Ryan Trebon wins his fifth Gloucester 'cross race; Dombroski overcomes trouble to win the women's race.

• Photos
• Results

By Steve Frothingham

2008 Gloucester Gran Prix, day 1: Trebon was all smiles at the finish.

Photo: Robert Tyszko

Kona powerhouse Ryan Trebon withstood attacks from a trio of New England homeboys — and overcame a case of bad legs blamed on jet lag — on Saturday to win his fifth cyclocross race in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

In the elite women’s race of the 2008 Erdinger Gran Prix of Gloucester, Velo Bella-Kona’s Amy Dombroski prevailed to win her first race in Gloucester, after a tough battle that saw five or six women in contention until the end.

2008 Gloucester Gran Prix, day 1: Dombroski on the attack.

Photo: Robert Tyszko

On a warm and sunny day on a dry course next to the Atlantic, Trebon had to battle with the Cyclocrossworld.com-Cannondale duo of Tim Johnson and Jamey Driscoll and Jamis’ Jesse Anthony. The three New Englanders joined Trebon, from Oregon, at the front of the race in the second lap, and traded punches for the bulk of the race.

Anthony, from neighboring Beverly, Massachusetts, was in his first race since he broke his wrist in a criterium in July, and said he was shocked to be at the front of the race. Driscoll, a first year elite, was also pleased to make the elite group and was eager to show his worth to his new ‘cross team. Mid-race the University of Vermont student threw down an attack that earned him a 15-second gap for a lap or two.

But Driscoll’s teammate, Johnson, and last year’s Gloucester winner, Anthony, marked Trebon. When Trebon decided to close the gap to Driscoll with five laps to go there was little the others could do but try to hang on.

Trebon quickly closed the gap to Driscoll, bringing along Johnson. The four then regrouped briefly before Trebon threw down his next major attack with two laps to go. Johnson chased but was unable to match Trebon’s wattage, and Trebon finished with more than a ten-second gap over Johnson, who was followed by Anthony and Driscoll.

After the race Trebon said he never felt like he had good legs.

“I was about to crack on the last lap,” he said, adding, with a grin, “I always like beating Tim out here.”

“I didn’t have a very good time today, that’s all I had, I couldn’t have gone any faster. I was suffering behind those guys. It was three of them versus me, pretty much.”

“Jamey and Jesse are pretty young so they don’t have quite the resistance that Tim does … They are still really fast, but I knew they were going to kind of crack at the end of the race, especially Jesse’s first race back. I just mostly marked Tim and let them do a little work.”

Johnson smiled and shook his head when asked about his race.

“We’ve been one-two too many times,” he said, saying there was little he could do when Trebon launched one of his trademark end of race attacks. “You know it’s coming and you’ve just got to hit the gas and keep on it and see if that’s enough, but today he had great legs and hats off to him.”

2008 Gloucester Gran Prix, day 1: Wellons on the chase.

Photo: Robert Tyszko

Women’s race a battle of New Englanders
Dombroski, a Vermont native now living in Colorado, rode aggressively at the front from the start, but got tangled in a crash on the first lap and had to work her way back to the front.

Half a lap later, Dombroski dropped her chain and lost more time.

“That first lap was quite the cluster,” said Dombroski, who races on the road for the Webcor team. On the third lap, she attacked hard on the paved uphill to the finish line and built a tenuous lead over a small group containing Rebecca Wellons (Ridley) and Sally Annis (NEBC-Cycle Loft). With three laps to go, Wellons set out after her.

Wellons, who was second at Gloucester on the first day last year, closed to within six seconds of Dombroski with a lap to go.

“I thought I could catch her, but I also thought I had another lap,” said a frustrated Wellons at the finish. “That will teach me to save anything.”

Instead of catching Dombroski, Wellons was joined by Annis on the last trip up the paved hill, and only realized with a few meters left that it was the final lap.

Annis said she was well aware of how many laps were left. “With one to go I was pretty beat, so I was looking for that lap card,” she said. “I knew if I did that last lap as fast as possible I had a chance of catching Rebecca at the line.”

Annis passed Wellons in the last 20 meters to take second on the day. Josie Jacques-Maynes (Specialized) was fourth.

