PORTLAND – Aaron Tuckerman (Corsa Concepts) and Serena Bishop Gordon (Silverado Gallery/Sunnyside) capped their 2011 Cross Crusade series wins by adding another individual victory during the finalè Sunday on the Infield Paddock course at Portland International Raceway.

Check CXMagazine.com soon for a complete report, results and photos.

RESULTS
Cross Crusade #8, PIR
Nov. 13

Men A
1. Aaron Tuckerman (Corsa Concepts) 57:46
2. Shannon Skerritt (Corsa Concepts) 58:06
3. Molly Cameron (MetaFilter/PBS) 58:22
4. Donald Reeb (Cyclocrossracing.com) 58:45
5. Seth Patla (Gates Belt Drive/River City Bicycles) 58:52

Women A
1. Serena Bishop Gordon (Silverado Gallery/Sunnyside) 1:01:27
2. Heather Clark (Bend Memorial Clinic Total Care) 1:02:11
3. Megan Chinburg (Corsa Concepts) 1:02:25
4. Laura Trace 1:04:22
5. Brigette Brown (River City Bicycles) 1:04:32

With just one race remaining in the 2011 Cross Crusade it appears the series will have two never-before winners in 2011. Both Aaron Tuckerman (Corsa Concepts) and Serena Bishop Gordon (Silverado Gallery/Sunnyside) scored their first Crusade wins this season and have gone on to tie up the men’s and women’s Category A overall crowns as well. Oregon Cycling Action sent the two series leaders a few questions to learn a little bit about them. Check out there answers below.

Aaron Tuckerman has won four of the seven Crusade races so far this year. ©Pat Malach

Where you from? Where you living?

AARON: Blenheim, New Zealand / St Johns, PDX.
SERENA: I’m from the most incredible family; and now I am fortunate to live in Bend.

What’s your day job?

AARON: Sales executive At Hollywood Bike Gallery. Come say hi, but bring bagels.
SERENA: Ah, the day job. Yes.  My official title is Program Associate for The Conservation Alliance, a collaborative of outdoor industry companies that raise and disperse money to grassroots environmental organizations working to protect North America’s wild places. It is great to see some of our members partnering with the Cross Crusade, namely KEEN, Clif Bar and Yakima.

What’s you’re racing age?

AARON: 28
SERENA: 23. Do you buy that?

Describe your first cyclocross race, including how you ended up there.

AARON: I think it was Pain on the Peak. Road season was over and I had some time to kill, so thought why not.
SERENA: My first cross race was the Thrilla, on a Thursday night in September; in a gravel pit in Bend. Renee Scott, kick-ass cyclist and amazing person, talked me into it. After a little bit of dismount/remount practice, I decided to give it a go. I was hooked, instantly.

What you riding?

AARON: This season I’m on Veloforma’s brand new cross rig. Stop by the tent and check it out; it’s effin’ sweet!
SERENA: My beloved Yeti is now hanging out in the pit because three weeks ago I got a new IBIS Hakkalugi; with a custom paint job for Sunnyside riders. It is SWEET!

Serena Bishop Gordon won both days in front of her Bend home crowd. ©Pat Malach

What’s the secret to your success?

AARON: My cat.
SERENA: Still trying to figure that out…. Painted Toenails? Chocolate Cake?

No really, what’s the secret?

AARON: No really, my cat Pabst.
SERENA: Support. It really comes down to that. The people who have seen all my quirks and still support me. My team, Silverado Jewelry Gallery p/b Sunnyside Sports is incredible. Sunnyside Sports takes care of my bikes and makes sure I have them running well. My friend, Don Leet, is continually inspiring, teaching, and keeping me in check. My coach, Brig Brandt, is, thankfully, much smarter that I. My family who pull on their rubber boots and stand on the course tape, yelling at me, weekend after weekend. My husband, Ben, who amazingly, puts up with all this bike racing and usually has dinner waiting when I arrive home after a Sunday of racing bikes in Portland.

