Walton Wins Mid-Atlantic Cyclo Cross Season Opener!!

Eldersburg, Maryland
Sunday, October 11, 1998

Thanks to Andrew Albright

The Results: Sometimes trackie, sometimes roadie, but at all-times pro, Brian Walton (Saturn) used patience and a last-lap move to win Race Pace's Mid-Maryland Cyclo Cross Race #2 (MAC cross season opener). The first couple of laps saw the lead group stretch and come back together several times, until the third lap, when the elastic snapped and 8-10 riders went clear. This group further spread out, so that with 3 laps to go Phil Riggio (Bike Doctor) had a 10-sec gap over Walton and Steve Bechtel (Race Pace). But on an open course, there was no place to hide, no chance sneak out of sight; Riggio just could not get away (although according to the spectators he gave it all he had to try just that). Walton seized a bell-lap opportunity went hard up the long uphill grade that started each lap. Details were sketchy, but as evidenced by Ramon Benitez's (spectating on his broken leg) excited recap of the race's finale, Steve Bechtel (Race Pace) narrowly took 2nd from a most likely exhausted Riggio third. Rounding out the top of the Men's Open Race were George Menard (Saturn of York) and last week's winner James Futty (Breezer). In 9th was Mike Kuhn, promoter of the Perry-Roubaix Cyclo Cross.

Masters 35+ winner was local cross master Bernie Shiao (Bike Doctor). Julie Larson (DeGroens) and Meg Clark (Bike Doctor) were 1st and 2nd in the women's race. There were lots of Bike Doctors taking top spots; Ed Krasnai also scored high in the Men's open race.

The Course: Gone was the singletrack and wooden bridges. Left was a pleasant mix of grass and the little things that make a 'cross course painful….barriers at the top of an uphill, technical/rough downhills that rob you of a well-earned chance to get a little rest, off camber run-ins to uphill sections that steal any bit of inertia you might have, etc. It was fun.

The Extra-Stuff: Forty-two riders made the most a beautiful October morning, including many first time racers. This is great to see. It was a nice course for the first time 'crosser. Ridership seems to be on the rise and the promoter, Kevin Dolan (Race Pace), has plans of moving to a two race ("A" and "B") format next year, a move that will surely make the sport even more beginner friendly.

Next Stop on the MAC 'cross schedule: An excellent race for beginners and pros alike in the Mid-Atlantic Region will be the big Philly Super Cup race next Saturday. This race will have three categories for Senior Men, so that the beginners will have their own category ("C"), while having the opportunity to "watch the pros do it" in the big "A" race. With a $3,200 Men's A and $1,000 Women's purse and UCI points up for grabs, many of the top cross riders in the U.S. and Canada are expected to attend. It promises to be a blast and a half. On Sunday is the Schweizer's Cross Race with a $1,200 Men's Open purse. In addition to a great course, this race will also have the same "category friendly system". These races are the 2nd and 3rd races in the MAC series.

Andrew Albright

(Corrected report, series results, and pictures should probably be able to be found at http://204.91.71.227/work/cross/ in the near future.)