OBRA champs, SSCXWC highlight 'cross weekend

PHOTO: The OBRA champs course hits every corner of the fairgrounds and its buildings.

Oregon's seam-busting cyclocross scene fires on all cylinders this weekend as the OBRA 'cross champs invade the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem on Saturday, while the Cross Crusade and it's unruly SSCXWC offspring tear up the turf near Portland International Raceway on Sunday.

Saturday's championships in Salem, also the third and final race of the Willamette Valley Cyclocross Series, promise a festival atmosphere with classic 'cross food, an indoor beer garden that starts after the junior racing, and a live band to keep the rhythm going.

Sunday's events start early with the usual Cross Crusade schedule of categories running from 8:50 a.m. through the 3 p.m. start time for the A men and women. Sometime after the last Crusaders finish up at 4 p.m., the SSCXWC, which has probably been best described as a cross between the performance art of Burning Man and the intensity of bicycle racing, takes over the course for the world champs' final running in Portland.

The SSCXWC promises to draw top talent from the northwest, including national cyclocross champion Ryan Trebon of Bend and his Kona teammate Barry Wicks. Team Giant mountain bike pros Carl Decker and Adam Craig may also be on hand, along with riders from around North America and the rest of the globe.

It's a cyclocross extravaganza in Oregon this weekend. Don't miss out!

Babcock and Pennington win their battles at Barlow

GRESHAM -- Sean Babcock and Alice Pennington made the most of the sunny weather and summer temps Sunday by storming to wins at the 2009 Battle at Barlow.

The temperate weather and early season anticipation brought out more than 650 riders to Sam Barlow High School southeast of Gresham. Numbers throughout the day in most categories showed a consistent 15-20 percent increase over last year. The large number of riders wore in the course nicely for the elite racers who followed.

In the Men's A race, Babcock (Team S&M) hung with one of his club's sponsors as he and Erik Tonkin (Kona), owner of Sellwoood Cycle repair, opened up a nice gap on the rest of the field by the end of the first lap. The pair continued to hang together over the relatively lengthy course, which featured exposed off-camber grass sections (made all the more difficult by a blustery eastern wind), long stretches of pavement, a barrier-interrupted descent into a ravine and its plank bridge, and then the brutal, infamous run-up over railroad ties before more careening through the woods.

The Kona-S&M duo worked fluidly over the difficult course, steadily building a lead together before Babcock got a gap on his Kona companion in the last lap, cruising in for a comfortable win. Tonkin crossed the line a handful of seconds later for second. Tonic's Ian Brown finished third ahead of Joshua Berry (BODE) and Taylor Kneuven (Johan Bruyneel Cycling).

Pennington's road to victory proved a little easier than Babcock's. The Veloforma rider quickly distanced herself from the rest of the competition in the Women's A race and soon began lapping riders in the 60 minute event that was on the course at the same time as the Men A and Masters Men A races. Brigett Brown (River City Bicycles) won the battle for second ahead of Abby Jenkins (Super Relax 8) in third and Sunny Gilbert (Pacific Power/Blue Sky) in fourth. Team Group Health's Jen Akeroyd finished fifth.

RESULTS
Battle at Barlow
Gresham
Sunday, Sept. 27

Women A
1. Pennington, Alice (Veloforma) 8
2. Brown, Brigett (River City Bicycles) 8
3. Jenkins, Abby (Super Relax 8)
4. Gilbert, Sunny (Pacific Power/Blue Sky) 8
5. Akeroyd, Jen (Team Group Health) 6
Men A
1. Babcock, Sean (Team S&M) 8
2. Tonkin, Erik (Kona) 8
3. Brown, Ian (Tonic Fab) 8
4. Berry, Joshua (BODE) 8
5. Kneuven, Taylor (Johan Brunnel Cycling) 8
Masters Women A
1. Swearingen, Julie (Mountain View Cycles) 5
2. Jennings, Julie (Sunnyside Sports) 5
3. Hardiman, Jill (Dirty Finger) 5
Masters Men A
1. Bravard, John (Cyclepath) 8
2. Diviney, David (Cyclepath) 8
3. Brown, Mike (Therapeutic Associates/GENR8) 8
Women B
1. Kandra, Lindsay (Hammer Velo) 5
2. Jones, Lindsay 5
3. Sung, Esther 5
Men B
1. Monnig, David (Ironclad Performance Wear) 6
2. Braun, Mathew (Team S&M) 6
3. Spahr, Trevor (Ironclad Performance Wear) 6
Singlespeed
1. Rollert, John (Webcyclery.com)
2. Gilmore, Leland (River City Bicycles)
3. Luelling, Brent (Capitol Subaru Cycling)