Most important part of your pre-race rituals?

AARON: Putting my shoes on and staying relaxed.
SERENA: 5:30am wake-up-call. Loads of Thump coffee. A three hour drive. Mad Alchemy’s Gentleman’s Blend and Raspberry Clif Shot.

Favorite post-race recovery?

AARON: A Deschutes beverage or something from The Pope House.
SERENA: Hammer’s Chocolate Recovery, blended with almond milk and frozen bananas – enjoyed straight from my Stanley Thermos….still cold after a drive across the Cascades and a day of racing. Oh, and some Frites.

What’s your favorite Crusade course? Why?

AARON: Alpenrose. There’s just something about it. History maybe, or the fact it’s the opening race of the series so everyone and their dog thinks they can win it.
SERENA: I have to say Rainier. I love that hill – and it’s where I won my first Cross Crusade Race….. But Bend and Alpenrose are right up there as well.

Best local training ride?

AARON: My commute to work or riding Saltzman.
SERENA: Bend to Sisters and back – on 80% dirt. Single track, fire roads, gravel roads, with a stop in Sisters for some re-fueling.

Which of your rivals would you like to see win a Crusade?

AARON: But if they win how will I?
SERENA: Rivals….. I don’t really like that word…..The ladies from Bend have been working their butts off. I would love to see Heather or Brenna win a Crusade.

How many questions was that?

AARON: Dunno, I blacked out once I started talking about my cat.
SERENA: I stopped counting, it’s late.

SERIES STANDINGS
2011 Cross Crusade

A Men
1. Tuckerman, Aaron (Corsa Concepts) 140.0
2. Reeb, Donald (cyclocrossracing.com) 96.0
3. Cameron, Molly (Portland Bicycle Studio) 95.0
4. Skerritt, Shannon (Corsa Concepts) 88.0
5. Decker, Carl (Giant MTB) 78.0

A Women
1. Bishop Gordon, Serena (Silverado Gallery/Sunnyside) 130.0
2. Clark, Heather (Bend Memorial Clinic Total Care) 101.0
3. Pennington, Alice (Team S+M Less Femmes) 92.0
4. Brown, Brigette (River City Bicycles) 85.0
5. Brubaker, Tina (Vanilla Bicycles) 83.0

Julie Krasniak made a big splash at Cross crusade #7. ©Pat Malach

BARTON – French mountain bike pro Julie Krasniak (Rapha/Focus) got a rough introduction to the Cross Crusades Sunday at Barton Park but recovered quickly and left the Elite women’s field behind to take race #7 of the eight-race series.

Aaron Tuckerman at the finish. ©Pat Malach

In the Elite men’s event, series leader Aaron Tuckerman (Corsa Concepts), who was almost unable to speak after a week of sickness, took the lead after one lap and drilled it to the line to finish ahead of Donald Reeb (Cyclocrossracing.com) and last Sunday’s winner Carl Decker (Giant).

Check out out PHOTO GALLERY and then go to CXMagazine.com for the complete report and more photos.

Race Notes:
More than 100 juniors came out in the men’s and women’s fields as part of the Oregon High School and Junior Cyclocross Series. Sam Rosenberg (Hutch’s-Eugene) beat Bend Endurance Academy’s Dawson Stallings and Cameron Beard in the 73-rider Junior men’s race. In the 27-rider Junior women’s race, sisters Susannah and Sharon Hart of Camas Bike and Sport took first and second, respectively, followed by Mountain View Cycles’ Taylor Tyynismaa.

Next week’s season finale heads back to Portland and the Infield Paddock course of PIR, which has been been used for the USGP for the past five years. The Crusade has used three former U.S. nationals courses this year: the 2003 championships at PIR Heron Lakes, 2004 the PIR Infield, and the 2009-2010 course in Bend.

