NorCal Cycling News – Cycling and Racing in Northern California

The Sacramento Cyclocross Series and CCCX both ran events this past weekend. Harry Renfree Field, at the State’s capital, was a flat and fast course under sunny Sacramento skies. In the Women’s Category A race, Emily Thurston (Stevens) and Ellen Sherrill (Bike Station Aptos) joined the fray with Jen Jordan (Sycomp Racing/Team Affinity) and Amanda Seigle (Metromint Cycling)…both podium finishers from the series’ first race…in a field of eight.

Thurston set a very fast pace right from the start taking along Sherrill, Jordan, and Mary-Ellen Ash (Bay101/HRS/Rocklobster) as the lead group. Ash dropped back on the second lap with Jordan falling off the pace on lap three. Thurston and Sherrill continued to race together, taking turns in the lead, and maintaining a good distance ahead of third place. Sherrill and Thurston entered the final technical section together but Sherrill was able to exit into the final, sweeping turn ahead of Thurston. Both racers reported difficulties clipping out or in at the plank barriers with Sherrill having the better time of it to come home first. Thurston took second and Jen Jordan secured third.

 

In the Men’s Category A, a group of seven racers dominated the race; in the group were Matt Obregon (Bicycles Plus/Sierra Nevada), Mitch Trux (City Cycle of San Francisco), Max Jenkins (Folsom Bike), Jesse Moore (Cal Giant), Keith Hillier (Marco Pro – Strava), Rainier Schaefer (MASH SF), and Collin Samaan (The Bicycle Business). On the last lap, the leaders entered a wooded section as a tight line but emerged with fewer racers and quite spread out; a two-racer crash broke apart the group. Samaan, Obregon, Hillier, and Moore were up front but Obregon managed to squeeze by Samaan on the inside of a corner to reach the finish line first. Samaan and then Hillier claimed the final two podium places.

 

In Prunedale, CCCX ran at Manzanita Park with the course sporting a couple of off-camber turns as well as fast, long downhill sections. In the Elite Womens race, Katheryn Mattis (Webcor/Alto Velo) raced with the early leaders for a couple of laps before taking and expanding a lead to come home first. Karen Brems and Tina Baumsteiger, both Team Rambuski Law, were second and third, respectively. In Mens Elite, a brace of Bay 101/HRS/Rocklobster racers dominated proceedings. Scott Chapin and Aaron Bradford looked tremendous on the course as both assumed the top two positions in the race. It was only on the final lap that Chapin was able to separate himself from Bradford to win. Jim Hewitt (Summit Bicycles) moved his way through the field and beat Tobin Ortenblad (CalGiant/Specialized) to third place by the slimmest of margins.

 

 

Full Race Results:
Sacramento Cyclocross Series Results
CCCX Results