By J.R. Petsko
Weeks leading up to the Blackwater Cyclocross was full of excitement for me. I had a vision in my mind of exactly what I wanted the course and the event itself to be like. However, H1N1 had a different idea. The week before the event I was hit hard by the pig flu! Needless to say all my ideas didn't happen, and if it wasn't for the help of all my friends, the race itself probably wouldn't have happened. The morning of the event more than a dozen racers showed up early just to help me setup. Thanks everyone! I owe you all a big one!
One thing did cooperate, and that was the weather! Mid November in Davis, WV you could easily have a foot of snow on the ground, but the racers were all welcomed to town with sunny skies and unseasonably warm temperature. I did have that going for me!
Race #1 saw a large group of racers consisting of the Single Speeds, Women Open and Masters Class. Out front early was a group of five SS riders that included series point’s leader Marc Glass, Steve Rowand (Wamsley Cycles), Joey Riddle (Joey's Bike Shop), Robbie Loehr (Cannondale/Pathfinder of WV) and Steven Nutt. The group looked to be pushing the pace each and every lap. The pain was clearly written on each of their faces. Glass was the first to not be able to continue the hammering pace and Nutt was soon to follow. However, for the final three, it was going to go down to the final lap. Robbie Loehr has a magic touch on his side when it comes to racing Davis; you see Loehr has not lost a SS race there since 2006. That was one record that he was not going to let end on this day. Finding what strength he had left, Loehr put a small gap on Rowand and Riddle and was able to take the Single Speed class victory! Morgantown Cyclocross winner Steve Rowand was second followed by Joey Riddle who made his first appearance at a WVCXS event this year.
The women’s race had another large field that included 11 women racers. The field included Pam Milavec (Steel City Endurance), Emily Moy (WVU Cycling), Laurie Jonston (WV Night Club), Kristy Lanier (Dirtbean.com), Mandi Riddle (Joey's Bike Shop) and series leader Betsy Shogren (Cannondale Factory Racing). As she has at every series event this year, Shogren took off and put her may years of cross racing skills to work. However, behind her a good race was being had for second through fifth. Lanier, in her second ever cross race, was able to hold onto the runner-up spot. She was followed by Riddle in third. Moy riding in her first ever cross race was able to pull out a solid fourth place and Milavec rounded out the top five.
In the Masters division Mike Buchness took the win over Matt Marcus and Cory Smith. Kean Bird took fourth just in front of series rival Fritz Kessler (Breakaway Velo). Kessler however still hold a lead in the series overall and looks to become the first series masters champion after this weekend’s Bruceton Mills Cyclocross.
In race #2 it was the Men's B racers and the Clydesdale/Tandem class out on the course. I sure was disappointed to miss out on racing due to the flu. Out front early was Duncan Oliver (WVU Cycling) but lurking not far behind was the Tandem duo of Betsy and Gunnar Shogren (Cannondale Factory Racing). After the race Gunnar said, "Did we win? I don't remember getting around Duncan?!” You sure did Gunnar. The Shogren Tandem not only won their class but won the Race #2 overall. Impressive! Second in the Clydesdale/Tandem class was Bill Miller and third was Mike Miller (Miller D.D.S).
Even though Oliver was not strong enough to hold off the tandem, he was however able to keep the rest of the B riders at bay. Danny Welsch (Western Maryland Wheelmen) improved on his third place at Marilla Cross by taking second at the Blackwater. Ryan Post (WVU Cycling) rode to a fine third place finish. Fourth went to Robert Issem who was followed by Rob Chaney in fifth.
The final race of the day was the fast guys, the Men's A race. At the starting line was series points leader Brad Schmalzer (Bikeman.com), Andrew McKeegan, Gunnar Shogren (Cannondale Factory Racing), Jason Cyr (Cannondale), Gary Rodosta, Nate Annon (Cannondale/Pathfinder), Robbie Loehr (Cannondale/Pathfinder of WV) and Joey Riddle (Joey's Bike Shop). The pace was hot early with Cyr, Shogren and McKeegan riding together at the front. However Cyr being the local was looking to make good in front of his home crowd. Just 25 minutes in the 60 minute race he leaped off the front and quickly put 30 seconds into Shogren and McKeegan. Shogren lightened his pace some to try and pull back Cyr, which cause McKeegan to fall back.
The three seemed to be locked in their respective positions until about 15 minutes left in the race. All of a sudden Shogren seemed to be pulling Cyr back some and then the unthinkable happened...Cyr was forced to pit with a flat tire. It looked that luck was not smiling on the local but from my point of view it looked as though the flat inspired him to ride even harder. Behind Cyr, the smoke was starting to roll off Shogren who was feeling the effects of winning the B race on the tandem. Shogren said, "My plan was to just sit up a bit and wait for Andrew to bridge up". Shogren later admitted that plan didn't work because as soon as McKeegan bridged he counterattacked and Shogren was unable to match. At the finish Cyr took the win and title of Blackwater Cyclocross Champion. McKeegan was second followed by Shogren. In fourth was Schmalzer who had his hand full all day battling it out with eventual fifth place finisher Gary Rodosta!
The day started off with me wondering how in the world we would get everything done in time for the race, but thanks to you all (my friends) it turned out to be a huge success!
Thanks! Ps.... Series standings have been updated!
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