RESULTS
Cross crusade #7, Barton Park
Nov. 6

Cat. A Men
1. Aaron Tuckerman (Corsa Concepts) 57:04
2. Donald Reeb (Cyclocrossracing.com) 57:09
3. Carl Decker (Giant) 57:17
4. Shannon Skerritt (Corsa Concepts) 57:35
5. Molly Cameron (MetaFilter-Portland Bicycle Studio) 58:03
6. Leland Gilmore (River City Bicycles) 58:29
7. Patrick Means (Team S&M) 58:32
8. Josh Kelley (Bailey Bikes / Hammer Nutrition) 59:35
9. Ross Brody (Buy Local Cycling) 58:35
10. Steve Carwile (Evanplews.com) 59:34

Cat. A Women
1. Julie Krasniak (Rapha/Focus) 59:52
2. Alice Pennington (Upper Echelon Fitness) 1:00:19
3. Serena Bishop Gordon (Silverado Gallery/Sunnyside) 1:01:19
4. Heather Clark (Bend Memorial Clininc Total Care) 1:01:46
5. Beth Orton (Team S&M Les Femmes) 1:01:56
6. Brooke McDermid (bicycleattorney.com) 1:02:25
7. Erin Playman (Team S&M les Femmes) 1:02:43
8. Tina Brubaker (Vanilla Bicycles) 1:03:19
9. Megan Chinburg (Corsa Concepts) 1:03:28
10. Abra McNair (Showers Pass) 1:03:56

A dirty-but-happy Carl Decker finished first Sunday at the Cross Crusade Halloween costume race ©Pat Malach

BEND – Not even her Cowardly Lion costume could slow Serena Bishop Gordon (Silverado Gallery/Sunnyside) Sunday as she followed up her Saturday Cross Crusade win with another during the Halloween doubleheader weekend in Bend. In the men’s race, local mountain bike pro Carl Decker (Giant) took the win in front of fellow Bend MTB pro and rally car partner Adam Craig (Rabobank/Giant) after finishing second to Chris Sheppard (Rocky Mountain Bicycles/Shimano) the day before.

Serena Bishop Gordon found the courage to win again Sunday. ©Pat Malac

Check back for a complete Sunday photo gallery, and check CXMagazine.com soon for the full report and even more photos.

RESULTS
Cross Crusade #6
Oct. 30

Men A
1. Carl Decker (Giant) 1:02:59
2. Adam Craig (Rabobank Giant) 1:03:38
3. Donald Reeb (Cyclocrossracing.com) 1:04:35
4. Molly Cameron (MetaFilter-Portland Bicycle Studio) 1:05:02
5. Shannon Skerritt (Corsa Concepts) 1:05:29
6. Josh Kelley 1:06:17
7. Michael Gallagher (Corsa Concepts) 1:06:48
8. Ben Thompson (Rocky Mountain Bicycles) 1:06:55
9. Damian Schmitt (Silverado Gallery/Sunnyside) 1:07:12
10. Chris Snyder (bicycleattorney.com) 1:07:13

Women A
1. Serena Bishop Gordon (Silverado Gallery/Sunnyside) 1:00:42
2. Heather Clark (Bend Memorial Clinic Total Care) 1:01:15
3. Brigette Brown (River City Bicycles/Ridley/NoTubes) 1:02:25
4. Tina Brubaker (Vanilla Bicycles) 1:03:16
5. Beth Orton (Team S&M)
6. Megan Chinburg (Corsa Concepts) 1:04:18
7. Brenna Lopez-Otero (Bend Memorial Clinic Total Care) 1:04:30
8. Jade Wilcoxson (Landshark/Flywheel) 1:04:54
9. Erin Playman (Team S&M) 1:05:07
10. Susan Grandjean (Showers Pass) 1:05:41

BEND — Hometown riders Chris Sheppard (Rocky Mountain Bicycles/Shimano) and Serena Bishop Gordon (Silverado Gallery/Sunnyside) played to the large Bend crowds Saturday at Cross Crusade #5, taking the Elite men’s and women’s wins on the same course used for the 2009-2010 USA Cycling National Championships.

