Sheppard repeats at Crusade 2, Williams gets 1st win

Oct 11, 2010 by editor

RAINIER — More than 1,000 riders showed up for the second round of the Cross Crusade at Rainier High School Sunday, and Oregon’s infamous mud showed up to greet them.

Heavy downpours in the morning created soupy conditions for the early races, but the clouds cleared and the Sun began drying things out as the clock tipped past noon. The course at Rainier High School featured a monster off-camber grass section that caused many a pile-up, each one marked by a crash of cymbals strategically positioned on the course. Riders also faced plenty of climbing (some paved, some dirt) and extended, fast descents.

In the Senior men’s and women’s A races, Chris Sheppard (Rocky Mountain Bicycles) overcame a broken thumb to repeat his win from last weekend, while Wendy Williams (River City Bicycles) scored her first victory of the 2010 series, renewing her overall battle with last year’s rival Alice Pennington (Team S&M).

After one lap, the men’s race turned into a battle between Sheppard (Rocky Mountain Bicycles) and Springfield’s Adam McGrath (Feedback/Van Dessel), the 24-year-old rider who built his national reputation in the junior and U23 ranks. After one and a half laps, the duo had already built a 20-second gap on the chase.

The battle continued on the front until Sheppard gained the final advantage on the penultimate lap and held it to the line. Shannon Skerritt (Corsa Concepts) led in the scattered field several minutes later. Molly Cameron (Portland Bicycle Studio) finished fourth. Michael Gallagher (Cyclocross Racing) was fifth.

Both Sheppard and McGrath raved about the course.

“This is a classic,” said Sheppard, who live sin Bend. “I did it a bunch of years ago, but I’ve had injuries. But I wasn’t going to let my broken thumb stop me. So I taped it and made the drive today. This is what ‘cross is about, especially when it’s sunny. Mud and a suntan.”

McGrath said he regretted skipping Alpenrose last weekend and made a point of treking up to Rainier for Cross Crusade round two.

“In a lot of ways this course felt pretty Euro,” he said. “There was more elevation than most courses, and it was hard, technical, muddy, greasy, but I wouldn’t say there was anything that was like outstandingly singletrack or only one-liney out there, so I’d give Rainier an A for sure for ‘cross courses.”

In the women’s race, Pennington lit out early but was soon reeled in by last year’s overall winner Williams, who quickly passed Pennington, built an advantage and held it to the end. Pennington finished second, fending off a chase by Bend’s Serena Bishop (Sunnyside Sports), who finished two spots better than last week in third. Brigette Brown (River City Bicycles) crossed the line fourth. Abby Watson (Embrocation Cycling Journal) was fifth.

Williams now leads Pennington by just two points in the series overall race. In the men’s overall, Sheppard has a commanding 16-point lead over second-placed Shannon Skerritt.

Check out the PHOTO GALLERY for this race, and check VeloNews.com for more race reporting and more photos.

RESULTS
Cross Crusade #2
Sunday, Oct. 10
Rainier High School

Men A
1. Chris Sheppard (Rocky Mountain Bicycles)
2. Adam McGrath (Feedback/Van Dessel)
3. Shannon Skerritt (Corsa Concepts)
4. Molly Cameron (Portland Bicycle Studio)
5. Michael Gallagher (Cyclocross Racing)

Women A
1. Wendy Williams (River City Bicycles)
2. Alice Pennington (Team S&M)
3. Serena Bishop (Sunnyside Sports)
4. Brigette Brown (River City Bicycles)
5. Abby Watson (Embrocation Cycling Journal)

Complete OBRA results HERE.

RELATED:
Cross Crusade Alpenrose photo gallery, part 2, Oregon.CyclingAction.com, October 6, 2010
A Cross Crusade Collaborative Photo Gallery, Oregon.CyclingAction.com, October 5, 2010
Sheppard, Butler start 2010 Crusades with week 1 wins, Oregon.CyclingAction.com, October 3, 2010