Photo Gallery

Results

Men’s results | ( Women’s results )

1. Ryan Trebon Kona
2. Tim Johnson Cannondale/cyclocrossworld.com
3. Jesse Anthony Jamis
4. Jamey Driscoll Cyclocrossworld.com/cannondale
5. Dan Timmerman Team Race Pro
6. Andy Jacques-Maynes Specialized/kmc Pb Cal Giant
7. Matt White Bikereg.com / Joe’s Garage
8. Justin Spinelli Richard Sachs – Rgm Watches – Boathouse Inc
9. Adam Myerson Cycle-Smart/van Dessel
10. Osmond Bakker Emd Serono Stevens
11. Justin Lindine Targetraining/ Fastar
12. Toby Marzot Fiordifrutta
13. Michael Gallagher C3-Sollay.com
14. Matthew O’keefe Ccb/volkswagen
15. William Dugan Rgm Watches – Richard Sachs – Boathouse Inc
16. Kevin Wolfson Fitness Together/if Powered By Lionettes
17. Rickey Visinski Exodus Road Racing
18. Eneas Freyre Targetraining
19. Mat Ankney Kccx/verge
20. Christian Favata Favata’s Tablerock Tours And Bikes
21. Warren Macdonald Emd Serono/stevens
22. John Burns Bikeman.com
23. Matt Kraus Rgm Watches – Richard Sachs – Boathouse Inc
24. Josh Dillon Fiordifrutta / Cannondale
25. Nicholas Keough Jittery Joe’s/ Sonic Cyclocross
26. Eric Thompson Lees-Mcrae College
27. Adam St Germain Targetraining
28. Todd Wheelden Portland Velo Club/kona/661
29. Pete Smith Embrocation Racing/cambridge P/b Mad Alchemy.com
30. Jamie Belchak North Atlantic Velo/ Pedros/ Classbook.com
31. Scott Dolmat-Connell Metlife P/b Unlose.it
32. Thierry Lalibente Sportit Brounont
33. Brad Sheehan Metlife
34. William Goodfellow Volkswagen
35. Michael Norton Verge Sport/test Pilot
36. Joshua Berry Team Bode
37. Peter Rubijono Embrocation/cambridge/igleheart/madalchemy
38. Michael Rea Noreast
39. Brian Hughes
40. Ryan Weaver River City Bicycles
41. Ryan Kelly Noreast Cycling
42. Tom Gosselin Fitness Together/if Powered By Lionette’s
43. Jonathan Awerbuch Noreast
.

Women’s results: | ( Men’s results )

1. Amy Dombroski Velo Bella – Kona
2. Sally Annis Nebc/cycle Loft/devonshire Dental
3. Rebecca Wellons Ridley Factory Team
4. Josie Jacques-Maynes Specialized/kmc Pb Cal Giant
5. Sarah Kerlin Hrs/ Rock Lobster
6. Kathy Sherwin Velo Bella – Kona
7. Maureen Bruno Roy Mm Racing P/b Seven Cycles
8. Amy Wallace Rgm Watches – Richard Sachs – Boathouse Inc
9. Linnea Koons International Bicycle/global
10. Arley Kemmerer Hub Racing
11. Cris Rothfuss Nebc/cycle Loft/devonshire Dental
12. Anna Milkowski Velo Bella-Kona
13. Karine Travaillaud Specialized Canada
14. Heidi Von Teitenberg C3-Sollay.com
15. Perri Mertens Embrocation Racing/cambridge Bicycle
16. Marianne Stover Independent Fabrication/cyclemania
17. Katherine Northcott
18. Kristin Gavin Human Zoom/pabst Blue Ribbon
19. Sara Bresnick-Zocchi Pedalpowercoaching.com/ Landrys Bicycles
20. Kate Scheider Mafia Racing
21. Michelle Kersbergen Joe’s Garage
22. Beth Mason C3-Sollay.com
23. Callie Mcdowell
24. Alex Jospe
25. Rebecca Blatt Team Kenda Tire
26. Brenda Bahnson Independent Fabrication
27. Debony Diehl Sunapee/s & W Racing Team
28. Jessica Miller
29. Samantha Dery Nebc/cycle Loft/devonshire Dental
.