BOULDER, Colo. (Oct. 14, 2017) – The U.S. Open of Cyclocross featured a full docket of UCI races on Saturday, and points for USA Cycling’s Professional Cyclocross Calendar (ProCX). Strong winds provided as much of a challenge as the new courses at Valmont Bike Park, which began with the second event of the year for the Junior 17-18 Men. It would be the first Under-23 competition of the season for USA Cycling’s Professional Cyclocross Calendar (ProCX).
Benjamin Gomez Villafane (Scotts Valley, Calif./Top Club CycloCross) would claim his second Junior victory of the 2017 season, adding to a win and a third place he earned at KMC Cross Fest two weeks ago.
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Gage Hecht of Parker, Colo. was well off the front on the bell lap and won the U23 contest. Among the chasers were a Boulder duo of Grant Ellwood (21) and Eric Brunner (19), who would finish would finish second and third, respectively.
“Today was a super fun race. It’s probably the best I have felt this season,” said Hecht about winning the opening U23 race of the ProCX calendar. “I was excited to put some power into it today. It was so windy out there. A couple of sections out there I was actually having to run just because you couldn’t keep the bike underneath you. It definitely made it a huge challenge out there. It was a blast.”
The UCI Category 2 Elite Women’s race was won by 2017 U.S. National Short Track Cross Country national champion Erin Huck of Boulder. She made her move in the final half lap of the women’s event to outdistance France’s Caroline Mani (Van Dessel) and 17-year-old Katie Clouse (Littleton, Colo./Alpha Bicycle Co.).
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“I figured I might as well go for it,” said Huck about her first cyclocross race of the year. “I was using my mountain bike skills to descend pretty well. Definitely noticed that I had a lack of some cyclocross skills, any time it came to a dismount section. So I figured the girls would catch up to me on the back side (final lap), but fortunately I was able to keep my distance.”
The UCI C2 Elite Men came down to a wild-west sprint between Jamie Driscoll (Donnelly Sports) of Park City, Utah and Canadian Michael van den Ham (Garneau Easton), with Driscoll scoring his first ProCX win of the year. Twenty-three-year-old Keegan Swenson (Cannondale/3Rox) of Park City would finish third.
“It was just fast and bumpy out there. I had the classic diesel engine, but I thought I’d have a little more pop. I was able to climb my way back after many accelerations, so I knew it wouldn’t be a late move that would give me any success,” said Driscoll about his C2 sprint win, which was won by centimeters rather than inches. “I went full gas the entire (last) lap. Because of the head wind on the sprint, I was expecting people to come around me. It was a short enough sprint that I held them off. Honestly, when I crossed the line, I didn’t know I took it (the win). Michael was there. We both threw the bike and it was inches.”
ProCX racing continues in at Valmont Bike Park in Boulder on Sunday, with additional contests for all UCI events. Sponsors for the event include Clif Bar, Shimano and Giant Bicycles. The Ska Brewing Beer Garden opens to the public at 11 a.m., with proceeds benefiting the Believe Ranch and Rescue Foundation. There are also C2 races in Massachusetts at the the CRAFT Sportswear Gran Prix of Gloucester.
