Tags
Related Posts
Share This
Correction-Johnson Wins and James Driscoll takes the USGP Lead (Press Release)
A historic Sunday wrapped up the fifth straight weekend with a win for the Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com’s team, this time at the second stop of the United States Gran Prix of Cyclocross series, the Derby City Cup in Louisville, Kentucky. To get complete coverage of the team, head to www.cannondale-cyclocrossworld.com.
On the first day of racing action from Louisville, it was the junior member of the team, Jamey Driscoll, who led the charge. Driscoll, along with team captain Tim Johnson, took off from the rest of the field after Johnson’s attacks had shed all but Driscoll, Ryan Trebon (Kona) and Jesse Anthony (Jamis). From there, Driscoll and Johnson bided their time, waiting for the moment to strike. With two laps to go, Driscoll launched a blistering attack, and held a promising lead going into the race’s final corners.
“I don’t know I mustered up that last lap effort, but it was just a test of who had the best legs of the day,” said Driscoll, Trebon launched the chase of his life to catch Driscoll with only meters to go, with Driscoll giving everything to hold him off. According to Johnson, who was shadowing Trebon, “Trebon turned his chase into a sprint and rode a smart race, but Jamey rode a really great race.” Ultimately, Driscoll would have to settle for second, with Johnson taking home third. Jeremy Powers, the final piece to the Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com puzzle, still fighting a cold, elected to save some effort for Sunday’s racing.
While second and third were a good start to the weekend, the team was hungry for more when racing resumed on Sunday. Powers was eager to settle things early on, and set an explosive first lap pace. “I’ve got good first five minute fitness so I’ve been trying to use that to my advantage lately,” Powers said about his fast start. Johnson was quick to catch on to his teammate, catching Powers and using him as a launch pad for an attack of his own.
Powers knew it was Johnson’s day, saying: “Once Tim got up to me, he started opening a gap. I knew if he was there that early, he was feeling good and he’d be the man to beat.” “Jeremy had an awesome start, which only Geoff Kabush could follow, and he was really jamming on it,” said Johnson. “I caught Jeremy as we were starting lap two, and we were together for a lap or two, then two or three laps later, Jamey caught Jeremy.” Just as Johnson was attacking for the win, Driscoll was hard at work dropping the rest of the field in an attempt to join Powers and get the team a podium sweep. Powers was happy to have Driscoll for company, and the two, once together, extended their gap over the chasing pack.
Johnson continued to hammer away at the front, while Driscoll set about driving the pace behind. Thanks to strong rides by all three riders, especially Powers, who shook off the effects of his illness to set up the team’s race, Johnson continued his assault to the finish, taking home his sixth win of the season, making it his fourth straight weeks with a win. Driscoll’s hard work was rewarded with a second place finish; his second in as many days, while Powers took the third step to finish up the first podium sweep in USGP history.
Thanks to his extremely consistent riding, Jamey Driscoll took hold the USGP Leader’s Jersey, joining Powers as the second member of the team to wear the leader’s jersey this year. Driscoll is tied with Ryan Trebon with 120 points. “It’s a really, really close race. If this year is anything like last year, the conditions will sort out a worthy winner, but we’ll see if this year is any different. Fortunately, I’ve got some pretty awesome teammates to help me out, or take it themselves if need be.”
Rank Name Score
1 Jamey Driscoll 120
2 Ryan Trebon 120
3 Geoff Kabush 112
4 Jeremy Powers 107
5 Erwin Vervecken 90
6 Tim Johnson 84
Follow me