Serena Bishop Gordon took the win in front of her hometown crowd Saturday. ©Pat Malach

But unlike those national championship events, which were held in mid-December’s wet, cold conditions, Bend’s dry October weather turned the course into a hard-packed dust bowl that quickly coated riders and their machines with a fine layer of powdery grit.

Check CXmagazine for a complete report and more photos. And don;t forget the complete Oregon.CyclingAction.com PHOTO GALLERY from Saturday.

RESULTS
Cross Crusade #5
Oct. 29

Men A
1. Chris Sheppard (Rocky Mountain Bicycles/Shimano) 1:04:39
2. Carl Decker (Giant) 1:05:09
3. Aaron Tuckerman (Corsa Concepts)
4. Adam Craig (Rabobank Giant) 1:05:27
5. Donald Reeb (Cyclocrossracing.com)
6. Ben Thompson (Rocky Mountain Bicycles)
7. Michael Gallagher (Corsa Concepts Cycling Team 9
8. Damian Schmitt 65 Silverado Gallery/Sunnyside 9
9. Cody Peterson 155 8 01:00:41
10. Kevin Hulick 156 Gentle Lovers 8 01:00:43

Women A
1. Serena Bishop Gordon (Silverado Gallery/Sunnyside) 1:01:38
2. Heather Clark (Bend Memoriall) 1:02:48
3. Brigette Brown (River City Bicycles/Ridley/NoTubes) 1:03:03
4. Megan Chinburg (Corsa Concepts) 1:04:05
5. Beth Orton (Team S&M) 1:04:45
6. Brenna Lopez-Otero (Bend Memorial Clinic Total Care) 1:05:19
7 Jill Hardiman (Team S&M Les Femmes) 01:06:04
8. Taylor Shekell (Team Beer) 1:06:12
9. Erin Playman (Team S&M Les Femmes)
10. Kim Matheson (Team S&M Les Femmes)

Alice Pennington took her second consecutive Cross Crusade win Sunday ahead of Serena Bishop Gordon. ©Pat Malach

HILLSBORO – Controversy hovered over the Elite men’s race for the second week in a row Sunday at Cross Crusade #4 in Hillsboro after Canadian national champion Chris Sheppard (Rocky Mountain Bicycles/Shimano) crossed the line a minute ahead of Aaron Tuckerman (Corsa Concepts) and Molly Cameron (MetaFiler/Portland Bicycle Studio) but was eventually relegated to third for improper number placement, ceding Tuckerman his third-straight series win.

Relegation gave Aaron Tuckerman his third-straight Crusade win Sunday. ©Pat Malach

In the Elite women’s race, Alice Pennington (Upper Echelon Fitness) soloed to her second consecutive win with another dominant performance. Bend riders Serena Bishop Gordon (Silverado Gallery/Sunnyside) and Heather Clark (Bend Memorial Clinic Total Care) finished second and third, respectively.

The course at the Washington County Fair Complex about 20 miles West of Portland was pancake flat and dry as toast after several days without any significant precipitation. But what the course lacked in elevation or slime, it made up for with pounding straightaways interrupted by twisting 180 degree turns.

Check CXMagazine for the full report.

RESULTS
Cross Crusade #4, Hillsboro
Oct. 23

Men A
1. Aaron Tuckerman (Corsa Concepts) 9
2. Molly Cameron (MetaFilter/Portland Bicycle Studio) 9
3. Chris Sheppard (Rocky Mountain Bicycles/Shimano) 9 *
4. Carl Decker (Giant MTB Factory Team) 9
5. Donald Reeb (Cyclocrossracing.com) 9
6. Shannon Skerritt (Corsa Concepts) 9
7. Leland Gilmore (River City Bicycles) 9
8. Seth Patla (Gates Belt-Drive / River City Bicycles) 9
9. Cary Miller (Gentle Lovers) 9
10. Michael Gallagher (Corsa Concepts) 9