The complete Cycling Action photo gallery for this race is now posted online HERE.

OBRA women grab top two spots on Mt. Baker

GLACIER, Wash. -- A pair of OBRA racers were the two fastest women at Washington's Mt. Baker Hillclimb Sunday.

Jenny Slawta (Landshark) covered the 24.5 mile course in 1:31:00 for first. Alice Pennington (Veloforma) rode the scenic mountain course just 33 seconds slower at 1:31:33 for second.

Slawta's effort was 18th fastest overall time among the more than 500 starters. Pennington was 22nd overall. Washington rider Russell Stevenson set the fastest time of the day at 1:25:16.

The Mt. Baker hillclinb is a 24.5 mile challenge for recreational, competitive and first-time cyclists that features more than 4,300 feet of climbing. RIDE 542 follows the Mt. Baker Highway (SR542) from the town of Glacier (955 ft. elevation) to its end at Artist Point (5140 ft. elevation).

The highway, which winds up and along the Nooksack River, through giant old growth cedar groves and under several glaciers, is closed for the event. Gradual grades dominate the course until the last 2.5 miles, when the road turns skyward. The majority of the course is through undeveloped wilderness area managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Washington Department of Transportation. Artist Point is the western most access to the North Cascades National Park.

RESULTS
Mt. Baker Hillclimb
Glacier, Washington
Sept. 13, 2009

Women
1. Slawta, Jennifer 1:31:00
2. Pennington, Alice 1:31:33
3. Brynjolfson, Kristine 1:34:53
4. 159 Grace, Lise 1:35:13
5. 246 Roschen, Lauren 1:36:51

Men
1. Stevenson, Russell 1:25:16
2. MacDonald, Nathan 1:25:40
3. Rathkamp, Ben 1:26:44
4. Maris, Shannon 1:26:50
5. Vukets, Dave 1:26:52

Complete results are HERE.

(courtesy photo)

OBRA Track Championships conclude with points race, pursuits

RESULTS
OBRA Track Championships
Alpenrose Velodrome, July 12

POINTS RACE
Senior Women
1. Charboneau, Emily (Brihop) 0 30
2. Godfrey, Norrene (Landrover/ORBEA) 0 16
3. Graham, Fiona (Specialized/River City Bicycles) 0 13
Senior Men
1. Kovalcik, Zak (Team Beer) 0 41
2. Adamson, James 0 21
3. LaVigne, Justin (Team Oregon) 0 18
Cat 4 Men
1. Goff, Wade (Half Fast Velo) 0 26
2. Utz, Andrew (Ruckus Test Team) 0 18
3. Charboneau, Clayton (Brihop) 0 12
Cat 5 Men
1. Bedford, Stephen (Word/RCB) 2 60
2. Hansen, Jake (Word/RCB) 1 34
3. DeMoe, Luke (Collin's Cycles) 0 18

