Weekend ‘CrossWrap: Spills and thrills in Nebraska; and a hot dog wins in Wisconsin

Frank N. Furter, a.k.a. Brian Matter

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The “Weekend ‘Cross Wrap” is a service of VeloNews.com.Stories and results are provided by race promoters and are not producedby VeloNews or VeloNews.com. Promoters are welcome to submit race reportsthroughout the cyclo-cross season to Rosters@7Dogs.com.Reports may be edited for length and clarity.

NEBRASKA: Wilhelm, Neville impressive
Despite a frightful beginning that included two spills in the opening lap, Tony Wilhelm (LBC-Highgear) continued to show impressive form with his third victory of the season and second in the Nebraska Cyclo-cross Series at Pioneers Park on Saturday.

The 60-minute event, which doubled as the third round of the Mid-America Cross Cup, started at a furious pace with the familar trio of Wilhelm, LBC-Highgear teammate Jay Thomas and Mark Savery (Scheels-Specialized) flying off the front and stringing out the field.

Thomas led for the first three laps, pulling away after Wilhelm’s first crash in a dry, loose corner. As Thomas blazed through the windy 1.25-mile circuit, Savery fought to reel him in, but was overtaken by Wilhelm who drove to the front and never looked back.

Thomas distanced himself from Savery to secure second while the battle behind for the final two spots in the top five featured a four-man chess match between Matt Tillinghast (LBC-Highgear), Jesse Petersen (Cycle Works-Moose’s Tooth), James Blake (AG Edwards-Revolution Cycling) and Mark Studnicki (Cowtown Cycling), who was competing in his second race of the day after a solid win in the masters 35+ event earlier in the day.

Petersen had the ride of the day, with a strong second-half effort to finish fourth after struggling in midpack early on. The final podium spot came down to a sprint finish, which Tillinghast won by a bike length over James Blake, who showed fantastic form in his first “A” race of the season.

In the women’s event, Marie Neville (Team Kaos Cycling) put it in cruise control to take her third consecutive victory of the series. Kristi Newcomb (Mountain Magnolias) continued her impressive season, taking second ahead of Renee Carter (LBC-Highgear).

The Mid-America Cross Cup continues November 7 with the fourth annual CrossLogic Challenge at Riverside Park in Kansas City. For complete information, please visit www.cowtowncycling.com. The Nebraska Cyclo-cross Series resumes November 14 at Pioneers Park in Lincoln.

Nebraska Cyclo-cross Series
Lincoln, NE. October 30
Men
1. Anthony Wilhelm, LBC-HighGear
2. Jay Thomas, LBC-Highgear
3. Mark Savery, Scheels-Specialized
4. Jesse Petersen, CycleWorks-MoosesTooth
5. Matt Tillinghast, LBC-Highgear
6. James Blake AG Edwards-Revolution Cycling
7. Mark Studnicki, Cow Town
8. Sam Rosenau, LBC-Highgear
9. Kevin Burke, LBC-Highgear
10. Jim Winklepleck, unattached

Women
1. Marie Neville, Team Kaos
2. Kristi Newcomb, Mountain Magnolias
3. Renee Carter, LBC-Highgear
4. Beth Thacker, Mountain Magnolias

WISCONSIN: Hot dog, Frank N. Furter wins
When the freaks come out for a race, it must be cyclo-cross. Dressed as Dr. Frank N. Furter from “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” Brian Matter of Sheboygan won a two-up sprint against under-23 phenom Tristan Schouten, also of Sheboygan, to claim victory in the elite men’s race.

Matter not only won the race, he took the costume contest, too. Other top contenders included a cow (only in Wisconsin), an S&M devotee, Brett Favre, and a cyclo-cross clown. But racing in fishnets and vest in 40-degree weather gave Matter the edge.

The win put Matter into second place in the WCA point series behind Andy Hagarten of Milwaukee. The next race will be at Estabrook Park in Milwaukee. For more, see wicycling.org.

The “Weekend ‘Cross Wrap” is a service of VeloNews.com.Stories and results are provided by race promoters and are not producedby VeloNews or VeloNews.com. Promoters are welcome to submit race reportsthroughout the cyclo-cross season to Rosters@7Dogs.com.Reports may be edited for length and clarity.