The BikeReg.com MABRAcross series opened its 2006 season at the Charm City Cyclocross in Baltimore on Sunday. And by the end of the day, there had been more statements made than at a Hollywood charity function. The biggest statement of the day came from the series itself, which lived up to its billing as the "fastest growing cyclocross series in America" and made the statement that it's ready for the big-time with a whopping 327 entries and a first-class event.
Men's Pro/Elite winner Ryan Leech said that the course laid-out by Kristopher Auer and the rest of the Charm City organization was as good as any track he'd raced on. With his convincing win, Leech sent out the statement that he is still the fastest rider in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Nowhere were more statements made than in the "B Men's" race. Pre-race speculation centered on the participation women's superstar Georgia Gould and teenager Zach Adams in the race. Gould, the defending Verge MAC cyclocross champion, is on somewhat of a roll in the past couple months -- having gotten married, won the US National Mountain Bike Championships and competed in the World Championships. Zach Adams is the defending Verge MAC Junior champion, who has decided to race B-Men instead of Junior because of the higher level of competition. But it was another junior, 14 year old Morgan Gerlak, who made a statement of his own -- finishing fifth in the 86-rider adult field.
But all eyes were on Georgia Gould in the Men's "B" race. All she did was almost win the race with several big attacks. But in the end, it came down to a three-rider sprint and Gould's diesel power was no match for the acceleration of Todd Hesel and winner John Brewer, who came across the line screaming in exultation. And while she never actually said it, there can be no mistaking that Gould's performance made a non-verbal statement that, while National Champion Katie Compton may also race with the men, Georgia actually beats them.
But while Georgia beat most of the men, she couldn't beat all of the women. Deidre "Grasshopper" Winfield made some statements of her own when, 14 months after delivering her first child, she beat Gould and all the other women straight-up, and then declared in her post-race interview that she is gunning for the BikeReg.com MABRAcross Championship.
The BikeReg.com MABRAcross series continues this week, Sunday, October 1, at the world-famous Lilypons Water Gardens in Buckeystown, Maryland for the Ed Sander Memorial Cyclocross.
Tags: Cyclocross 'cross cross cycling Nicoll Superluminal Media Charm City baltimore
