DTLA Cross: SCPS Race #1
Southern California Prestige Series of Cyclocross
SCPS #1: DTLA Historic Cyclo-Fest
Photos: Allison Mann and Carolyn Reeves
SoCalCross eased into the season with the “Tour de Arroyo II,” a showcase of the California Cycle-ways route from Pasadena to Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA). The Prestige Series Presented by SPY Optic broke ground, as well, with the “DTLA Historic CX,” a cyclo-fest at Los Angeles Historic State Park, a course uniquely positioned against a backdrop of Downtown Los Angeles and its transportation corridor.
The park was a perfect fit for the first race of the season and great course design. The SoCal High School MTB League came together earlier in the weekend, with junior Cody Phillips at the helm, to help with course preparations and installation of the Shimano CX rollers. A lot of dirt was used to build this technical section and challenged many riders. Another significant leg zapper was SPY hill, a set of long stairs with some challenging turns leading to the run up.
With perfect SoCal weather it was a great start to the season in DTLA and the record numbers of participants again this year, especially in the women’s fields, all which are great for SoCal and the sport of cyclocross. This is only due to the tireless efforts of promoter Dorothy Wong’s work throughout the year as the series has reached a new height.
Elite Women:
Allison Mann (Rock N’ Road) rode aggressive from the start. She grabbed the holeshot with the largest elite women’s field to start the season. The long straight came to a loose gravelly turn where Mann went down. Christina Probert-Turner (The Team SoCal CX) came around Mann and took the lead through lap one with some teammates and the Cynergy girls, Jenna Jammer Kowalski and Julia Lafrachise hungry to get to the front. However, the same aggressive riding that got Mann the holeshot was the same effort that got her back to Turner coming through the finish of lap one. Mann did not look back. Turner pedaled with Mann at first but by the end it was Mann with almost a minute gap on the field.
Turner came in to take second only seconds ahead of her teammate Nancy James in third. It was Kowalski and Lafrachise who rounded out the top five for a glorious day of racing in the SoCal elite women’s field.
Elite Men:
The field took their starting positions with all eyes looking towards Sid Taberlay (Kenda/H20 Overdrive) to lead from the start but it was Ted Willard (SDG/Felt p.b. IRT) who tore down the starting stretch to grab the holeshot. The field lined themselves up and settled in as Willard set the pace for three-fourths of the first lap until he let teammate Jason Siegle pull through and set the first attack of the race. This split the field and made for some hard work as Taberlay pulled the front pack back up to Siegle who continued to lead the race through lap two.
The front group was down to five riders and saw its share of change on the front. By lap three Siegle again saw his chance to split the lead group apart, putting out a big effort on the front that only Taberlay and Brandon Gritters (Rock N’ Road) could match. The three rode away and continued to battle throughout the race.
With four to go Taberlay began to take charge leading the group through the barriers, Shimano CX rollers and Spy Hill, all of which he never dismounted his bike through. Unfortunately, with a lap and one-half to go Gritters rear tire went flat and he had to roll into the pits as him and Siegle chased Taberlay who monopolized on the issue to take the win. Siegle could not get back to Taberlay on his own but he also benefited from the flat to take second while Gritters swift bike change allowed him to finish third. Fourth was Gary Douville (SDG/Felt p.b. IRT) followed by Chris Jackson (BMC).
The Prestige Series Presented by SPY Optic heads north from Los Angeles, Sept. 25, to Camarillo Pacifica Crossfest in Camarillo, Calif., and will in part support youth through M4Kcycling and Casa Pacifica. It was a great start to the 2011-12 season and will only get better as SoCalCross, concurrent with its Prestige Series efforts, will produce Gold Crown Events Presented by Shimano. These marquee events include top-level international UCI races, including the Spooky Cross Weekend in Irvine, Oct. 15 and Oct.16, which is also part of the UCI Night Race Series/Cross After Dark. Thereafter, “Cyclocross Los Angeles” (CXLA) will usher-in top-level cyclocross action and a festival at the heart of Los Angeles, Dec. 3 and Dec. 4. Shimano Gold Crown events will boast more than bike racing and will feature eco-sport-healthy-living festivals.