Women A
1. Alice Pennington (Upper Echelon Fitness)
2. Serena Bishop (Silverado Gallery/Sunnyside)
3. Heather Clark (Bend Memorial Clinic Total Care)
4. Megan Chinburg (Upper Echelon Fitness)
5. Beth Orton (Team S&M Les Femmes)
6. Brigette Brown (River City Bicycles)
7. Tina Brubaker (Vanilla Bicycles)
8. Abra McNair (Showers Pass)
9. Aleaxandra Burton (Upper Echelon Fitness)
10. Megan Schubel (Sweetpea Ladies Auxiliary) 8

Junior Men
1. Sam Rosenberg (Hutch’s-Eugene) 45:17.00
2. Cameron Beard (Bend Endurance Academy) 5:44.00
3. Dawson Stallings (Bend Endurance Academy) 46:12.00
4. Javier Colton (Bend Endurance Academy) 47:01.00
5. Kent Ross (Word-RCB) 48:18.00

Junior Women
1. Susannah Hart (Camas Bike and Sport) 45:09.00
2. Taylor Tyynismaa 45:19.00
3. Hannah Hart (Camas Bike and Sport) 46:17.00
4. Emma Koenig 46:43.00
5. Kali Woodard 46:56.00

Complete OBRA results are HERE.

Alice Pennington won her first Cross Crusade race of the season Sunday at PIR. ©Pat Malach

PORTLAND, Oregon – Aaron Tuckerman (Corsa Concepts) took his second consecutive Crusade Sunday at race #3 under a shadow of controversy after tangling with Molly Cameron (MetaFilter/Portland Bicycle Studio) at the front of the men’s A slugfest and then soloing in for the win. Alice Pennington (Upper Echelon Fitness) returned from the national scene to power away from the women’s A field for her first win of the 2011 Cross Crusade series.

Aaron Tuckerman crossed the line first, but Molly Cameron filed a protest after the two tangled at the front of the lead group. ©Pat Malach

A rare clear afternoon during a month of record rainfall in Portland set the tone for a blistering day of racing on the flat, hard and fast Heron Lakes course at Portland International Raceway. Exactly 1,475 registered ‘crossers and hundreds of kids mixed it up with geese, golfers and race cars for a full day of competition on the pavement, gravel, grass and off-camber slopes of this traditional Cross Crusade course that has been in use since 2002. Race director Brad Ross said it was the first dry day he could remember on the course.

After a quick men’s A race start that saw multiple attacks from the top riders, Tuckerman and Cameron found themselves in a five-rider group that included Tuckerman’s teammate Shannon Skerritt, Donald Reeb (cyclocrossracing.com) and week #1 winner Sean Babcock (Kona).

About three quarters of the way through the 60-minute race, Tuckerman and Cameron, who finished first and second last week in Rainier, chose separate lines to pass a lapped rider from the women’s field and then came together when they emerged on the other side. Tuckerman got the better of the meeting as Cameron hit the deck hard, slowing the rest of the group behind.

“We came around a lapped rider,” Tuckerman said of the contact with Cameron. “Molly went high and I went low; it was off-camber. So I put an effort right in, and when we came back there was only one line, I guess, and I happened to be in front. And whoever’s the wheel in front tends to hold it up.”

Cameron’s account of the events obviously differed, but Tuckerman didn’t stick around to hash it out. Seizing the opportunity, the current series leader turned on the watts over the hard-packed course and started building a gap, hoping to add maximum points to his overall lead with another win.

“I don’t really know what happened behind,” Tuckerman said. “All I know is I had a gap so I pushed.”

Babcock was first to remount and pick up the chase. Sticking about 15 second behind Tuckerman. Reeb grabbed the third spot another five seconds back. Skerritt picked up the fourth spot, trailing over half a minute behind the leader while a disheveled and dirtied Cameron slipped to the fifth spot, about 1:15 behind.

