Sean Babcock and Emily Van Meter win Cross Crusade #8; Williams and Babcock take series overall

Nov 15, 2009 by editor

ESTACADA – Sean Babcock (Team S&M) and Molly Cameron (Portland Bicycle Studio) battled into the final stretch of the final race for the Cross Crusade crown Sunday in one of the most dramatic finishes possible. Hudz-Subaru continued its dominance of the women’s A race, with Emily Van Meter finishing ahead of teammate Wendy Williams, winner of the overall series for the second year in a row.

The relatively flat course had sections of sloppy mud, but the gravel yard where the event took place ensured a well-packed layer beneath much of the two-mile circuit. Riders traversed short power climbs and steep descents but faced little sustained climbing.

The men’s A race came down to an untimely tangle during the day’s final remount after the leaders flew over a run-up and into a short 180 degree turn to the finish.

The fast course meant a large group stuck together at the front of the race for several laps until Kona-FSA rider Erik Tonkin’s pace-setting at the front started peeling riders from the group. Tonkin has made no secret that he’s been working to get the series win for his protégé Babcock, and his full-throttle style soon shed everyone but Cameron, who started the day with a one point series lead, and series runner-up Babcock.

“Erik was setting the pace and keeping us away from the rest of the people,” Cameron said. “So I was pretty content to sit and wait.”

As the lead trio shuffled back and forth and built a sizable advantage, Tonkin, whose finish would have no effect on the overall battle, put in one last-gasp effort to bust free on the final lap for a solo win. But it wasn’t to be as Cameron and Babcock charged up from behind and then passed the World Cup veteran.

Once free of the field and Tonkin, the two series leaders pressed the issue with attacks. Babcock eventually gained a slight advantage going into the last, steep, rocky run-up before the finish, but the young rider made a crucial mistake that opened the door for Cameron.

“I made the mistake of getting off my bike and starting to run too early,” Babcock said. “Molly rode up into the hill. She was smart.”

Cameron’s momentum-saving move looked like it could provide the winning difference as the pair approached the finish. But fate had other plans.

“I felt pretty confident that I was going to go past him,” Cameron said. “But when he got back on his bike, my bike got tangled with his when I put it down. That was it. I hit the deck hard and he was gone.”

Also gone was Cameron’s slim series lead, leaving her to settle for third on the day – after Tonkin went past at the finish – and second for the series overall.

“Ah, you know, bumping is racing,” a clearly disappointed Cameron said after the race. “It was a really good battle, though. I’m glad we put on a good spectacle for everybody; right down to the wire.”

Babcock meanwhile, was getting used to the idea of being the 2009 Cross Crusade series winner.

“That was the goal and it worked out,” he said. “But it was a lot of work. Molly’s been pretty tough to compete against.”

VAN METER OUTLASTS FIELD FOR THIRD WIN

In the women’s A race, the Hudz-Subaru duo of Emily Van Meter and Wendy Williams continued their domination of Crusade races. The teammates have notched six wins during the eight-race series, with three wins each.

Van Meter added her third series win Sunday after shuffling back and forth for the lead early with Williams, Alice Pennington (Veloforma) and Megan Faris (River City Bicycles).

Williams got off to a slow start but fought her way back to the front as early leader Pennington and Faris slowly faded off the pace. Williams and Van Meter found themselves in familiar territory, racing against each other while the rest of the field, led by Pennington, chased behind.

“I was fast for the first couple laps,” Pennington said. “(Van Meter and Williams) are just fitter.”

Pennington, the only other women’s A Crusade winner this year besides the Hudz-Subaru pair and Portland pro Sue Butler (Monavie-Cannondale), took risks trying to bring the leaders back and eventually crashed hard on a pavement section. Still, she hung onto her third position as the leaders up front battled, swapping leads while the laps added up.

“This was the toughest one,” Van Meter said. “With all four of us together for so long. Usually it’s Wendy going off the front.”

Williams gave it a few goes, but in the end it was Van Meter who gained the final advantage and crossed the finish line first. Williams’ second-place finish, her third of the series, was enough to seal the overall series win.

“I think she let me go a bit,” Van Meter said of her teammate. “Keeps it even.”

Check out the photo gallery of this race.

RESULTS
Cross Crusade #8
Barton Park, Estacada
Sunday, Nov. 15.

MEN
1. Sean Babcock (Team S&M)
2. Erik Tonkin (Kona)
3. Molly Cameron (Portland Bicycle Studio)
4. Ben Thompson (DeSalvo Cycles)
5. Shannon Skerritt (Vanilla Workshop)
6. Kevin Hulick (Vanilla Workshop)
7. Eric Sheagley (Veloce/Felt)
8. Brett Luelling (Capitol Subaru Cycling)
9. Mike Benno (Veloce/Felt)
10. Eirik Schulz (Specialized River City)

WOMEN
1. Emily Van Meter (Hudz-Subaru)
2. Wendy Williams (Hudz-Subaru)
3. Alice Pennington (Veloforma)
4. Megan Faris (River City Bicycles)
5. Sunny Gilbert (Pacific Power/Blue Sky)
6. Alalia Berry (Gentle Lovers)
7. Abby Jenkins (Embrocation Journal)
8. Anissa Cobb (River City Bicycles)
9. Erin Playman (Gentle Lovers)
10. Heather Clark (Bend Bike ‘n’ Sport)

Complete OBRA results are HERE.