Sacrementro CX #3

[Bike/zzflyertop.htm]

Sacramento CX #3: Larsen Laps the Field, Almost
November 21, 1999
California

From John Elgart

"A" Race Report: Having Steve Larsen show up for Sacramento is kind of like having Pontoni show up for Supercup. You know he's going to win. The only questions are: By how much? And Would he lap the field?

It turned out that Larsen dispatched the other 16 A-riders with ease to win by 4:14 over 2nd place Justin Morgan, the only rider unlapped. Sporting cool looking LLBean clothing, a Mongoose cross bike and Spox wheels, the pro mountain biker was grace and power, sprinting were most riders were grinding and negotiating the technical sections with nimble feet.

The course this week was our fastest ever - with no single track, no run downs and a minimum of jungle. It did have a long road hill climb, a good run, and 5 dismounts per 5 minute lap (that's means 4:30 for Larsen).

By the half-way point of the race, last week's winner, Justin Morgan, was riding solo two minutes back of Larsen. Justin was being chased at half a minute by a trio of Brian Rouse, Todd Weitzenberg and J VanHeel. Another half minute back were Denis Coyne, Kelly Stephens and your correspondent.

The front trio broke up when VanHeel disappeared. Rouse then gapped Weitzenberg by briefly taking advantage of the draft when Larsen came by.

Behind them, I wound up dueling with Denis and in the end we staged the best finish of the day as we went over the final barrier at 100 meters side by side - and I manged to eek out a 5th place.

Of note, incidentally, was the presence of Matt Anand, Saturn Pro, road hammerhead and cross novice. I wish I had the photo of Linda, arm in an external fixator (left arm), demonstrating proper carrying technique to Matt!

A Race Results, with estimated time down, counting laps:
1. Steve Larsen, LLBean/Mongoose, 56:54
2. Justin Morgan, 24 Hour, 1:01:08 (-4:14)
3. Brian Rouse, Santa Cruz Mtb, @ 1, 57:19 (-4:55)
4. Todd Weitzenberg, Redwood Empire, @ 1, 57:42 (-5:18)
5. John Elgart, Alto Velo, @ 1, 58:58 (-6:34)  (Master 1st)
6. Dennis Coyne, Bike Smith @ 1, 58:58 (-6.34) (Master 2nd)
7. David Hinz, K2PowerBar @1, 59:48 (-7:24) (Master 3rd)
8. Kelly Stephens, CBW, @1, 1.00:26 (-8:08)
9. Bob Barwick, Family Cycling Ctr, @1 1.01.:47 (-9:28)
10. Sam Giles, Sports Rack, @1, 1:02.10 (-9.44) (Master 4th)
11. Rick Cunningham, Folsom Breakouts, @2, 58:51 (-10.:57) (Master 5th)
12. Scott Hicks, GS Lancaster, @2, 1.00:14 (Master 6th)
13. Matt Anand, Saturn, @2, 1:03.03
14. Mike McDonald, Jaeger, @3, 57.47. (Master 7th)
3 riders DNF

B Race
1. Eric Rasmussen, unat, 44:30
2. Mike Pettingill, Simple, 45:17
3. Jean Claude Legras, unat, 46:30
4. Bendon Lydon, SGW, 47:35 (Junior)
5. Jeffrey McGillicuddy, L'Ecole Buissoniere, 48:13 (M1st)
6. Ray Spore, Davis,  48:54 (M2)
7. Julie Young, Timex, 48:55 (W1)
8. Dave Mott, Velo Le Rads, 49:57 (M3rd)
9. Josh Tracy, @1 lap
10. Caren Spore, Davis @1 lap (W2nd)
11. Mike Suit,. Folsom Breakouts (M4th)
12. Marvin Bookout, Folsom Breakouts (M5th)
13. Michael Gomez @ 2 laps
3 Riders DNF.

C Race:
1. Don Rohmann, American River Bike, 31:56
2. Jason Brabee, SGW, 32:01
3. Lee Kendall, Former Apple, 32:42 (M1)
4. Joel Smith, Placement Pros, 33:31
5. Brian Lussier, FBW, 34:07, (M 2)
6. Michael Stone, unat, 38:56 (Junior)
7. Jim Kirstein, SGW, @ 1 lap (M 55)
1 rider DNS

Special thanks this week to Jim Crompton, Chief Referee. Also to Justin Morgan, Course Design and James Darlow, Marshall Management, as well as Rick Cunningham, Jim Kirstein, Cheryle Kerksieke, Marvin Bookout, Mike McDonald, and Dave Mott. Promoted by John and Linda Elgart.

Stay tuned for the Sacramento overall awards.