’s injury to her thump that still plagues her…the hard, bumpy single-track made it hard to hang onto the bars. In ebullient fashion, Sarah said she was “still going for it.”

About her race, Sarah said, “it’s windy and bumpy out there, the BMX section was super fun, but you had the head win on the way out [and] you got the tail wind on the way back.” “Jen gave me a run for my money at the beginning. I didn’t have the greatest start, Jen took off and I was chasing at the beginning. She had a little mishap; I got a gap and just kept going.” Gone with the wind.

 

Former Sacramento native, Mitch Trux (Team Off the Couch) won the Men’s Category A race. Mitch said, “I wanted to see the course so I hung back for first lap [and] once I saw the course I just went for it and tried to get up there. I was going slower than I needed to so [I] just amped up the pace a little bit and got to that pace that I knew I could stick for 60 minutes.” Gone with the wind.

Several racers were in contention during early laps but suffered flats or fell back. Asked about the wind, Mitch replied “[the wind was] kinda rough [so] I just zipped up and got low and used all my roady skills. Trux also said, “the Sacramento fans are great. [The Compound] is a nice little hideout, I really appreciate [Terry Cox, caretaker of the Compound] letting us come out and have good fun.”

Colin Samaan (The Bicycle Business) took second step on the Category A Men podium with Keith Hillier (Marc Pro – Strava) coming home third. Jen Jordan (Sycomp Racing/Team Affinity) was second ahead of third place Stace Cooper (Metromint) for the Women’s A podium. Full race results for all categories, from TimeYourRace.com, are available at http://www.bicyclingevents.com/SacCx/Results.asp. The Sacramento Cyclocross Series runs next at Harry Renfree Field, Sacramento, on 8 October 2011.