SoCal Cyclocross Series Race #10 - Sunday, 11/27/2005

Glendale Adventist Medical Center Turkey Trot CrossTurkey Trot Cross debuts the Turkey Gobbler! By Sam Ames, Matt Gunnell, Dorothy Wong 

With a full supply of turkey, ham and all the fixins in their legs, 216 riders (the highest turnout ever in Southern California cyclocross history!) the racers took to the Glendale Adventist Medical Center Turkey Trot Cross on Sunday hosted by the PAA/Merrill Lynch and Bicycle John's Serious Cycling teams.   At the far end of the course was the infamous Turkey Gobbler which awarded racers special prizes throughout the day!

In Men's A race action, a field of 23 riders took to the twisting, fast, and dry grass course. Leading the first lap charge was Jeff Prinz of Celo Pacific who later fell victim to a stick in his gears. Fellow Celo rider Brent Prenzlow (Celo Pacific/Salsa) along with Chance Noble(Scary Fast) and Nat Faulkner (Action Sports) took up the charge through the Ritchey sand pit and technical grass sections. Mike Easter (Shoreline Cycles/Kona) and Jeff Behrens(Celo Pacific/Salsa) fought hard to gain contact with the leaders but the order was established and the battle for first and second came down to a game of horsepower with Prenzlow pulling away for the win in the final 2 laps. Young Chance Noble took second with Faulkner in third.   Chance won the USGP of Cyclocross last Sunday at Golden Gate park and will be making his way to Europe to represent the United States later this year.... Go Chance!

The women's A race showcased National Junior MTB champ, 13 year-old, Brittney Van Vleet (KHS/Swamis) who took the holeshot and led the A Women's field for almost half a lap creating a race dictating gap in the field, before Dorothy Wong (Kelly Bike Co.) slipped past her after the Detroit Coffee Run Up. Brittney had earlier defeated first time crosser Coryn Rivera (Major Motion and Jr. Road National Champ). Wong won the day's event with Van Vleet ending up 3 rd and newcomer to cross, adventure racer, Teri Strayer (Backbone) getting second.

The largest field ever in Southern California cyclocross history was the men's C race.   A group of 53 riders roared down the pavement start, into the first grass sweeper and Ritchey sand pit where a pile up gapped a large part of the field.

Griffith Vertican and Michael Lilly (Shoreline) took to the front and opened up the race with Grant Van Horn (Action Sports), Eddie Nilo (Encore) and Ron McKiernan (PAA/Merrill Lynch) in hot pursuit. Vertican and Lilly maintained a solid lead but eventual third place rider Van Horn kept the pressure on. Through the trees and short run up, Vertican was able to hold on for the win with Lilly taking 2nd. and Van Horn finishing in third.

Kelly Bike Company was the featured bike of the day showing off the 2005 Euro-style Knobby X. Kelly will be awarding the champion of the Men's B category a brand new Knobby X frame and fork!

The highlight of the day, aqain with a historic turnout was the Road ID Kids Race where 20 youngriders made their way around the abbreviated cross course that still included the infamous Kool N Fit triple barrier section!   The kids were awarded cowbells and treated to Verdugo Dogs served up fresh and hot!   All in all everyone enjoyed a beautiful fall day at the races!

Glendale Adventist Medical Center Turkey Trot Cross by the numbers:
216 race entrees
2 Turkey Trot titles defended: Brent Prenzlow (Celo Pacific/Salsa) in the Men's A and Dorothy Wong (Kelly Bike Company in the Women's A)
200 Verdugo Dogs cooked and eaten

18  Junior Racers 18+ under
20  Kids Racers (Juniors and Kids are our cycling FUTURE !)
100 Dollars donated to the Lance Armstrong Foundation in the name of Eugene Galindo.

With four races to go in the SoCal Cyclocross Series this weekend will showcase a championship level double header starting Saturday with the debut of the Capital Choice/Shimano State Championship course in Irvine hosted by Encore Cycling, followed up Sunday at the 2003 State Championship course in Vista, CA hosted by Celo Pacific.   For more info check out: www.socalcross.org

Photos courtesy of Mitchell Clinton. (Thank You!)

PRESS RELEASE:

Noble and Wong take Hart Park Cyclocross – Sunday, 11/6

The Southern California Cyclocross Cup reached its halfway point in grand fashion as nearly 100 riders took to the European style course of Hart Park in Bakersfield, CA. Sunday Nov. 6th. With the sun shining and a beautiful day in prospect, riders and spectators took to the course for some hot cross’ racing action.

Hosted by the Kern Wheelmen Bicycle Club of Bakersfield, an expo area with food, drink, music and fun greeted everyone. There were demo bikes by Cannondale, Specialized, and Redline. The Ritchey Wheelpit made its debut with a set of Pro wheels available to riders needing a change. Clif bar, XS Energy drink and the infamous SoCalCross booth with a slew of stickers, cowbells, custom Sock Guy/InCycle wool socks further complimented the race.

The course, a design by race director Sam Ames, was based upon time spent in Europe and countless hours watching Belgian and Dutch cross videos, “I always want a wide, flowing course. A course Sven Nys would be proud to ride on. You have to have some technical but still favor the traditional cross rider and I think this venue and course is the one of the best around.” Riders started fast as the course featured pavement, grass and one short but steep run up. Two high concrete curbs were a crowd favorite as a few riders were able to bunny hop them, while most stuck to the traditional dismount.

In the women’s A race series promoter Dorothy Wong of Kelly Bike Co. took the win from rival Carolyn Popovic (Evomo) followed by Amy Bowen (Platinum) in third. “It was a tough race but such a good course. Loose in the corners and that run up! Wow…” said Wong. Popovic and Wong have traded wins this season and have a good battle on their hands.

In the men’s A race it was team Amgen getting the upper hand at the end of the first lap, but not before Nat Faulkner (Action Sports) a former Canadian national champion took the first lap Road ID prime. “I think I blew myself up a bit, but it was fun!” said Faulkner. With son Chance Noble (Scaryfast) bunny hopping the tall curbs and teammate Gary Hanson tagging along, national Masters Champion Mark Noble set the pace and the trio quickly built a 30 second gap on Faulkner. In the end Mark pulled away from his teammates to take the win with Chance taking the sprint for second and Hanson in third.

The last bit of business for the day was the drawing to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation. It is a SoCalCross mission as a Peleton Project member to raise money for the Foundation. Thanks to series sponsor, Cannondale, a complete Cannondale Optimo cyclocross bike was donated and the lucky winner was Steve Christiansen of Bakersfield. Congratulations… we’ll see you at the next race, Steve!

SoCalCross welcomes new sponsors: FRS, Road ID, Fuel Belt, Scaryfast, Cowbell.com and Shower Pass Clothing to our sponsor family! 7 races to go… including our series finale weekend in Santa Barbara and the Santa Cross series final in Woodland Hills… don’t miss it!!!
More SoCalCross action coming your way next weekend on Sunday, 11/13 with the Urban Cyclocross at Palos Verdes Estates.

For more info check out:   www.socalcyclocross.org .Photos courtesy of Mitchell Clinton. (Thank You!)

More News Highlights. Check out features on Dorothy at >> http://cyclocrossworld.com