Race Report: Focus Bicycles presents UCI Weekend – Kross-toberfest Day 1

10/3/10 - Humid temperatures and morning rains brought some signs of mud to Southern California (SoCal) for the first UCI double-header weekend they have seen in two years. The mud was literally a giant pit along with a mixture of heavy grass that required a lot of power from racers. Day one was fantastic bringing more than just exciting racing with a bike swap, morning trail run series, and other advocacy rides for cyclist.
 
Elite Women:
It was Devon Haskell (Bike Station Aptos) who was first from the long left curving road start and into the grassy fields of Kross-toberfest. In second it was previous SoCal resident, Carolyn Popovich (PAValleys.com). Popovich took the lead as Haskell crashed halfway through the first lap. But, the women’s field was lined up and ready to attack as California Giant Berry Farms, Teal Stetson-Lee and Barb Howe (Ibis) made their moves. Haskell was back on the bike quickly and back to the front group of five as they stayed together. However, this early attack from Teal and Howe set a pace that separated the women. It was the lead group of five with a close chase group in pursuit but they just could not close the gap.
 
With two to go Howe had a mishap in the mud causing some slipping that separated her from the front group while Teal continued to smash the pace off the front and open her gap even more. In the end it was Teal Stetson-Lee to take the win with Haskel second, Sarah Maile (Ventana Bikes) third, Popovich fourth, and Barb Howe round out the top five.

 
The women's podium celebrates at day 1 of Krosstoberfest.
photo © Kenneth Hill / Light & Shadows Photography

Elite Men:
It was tight racing from the start with some aggressive behavior as riders sprinted to the grassy fields elbow to elbow. Within the first quarter of a lap multiple crashes caused tangles that set breaks in the group. The first to take the lead was Chris Jones (Rapha-Focus) and by the end of lap one his lead was almost ten seconds off the front. But, it wouldn’t stick as he unfortunately rolled his tire on lap two putting him back around 15th. While the lead group took off, Jones rode his way back to the leaders to settle back in till the finish.

 
The lead group of the Elite Men's race at day 1 of Krosstoberfest.
photo © Kenneth Hill / Light & Shadows Photography

With two to go the excitement grew as Joachim Parbo (Leopard Cycles) took the lead. He raced smart as early on he sat in the group but the week off from the USGP must have served his legs well as Parbo opened a gap on the field. It was close but enough that the group of Sid Taberlay (Sho-Air), Tyelr Wren (Boo Bicycles), Danny Summerhill (Garmin), Sean Babcock (kona), and Chris Shepard (Rocky Mountain) could not close. Parbo took the final lap and relaxed a bit on his way to the line for the win. While Taberlay came hot out of the last barrier section bunny-hopping his way off the group for second. Jones and Wren took third and fourth with an exciting sprint finish and it was Danny Summerhill, who unfortunately had a mishap in the last turn after the barriers but was able to hang on to round out the top five for the first day of Kross-toberfest racing.