Summerhill, Anderson close out weekend at Waterloo with wins in Trek CXC Cup
Anderson also won Saturday's race, while Summerhill was seventh on day 1
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Danny Summerhill (K-Edge-Felt Bicycles) and Elle Anderson (Cal Giant-Specialized) were victorious in the elite race at the Trek CXC Cup on Sunday.
Summerhill, who was in the lead group for the entire race, edged Tim Johnson (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) and Yannick Eckmann (Cal Giant-Specialized) in an exciting sprint finish.
In the women’s race, Anderson beat teammate Meredith Miller by a few seconds to claim victory, while Caroline Mani (Raleigh-Clement) took third at Trek Bicycle headquarters in Waterloo, Wisconsin.
The men’s race was close right from the beginning. The lead group fluctuated from three to four and from five to seven as riders tried to stay out front. Mysteriously absent from the lead pack was Jeremy Powers (Rapha), who won on Saturday. However, Powers quietly — but quickly — made his way through the field during the race and eventually finished in the top 10.
A road cyclist by trade, Summerhill seemed to have an edge on his competitors around the tight turns. He leaned hard into them while in the drops, while everyone else had their hands up high on the brake hoods. Summerhill, who was involved in a training crash with a car a few weeks ago, could be seen stretching his back on the flat and straight sections throughout the race.
Despite the revolving door of riders that came and went from the front group, Summerhill — who took the lead midway through the first lap — stayed there from start to finish.
At the start of the bell lap, Summerhill led Johnson and Eckmann on the pavement before they turned back onto the grass. Ben Berden (Raleigh) joined them on that lap, and when the foursome left the grass for the final time and headed for the finish line, the sprint was on.
Summerhill was too strong, however, and neither rider was able to pass.
Anderson repeats in Waterloo
Anderson’s victory was her second of the weekend, and both came without a major threat from other riders. Sunday’s win was close but she was able to coast to the finish line without having to drop the hammer and sprint.
Anderson led for much of the race, which she did on Saturday as well. Miller was riding in the chase group in the second half of the race, on Maghalie Rochette’s (Cyclocrossworld.com) wheel. But at the start of the final lap, Miller decided to make a run for it.
Miller darted around Rochette and launched herself ahead, quickly building a gap. She didn’t have the legs to chase down Anderson but the move resulted in a runner-up finish and a 1-2 showing for the Cal Giant squad.
Mani surged past Rochette on the final lap to secure third.