The leaders finished in that order but they were mixed in with other lapped traffic, and while Tuckerman sailed across the line for the second week in a row posting a one-armed salute with his index finger pointed skyward, Cameron crossed the line and immediately stopped at the start/finish to lodge a protest.

“Tuckerman just took me out,” Cameron said later while waiting to hear the judge’s decision. “The lapped rider was kind of inconsequential. We were just racing, and I was taking the safe line around someone, and then I heard these shifting gears and the next thing I know I’m on the ground.”

Cameron said Tuckerman’s attack wasn’t safe and caused the former road pro to cut off the Portland ‘cross veteran’s line.

“Any other rider wouldn’t have passed there,” Cameron said. “Shannon (Skerritt) wouldn’t. Reeb wouldn’t. Any of the other fast guys. There’s no need to do sketchy stuff like that. I was holding my line and Tuckerman drove into me. I know how to race my bike and bump elbows. But that was just uncalled for. It wasn’t on purpose. He wasn’t trying to take me out. But it was just unnecessary. In the process of moving up he just rode into me. There was no reason to be so aggressive. There are plenty of straightaways on this course to attack and get a gap. Just chill out. The only reason he won that race is because he put me on the ground and everyone else was behind me and had to slow down.”

But Tuckerman said that he felt he had proved the week before in Rainier, where he beat Cameron by 50 seconds on another fast climber’s course, that he didn’t need to do anything sketchy to win. Skerritt was behind the two leaders when they collided, and while admitting a team bias, he backed up Tuckerman’s version of events.

“Aaron got pinched a little bit for as low as he was by one of the course maker stakes and had to creep up just a little bit more than he may have wanted to,” Skerritt said. “Aaron wasn’t as far forward as I think he had timed, and he made contact with Molly. His hip hit Molly’s elbow, and the hip wins that one every time.

“It was legit,” he continued. “From the outside perspective it may have looked kind of ill-willed or malicious. Molly likes to describe her racing style as unapologetic European racing, well that was pretty unapologetic. Although Aaron did apologize afterward. I don’t think he intended to be that close. No one wants to take anybody out. And Molly went down pretty hard. And I almost did, too. But I think Aaron had every right to hold his line and not brake.”

After discussing the incident with most of the riders present in the lead group, OBRA official Teri Camp ruled against Cameron’s protest, leaving Tuckerman with the win but issuing him a warning for dangerous riding.

Tuckerman now leads the series with 72 overall points. Babcock and Cameron each have 46 points, followed by Skerritt with 45 and Reeb with 44. The best six of eight races count toward the overall series competition.

Pennington Powers to Elite Women’s Win

The women’s race was a much simpler affair by contrast. Upper Echelon Fitness rider Alice Pennington, who finished second behind Sue Butler (River City Bicycles/Ridley) during week #1 but missed last weekend’s Crusade, cruised with her competitors for half a lap before laying down the serious power and opening a sizable advantage to which she added steadily throughout the race.

“It was just like a road race,” Pennington said of her effort. “Because I didn’t have much of a warm up, for the first five or six minutes I just sat in the draft of the people who went off the line quick. So I used that as a warm up and then just put down the roadie power into the headwind.”

That seemed to be enough as Pennington quickly gained an advantage of around 10 seconds that she held for several laps on a chase group that formed behind. Pennington’s lead eventually expanded as the race wore on and the chase began to splinter.

In the race for the remaining podium spots and series points, Brooke McDermid (bicycleattorney.com), third last weekend behind Serena Bishop Gordon (Silverado Gallery/Sunnyside) and Tina Brubaker (Vanilla Bicycles), climbed one rung of the podium into the second-place spot, relegating Bishop Gordon to third, followed by Heather Clark (Bend Memorial Clinic Total Care) and Megan Chinburg (Corsa Concepts).

By the finish of the 60-minute women’s race, Pennington had built a 1:19 lead over McDermid, 1:41 over Bishop Gordon, 1:50 over Clark, and 2:26 over Chinburg.