PURSUIT
Senior Women
1. Hook, Camille (Brihop) 4:38.41
2. Graham, Fiona (Specialized/River City Bicycles) 4:40.11
3. Charboneau, Emily (Brihop) 4:41.39
Cat 4 Women
1 899 Larson Elena (Brihop) 4:47.88
2 1507 Shepard Amy 4:57.15
3 Thiele Barbafa (Team Rose City) 5:04.08
Cat 3 Men
1. Emoff, Brent (Brihop) 5:23.67
2. Sheagley, Eric (Veloce) 5:28.36
3. LaVigne, Justin (Team Oregon) 5:29.93
Cat 4 Men
1. Hansen, Jake (Word/RCB) 5:34.12
2. DeMoe, Luke (Collin's Cycles) 5:34.60
3 Taylor, Sam (Finnegan's Toys) 5:53.24
Cat 5 Men
1. Mace, Jess (Team Oregon) 6:02.58
2. Goff, Wade (Half Fast Velo) 6:03.57
3. Grabowski, Donovan (Half Fast Velo) 6:04.61
Senior Men
1. Harrison, Aaron (BBC) 5:16.81

Complete OBRA results are HERE.

OBRA sprint champs decided Saturday at Alpenrose

RESULTS
OBRA Track Championships
Alpenrose Velodrome, July 11

SPRINTS

Women Cat. 4
1. Cartwright, Liz (BBC)
2. Shepard, Amy
3. D'Elia, Traci (Portland Velo)
Senior Women
1. Featheringill, Jen (Bike Central)
2. Bjesse-Puffin, Amelia (Brihop)
3. Knoblock, Anna (Bike Central)
Cat. 5 Men
1. Cagampang, Juan (Hammer Velo)
2. Grabowski, Donavan (Half Fast Velo)
3. Fleischmann, Todd
Cat. 4 Men
1. Bigwood, Robert (Portland Velo)
2. DeMoe, Luke (Collin's Cycles)
3. Hansen, Jake (Word/RCB)
Cat. 3 Men
1. Deardorff, Chris (Word/RCB)
2. Breeden, Byron (Team chuluchu)
3. Provencher, Darrell (Team Rose City)
Senior Men
1. Mansker, Kevin
2. Kovalcik, Zak (Team Beer)
3. Birman, Dan (BBC)

Complete OBRA results are HERE.

OBRA Track Championships underway this weekend at Alpenrose

Alpenrose Velodrome is hosting the 2009 OBRA Track Championships this weekend through Sunday.

Friday's kilo and 500 meter competition saw Team Beer's Zac Kovalcik take the Senior Men's kilo crown, followed by Beaverton Bicycle Club's Aaron Harrison. Jen Featheringhill (Bike Central) won the Senior Women's 500 meter event, finishing ahead of Brihop's Amelia Bjesse-Puffin and Emily Charboneau.

Competition continues Saturday with 200 meter time trials, sprints and keirin. Sunday will conclude the championships with 3km pusuits, 4km pursuits and points races.

RESULTS
OBRA Track Championships
Alpenrose Velodrome, July 17

KILOMETER

Senior Men
1. Kovalcik, Zak (Team Beer) 1:12.00
2. Harrison, Aaron (BBC) 1:13.44
Cat 3 Men
1. Kim, John (BBC) 1:13.54
2. Bergquist, Curtis (Meg's Maniacs) 1:14.94
3. Deardorff, Chris (Word-RCB) 1:15.58
Cat 4 Men
1. Bigwood, Robert (Portland Velo) 1:17.43
2. Thiele, Jim (Team Rose City) 1:19.60
3. Hansen, Jake (Word-RCB) 1:20.00
Cat 5 Men
1. D'Elia, Matt (Portland Velo) 1:20.05
2. Deiss, Julian 1:20.90
3. Charboneau, Clayton (Brihop) 1:20.94
500 METER
Senior Women
1. Featheringill, Jen (Bike Central) 38.85
2. Bjesse-Puffin, Amelia (Brihop) 39.65
3. Charboneau, Emily (Brihop) 41.76
Women Cat 4
1. Knoblock, Anna (Bike Central) 41.42
2. McGraw, Laura (Veloforma) 42.47
3. Cartwright, Liz (BBC) 44.52

Complete OBRA results are HERE.

KONA Factory Team Packs Usual Oregon Punch

The Kona Factory Racing Team will feature familiar Oregon faces on its 2009 MTB cross country line up.

