Skerritt, Williams win Cross Crusade #5 in Astoria

Oct 30, 2010 by editor

ASTORIA – The Cross Crusade invaded the Oregon coast Saturday for the first day of the traditional Halloween doubleheader that will continue Sunday with the famously rowdy costume race. Although the precipitation held off on race day, the course at Clatsop County Fairgrounds south of Astoria about eight miles from the Pacific Ocean beaches was well saturated from a week of rain.

After two second-place finishes and one third, Shannon Skerritt (Corsa Concepts) finally ascended the top rung of the podium during round 5 of the series, jumping to a quick lead on the first lap. With series leader Chris Sheppard, who had won three of four races up until Saturday, absent for the weekend, Skerritt had free rein to push the pace and pick his lines at the front. Brett Luelling (BuyLocalCycling.com) initially held Skerritt’s pace and then dropped just behind to chase while Michael Gallagher (Cyclocross Racing) led a group of four riders even further in arrears.

Skerritt’s pace eventually proved too much for Luelling, who slipped back to third after Gallagher left his grouping behind and charged into second, finishing about 20 seconds behind Skerritt. Luelling held on for third, about half a minute behind the winner.

In the women’s race, series leader Alice Pennington was absent Saturday, leaving week two winner Wendy Williams (River City Bicycles) free to take the win in front of teammate Brigette Brown and Sunnyside Sports’ Serena Bishop.

Bishop made her move late on the last lap and briefly held an advantage of several seconds over Williams. But the former masters national champion didn’t let that stand for long, charging back up to Bishop as the pair started a battle that lasted nearly half the race. But Williams’ pace was just too much for Bishop, who eventually popped on the course’s major climb and slowly slipped back to third.

“I finally figured out how to ride that main climb,” Williams said of her effort. “We came up together and I finally gapped her on that descent. I think she was gassed out. But she did a great job for that first half of the race.”

Williams kept it upright and rode steady to the line for the win. Brown finished 36 seconds later for second. Bishop crossed the line nearly a minute behind Williams to take third.

RESULTS
Cross Crusade #5
Saturday, Oct. 30
Astoria, Oregon

Men A
1. Shannon Skerritt (Corsa Concepts)
2. Michael Gallagher (Cyclocross Rcaing)
3. Brett Luelling (BuyLocalCyclinig.com)
4. Ian Brown (River City Bicycles)
5. Aaron Tuckerman (Corsa Concepts)

Women A
1. Wendy Williams (River City Bicycles)
2. Brigette Brown (River City Bicycles)
3. Serena Bishop (Sunnyside Sports)
4. Tina Brubaker (Vanilla Workshop)
5. Heather Clark (Sunnyside Sports)