The win moves Pennington into third overall with 46 series points. Bishop Gordon maintains the lead that she won in Rainier with 58 overall points. McDermid climbs to second with 47 points. Brubaker and Brigette Brown (River City Bicycles) are tied for fourth with 40 points.

The Cross Crusade heads west next week and picks up the battle at the Washington County Fair Complex in Hillsboro.

Check out the PHOTO GALLERY for this race.

RESULTS
Cross Crusade #3 PIR, Heron Lakes
Oct. 16

Men A
1. Aaron Tuckerman (Corsa Concepts) 8
2. Sean Babcock (Kona) 8
3. Donald Reeb (Cyclocrossracing.com) 8
4. Shannon Skerritt (Corsa Concepts) 8
5. Molly Cameron (MetaFilter-Portland Bicycle Studio) 8
6. Damian Schmitt (Silverado Gallery/Sunnyside) 8
7. Leland Gilmore (River City Bicycles) 8
8. Ross Brody (Buy Local Cycling) 8
9. Ben Thompson (Rocky Mountain Bicycles) 8
10. Steve Carwile (Evanplews.com) 8

Women A
1. Alice Pennington (Upper Echelon Fitness) 7
2. Brooke McDermid (bicycleattorney.com) 7
3. Serena Bishop Gordon (Silverado Gallery/Sunnyside) 7
4. Heather Clark (Bend Memorial Clininc Total Care) 7
5. Megan Chinburg (Corsa Concepts) 7
6. Brigette Brown (River City Bicycles/Ridley/NoTubes) 7
7. Beth Orton (Team S&M Les Femmes) 7
8. Tina Brubaker (Vanilla Bicycles) 7
9. Anna Christiansen (Ironclad Performance Wear) 7
10. Erin Playman (Team S&M Les Femmes) 7

Junior Men
1. Cameron Beard (Bend Endurance Academy) 47:33.00
2. Adam Artner 48:07.00
3. Max Toeldte (BYRDS) 48:07.00
4. Sam Rosenberg (Hutch’s-Eugene) 48:16.00
5. Ethan Reynolds (BYRDS) 48:20.00

Junior Women
1. Sharon Hart (Camas Bike and Sport) 46:35.00
2. Susannah Hart (Camas Bike and Sport) 47:37.00
3. Taylor Tyynismaa 48:56.00
4. Emma Koenig 49:03.00
5. Kali Woodard 49:58.00

Complete OBRA results are HERE.

Bad weather or good, Portland fans turn out for the traditional PIR Crusade. ©Pat Malach/FILE PHOTO

It’s full speed ahead for cyclocross now, and the big races this weekend are Saturday in Washougal for round #4 of the Grand Prix Molly Cameron series and Sunday at Portland International Raceway for week #3 of the Cross Crusade. Southern Oregon’s Outlaw Cyclocross gets ready for its opener next week with a Saturday clinic.

SATURDAY

GPMC #4 Ninkrossi – Washougal, Wash.
Taking advantage of 235 acres at the Washougal Motocross Park, the Ninkrossi course is set on a massive open meadow. Be prepared for lots of grass, a long paved start, some gravel, the Ninkasi “N” and some dirt trails. Promoters say 90% of the course is viewable from the beer tent. Yes, Beer! Ninkrossi also hosts race #4 of the Grand Prix Molly Cameron series, with Donald Reeb (cyclocrossracing.com) and Rhonda Morin (Sorella Forte) leading the men’s and women’s Cat A overall competitions.

Southern Oregon Outlaw Cyclocross Series: Clinic — Jacksonville
This weekend’s clinic is preparation for next’s week’s first race of the five-race Southern Oregon series that visits five different locations over five weeks stretching from Yreka, Calif., to Grants Pass. Bring your cyclocross or mountain bike to Cycle Analysis in Jacksonville Saturday at 10:00 a.m. to refine your skills. Whatever your level, Joe Davis will go over dismounts and remounts as well as other bike handling skills necessary for cyclocross. The cost of the clinic is $5 for adults and free for 18 and under.