Bend's Ryan Trebon (pictured here at the USGP Portland Cup in December) will return, along with fellow Oregon "Twin Tower" Barry Wicks and Portland homeboy Erik Tonkin, who will ride his ninth season with the team.

Filling out the roster are Canadian Wendy Simms, who is also returning from 2008's team. Downhiller Joe Smith has been added for this season.

Trebon, nicknamed "Tree Farm" because of his 6'5" length, rode away from the nation's top 'crossers at the last race of the U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross, which finished on a slippery, rain-slogged PIR course. He also won the USA Cycling National Cyclocross Championship in Kansas City and the overall North American Cyclocross Trophy series. Trebon is schedule to compete at several stops on the Kenda U.S. Cup MTB Series, as well as starting the Downieville Classic, Kona's 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo and a several World Cup mountain bike events.

Wicks will focus on World Cup cross country races. He also plans to return to the BC Bike Race to defend his title along with teammate Kris Sneddon. He'll race at the Old Pueblo as well.

Tonkin will complete in several Kenda U.S. Cup Series races and will attempt his first solo 24-hour race at Old Pueblo.

Wendy Simms (pictured at the USGP Portland Cup in December), has won four Canadian national cyclocross titles. She plans to focus on multi-stage events and will look to defend her BC Bike Race title with husband Norman Thibault.

Registration For SSWC '09 Closes Friday

Registration for the 2009 Single Speed World Championships closes this week.

The race will take place Sept. 19 in Durango, Colorado. The SSWC, not to be confused with the SSCXWC (single speed cyclocross world championships) held this year in Portland, began in 1995 in Big Bear, California. Past winners include Marla Streb, Travis Brown, Kelli Emmett and Adam Craig.

Registration information and forms are HERE.

Mt. Hood Cycling Classic makes big leap in 2009

The good news is that Oregon's successful six-year-old Mt. Hood Cycling Classic will retain its prominent place on the National Race Calendar.

The better news is that the continually growing race will be undergoing some big changes in 2009.

The freshly re-minted event will be named the Oregon Pro Cycling Classic, and it will morph to eight days, covering 600 miles and 50,000 feet of climbing, according to the Oregonian.

"It will hands down be the most difficult stage race in the U.S.," spokesman Tre Hendricks told reporter Boaz Herzog of The Oregonian. "We want to build the reputation of the race so that the best riders in the world want to come here."

The 2009 edition will start and finish in Portland, Hendricks told Herzog, and it will feature two additional stages that travel to the Willamette Valley as far south as Eugene.

Other prominent promoters believe the race is well on its way to achieving those goals. From Herzog's report:

"The Mt. Hood Classic has without question gained a fantastic reputation, so I'm not surprised by any means it's taken that next leap," Chris Aronhalt, managing partner of Medalist Sports, which produces and organizes the nation's two most prestigious stage races, the tours of Georgia and California, as well as the Tour of Missouri and LiveStrong Challenge fundraiser in Beaverton.

The chief obstacle for Oregon Pro Cycling Classic organizers' intention to host a bigger, better race: funding. Expanding the race by two stages will probably triple its budget, said Hendricks, adding that the race has covered its expenses to this point.

"It's most definitely a challenge," he said. "The way we're planning to do it is expand our media coverage substantially. That'll draw in a host of different sponsors than we've had in the past."

The Oregon Pro Cycling Classic will be an invitational-only format for the 2009 men's race, and promoters hope to recruit America's best teams and some Europeans. The extension to eight days means the race will match the Tour of California in length and exceed the length of the (now-canceled) Tour de Georgia by one day.

In the future the race may grow to reach areas as far away as Crater Lake and the Wallowa Mountains.

The six-stage 2008 edition took place from May 13 to 18. Rory Sutherland (Health Net/Maxis) won the men's race, and Julie Beveridge (Aaron's Professional Cycling Team) grabbed the women's top prize.


The boys from Bissell control the pace for their man in yellow during the Mt. Tabor Criterium stage of the 2008 Mt. Hood Cycling Classic.