Ironclad sweeps Franz elite races
Anna Christiansen celebrates her back-to-back Franz Bakery Criterium wins. ©Pat Malach
PORTLAND — Ironclad Performance Wear riders Anna Christiansen and Trevor Spahr used long solo breakaways to ride away with men’s and women’s Cat 1-2-3 races Saturday at the Franz Bakery Criterium.
The 1.13 km Franz Bakery course throws eight corners and 41 feet of climbing at the riders each lap. Several tight “s” turns and fast descents promote breakaway efforts, and the points-based scoring system means any long solo breakaway can walk away with the win even if it gets reeled back in before the finish. The winner of each lap received $5 and two points toward the final tally. Points were awarded 15 deep for the final sprint.
Trevor Spahr doubled Ironclad's celebration with a win in the men's Cat 1-2 race. ©Pat Malach
Christiansen, who remains the only woman to win the elite race at Franz after taking both last year’s inaugural event and this year’s encore, countered teammate Jen Levo’s second-lap attack to launch the day’s winning move just three laps into the 45-minute race. Just as she did the year before, Christiansen cruised smoothly over the quick course and steadily built a lead while piling up points and $5 bills. Back in the chase, her teammate Brianna Walle sat in as Upper Echelon Fitness, Gentle Lovers, Guinness, Sorella Forte and Therapeutic Associates fought to bring the Ironclad rider back.
But it wasn’t to be again this year. Christiansen stayed away for the remainder of the race, grabbing 72 points and the overall win. Walle took the field sprint behind lapped rider Nissy Cobb and earned second overall with 25 points. Amy Campbell finished third with 24 points. Wendy Simmons (Guinness Cycling) was fourth with 19. Tina Brubaker (Upper Echelon Fitness) was fifth with 17.
Spahr used the same long-haul tactic but waited later in the race to make his move, countering a sprint effort by Shannon Skerritt (Corsa Concepts) that had everyone longing for a break in the action. Just as the group eased slightly with about 11 laps remaining, Spahr gassed it into a corner and got the gap he needed. Putting his time trial skills to work, Spahr set out to grabs some points, lap prizes and possibly the win.
“I saw what Mike Olheiser did at Mt. Hood on a course with fast downhill corners,” Spahr said later, referring to Olheiser’s solo win at the Mt. Hood criterium after breaking away on the first lap. “So I knew it was possible.”
Spahr took over the points lead with about two to go but needed the 30 points handed out for the final sprint to seal the win. With the chase losing traction behind because some confused riders were still sprinting for the lap points Spahr had already gobbled up, the Ironclad rider easily held off the field to get the ultimate lap points and the overall win.
Team Oregon/Laurelwood Brewery’s Stephen Bedford, who broke away early but suffered an untimely flat, finished second, 14 points behind the winner. Gentle Lovers’ Sam Nicoletti came in third, 19 points down. Josh Liberles (HPChiro/Alpine Mortgage Planning) and Nick Skenzick (Hutch’s Eugene) filled out the top five.
Check out the PHOTO GALLERY for this race.
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS
Franz Bakery Criterium
Saturday, June 25
Cat 1-2-3 Women
1. Anna Christiansen (Ironclad Performance Wear) 72
2. Brianna Walle (Ironclad Performance Wear) 25
3. Amy Campbell (Unattached) 24
4. Wendy Simmons (Guinness Cycling)
5. Tina Brubaker (Upper Echelon Fitness Women’s Team)
Cat 1-2-3 Men
1. Trevor Spahr (Ironclad Performance Wear) 50
2. Stephen Bedford (Team Oregon/Laurelwood Brewing) 36
3. Sam Nicoletti (Gentle Lovers) 31
4. Josh Liberles (HPChiro/Alpine Mortgage Planning) 21
5. Nick Skenzick (Hutch’s Eugene) 17