SUNDAY

Cross Crusade #3 PIR — Portland
Cross Crusade continues to heat up with round #3 at another classic venue, this time on the north side of the Portland International Raceway property next to the Heron Lakes Golf Course. Forecasts call for sunshine, but Mother Nature will have the last word about that, and wet weather leading up to the race will almost guarantee mud somewhere. Aaron Tuckerman (Corsa Concepts) leads the men’s Cat A overall competition after his first-ever Crusade win last week in Rainier. Just like Tuckerman, Serena Bishop Gordon (Silverado Gallery/Sunnyside Sports) leads the women’s Cat A series after winning her first-ever Crusade last week.

Aaron Tuckerman celebrates his first-ever Cross Crusade win. ©Pat Malach

RAINIER — Aaron Tuckerman (Corsa Concepts) and Serena Bishop Gordon (Silverado Gallery/Sunnyside Sports) both took their first-ever Cross Crusade Elite wins Sunday as the eight-race Oregon series headed north to Rainier.

With the likes of Trebon, Sheppard, Babcock, Butler and Pennington battling at the USGP New Belgium Cup in Fort Collins, Colo., over the weekend, the podium’s top rungs opened up to a new set of contenders for series race number two.

Check CXmagazine.com Monday for the complete report and a photo gallery from the day’s racing. And don’t forget the Oregon.CyclingAction.com photo gallery.

RESULTS
Cross Crusade #3 Rainier
Oct. 9

Elite Men
1. Aaron Tuckerman (Corsa Concepts) 1:02:25.0
2. Molly Cameron (MetaFilter) 1:03:15.0
3. Shannon Skerritt (Corsa Concepts) 1:03:35.0
4. Ross Brody (Buy Local Cycling) 1:03:58.0
5. Seth Patla (River City Bicycles) 1:04:01.0
6. Donald Reeb (Cyclocrossracing.com) 56:37.0
7. Michael Benno (Veloce Racing) 57:31.0
8. Cary Miller (Gentle Lovers) 57:57:44.0
9. Patrick Means (Team S&M) 57:45.0
10. Leland Gilmore (River City Bicycles) 57:45.0

Serena Bishop Gordon powers her way to the win Sunday. ©Pat Malach

Elite Women
1. Serena Bishop Gordon (Silverado Gallery/Sunnyside) 58:47.0
2. Tina Brubaker (Vanilla Bicycles) 59:53.0
3. Brooke McDermid (bicycleattorney.com) 1:00:50.0
4. Brigette Brown (River City Bicycles/Ridley/NoTubes) 1:02:03.0
5. Jill Hardiman (Team S&M Les Femmes) 1:02:37.0
6. Beth Orton (Team S&M Les Femmes) 1:02:50.0
7. Sara Fletcher (Therapeutic Associates) 1:03:01.0
8. Sarah Rawley 1:03:04.0
9. Alexandra Burton (Upper Echelon Fitness) 1:03:32.0
10. Susan Grandjean (Showers Pass) 1:04:36.0

Junior Men
1. Sam Rosenberg (Hutch’s-Eugene) 39:21.00
2. Killian Bailey (Beaverton Bicycle Club) 40:04.00
3. Trevor Schauer (West End Bikes/Specialized) 40:16.00
4. Kent Ross (Word-RCB) 41:19.00
5. Cameron Beard (Bend Endurance Academy) 41:44.00

Junior Women
1. Susannah Hart (Camas Bike and Sport) 46:40.00
2. Sharon Hart (Camas Bike and Sport) 48:39.00
3. Emma Koenig 37:33.00
4. Alyssa Hoyt 40:26.00
5. Kelsey Wilson (Pacific Power Blue Sky) 42:16.00

Complete OBRA results are HERE.