Helen Wyman, Ryan Trebon take round 2 of the Gran Prix of Gloucester
The British women's champ dominates once again as Trebon wins what he calls the best 'cross race in New England
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GLOUCESTER, Massachusetts (VN) — Helen Wyman (Kona Factory Team) won round two of the Gran Prix of Gloucester on Sunday, making a clean sweep of the weekend’s racing, while Ryan Trebon (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) won Sunday’s muddy contest in what he called “the best ‘cross race in New England.”
Rain only added to the difficulty of an already tough course at Stage Fort Park, which served up off-camber sections, a long, muddy run-up and a loose, sandy beach section.
Once again Wyman rode away from the elite women’s field early on, cranking through the mud as a group gathered to chase her down. Nicole Duke (Raleigh-Clement), Rapha-Focus teammates Gabby Day and Julie Krasniak, and Maureen Bruno Roy (Bob’s Red Mill-Seven Cycles) banded together to chase, until a flurry of attacks saw Duke get away followed by Day and Bruno Roy.
With an advantage of a half-minute Wyman focused on a smooth, conservative ride in the slick mud, leaving the others to fight it out for second.
That honor went to Day, who caught Duke and immediately passed her for the runner-up spot, with Duke following for third.
“I could feel her breathing down my neck. Day is riding so strong right now,” said Duke.
The rain resumed as the elite men took to the course. Dylan McNicholas (Cyclocrossworld.com) made a bold move off the line, leading the field through the initial slick, chewed-up turns. Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus), Trebon, Tim Johnson (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) and Ben Berden (Raleigh-Clement) took over after the first long, sloppy run-up, with McNicholas still hanging on and Jamey Driscoll (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) in tow.
Trebon attacked, but Powers marked him, and the men in green from Cannondale swarmed the front of the race with Trebon off the front, Johnson and Driscoll trading third and fourth, and only Powers in between.
Berden clung on, and these five maintained their 20-second lead on Nicholas Bazin (Auber 93), Ian Field (Hargroves Cycles-Specialized), and Zach McDonald (Rapha-Focus).
Trebon went on the attack, taking a 30-second lead on Powers, who suddenly found Berden in his rear-view mirror. As Trebon rode away to victory, Berden and Powers traded attacks, staying together until they hit the pavement for the final time.
The two-up sprint saw Powers take second right at the line, and if he was disappointed to finish second, it didn’t show.
“I was happy to race my heart out here in front of so many fans,” he said.
The Shimano New England Professional Cyclocross Series continues October 6-7 with the Providence Cyclocross Festival in Rhode Island.