This past weekend round number two of the WVCXS made its way to Fayetteville, WV. With cold weather and some rain the day before, it was typical cross racing conditions. The course, which encircled Fayetteville City Park, was 1.2 miles long and included two sets of barriers and a ton of twists and turns. The day’s first race included the Vet, Single Speed and Women’s classes. From the beginning, Josh Feazell (WV Night Club/Endura) was out front and charging on his Single Speed. Behind him Marc Glass (Backyard Bike Club) was doing his best not to let him get away. However a slight touch of a cold was not making things any easier for him. Feazell continued his march and 35 minutes into the 40 minute event looked to have things in hand. However, just before getting the cowbell for the final lap, Feazell’s rear tire went flat. There was not much he could do except shoulder the bike and run the last lap in hopes that he had built up enough of a lead to hold off Glass. Glass was starting to look a little stronger in the final few laps and upon hearing the news of Feazell’s misfortune got on the gas. As the final lap ended, Feazell’s flat and run proved to be just what Glass needed to take the Single Speed win.
For the women it was cyclocross veteran Betsy Shogren (Cannondale Factory Team) taking the win. Shogren was able to hold off Kristy Lanier (Dirt Bean) and Laurie Johnston (WV Night Club,). With all three women looking to win the series title, this isn’t the last we have heard about these fast ladies! In the Vet Class (40+) Fritz Kessler (Breakaway Velo), long time friend of the ByBc, was on fire. The Frostburg, MD resident worked with Lanier during the entire race and pulled away from the other racers in his class. Second went to Joey Harris and Steve Haroff respectively.
Race #2 included the always popular men’s B class (sport/beginner) and the Clydesdale/Tandem class. All eyes were on the Shogren’s and their Cannondale Factory Racing Tandem. It had been the hot topic all morning. The folks who had not made it out yet this year were dying to see how they handled the barriers. JR Petsko, (me) (Backyard Bike Club/iPlayOutside.com) took the race’s hole shot and looked strong for lap one but then reality set in and I funneled to the back. With a little bit of a slow start the Shogren’s had some work to do but after three laps they found themselves in the overall lead that they would never relinquish. All and all, they had a clear race except for a little barricade tape found in their rear wheel after the race and an unlucky marking pole that they smashed out on the course.
For the Men’s B class Jeff Hankens took a 35 second lead into the final lap and never let go of it. Behind Hankens was Mark Peet in second with Eric Hawkenberry in third. Chris Clark put in a great ride for his first ever cross race and finished in fourth. Rounding out the top five was Brian Beckett.
Race #3, the final race of the day, was the men’s A race (Experts). From the start, a pack of three riders were off the front which included Gunnar Shogren (Cannondale Factory Team), Brad Schmalzer (Bikeman.com) and Mike “I am not Ryan” Vanderburg. Shogren, with his twenty years of cross racing experience, was too much for the younger riders and began pulling away from the two. However, what he left behind was by far the race of the day. First Vanderburg attacked and was able to gap Schmalzer nicely. It looked as though Vanderburg was going to cruise to an easy second when Schmalzer dug down deep. As the two riders came back together, things looked like they had changed and Schmalzer was running the show. However with two laps to go, Vanderburg attacked one more time and a tired Schmalzer was unable to match. Vanderburg took home second with Schmalzer not far behind in third. In fourth was Andy Forron (New River Bikes). Andy admitted after the race that “I just didn’t have the legs to race with those guys today!” Fifth went Sean Zurek who took home the crash of the day award! Don’t worry, Sean, we have called the tree doctor to check on that oak ya hit. Doctor says the patient is fine!
Next up on the WVCXS schedule is Marilla Cross in Morgantown, WV. The race falls on Halloween so that should bring out all the crazies for the race. After the race Pathfinder of Morgantown is holding their annual “throwdown in Motown,” during which they truck-in snow and have a snowboard rail jam right outside the store. What fun! And of course don't forget about my big cycling bonanza the Blackwater Cyclocross on Nov. 14 in Davis, WV.
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