Elliott, Powers win day 2 of Toronto CX

by VeloNews.com

October 18, 2009
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Results

By Rod Olliver

Toronto CX – 2009 – Day 2: Natasha Elliott led from the start.

Natasha Elliott (Garneau) made it two for two on Sunday, winning the second round of the Toronto International Cyclocross, while Jeremy Powers led a Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com sweep of the podium.

It was another course entirely that the field tackled on Sunday — instead of square mazes and a climb up the ski hill, racers faced flowing, off-camber turns, spiced with a bit of sand and mud to keep the spectators happy.

Pepper Harlton (Juventus Cycling Club) challenged Elliott on the first lap, taking the hole shot and staying with Elliott through the barriers as the two immediately put a gap on a big group of Planet Bike riders.

Harlton hit the deck later in the lap, and Elliott powered away as the crash slowed the chase.

“I knew there could be some trouble there, so I made sure I had the lead, slowed a bit and made it through, but I heard the chaos behind,” said Elliott, racing in the red jersey of the North American Cyclocross Trophy series leader.

Kaitlin Antonneau (Planet Bike), who used the opportunity to pass some riders and move into third, said that the pileup forced the field “to get off and run.”

Toronto CX – 2009 – Day 2: Kaitlin Antonneau passes Pepper Harlton for second.

Photo: © Cyclingphotos.ca

Harlton remounted and hung onto second. As Elliott rode away, Antonneau chased up to Harlton on the third lap. Linda Sone (Planet Bike), second on Saturday, made a bold attempt to come across, but was left dangling, unable to close in on the pair in front of her.

Closing in on the final lap, Antonneau dropped Harlton and rode to within 10 seconds of Elliott. But the Garneau rider held onto her lead, and the NACT jersey, crossing 15 seconds ahead of Antonneau with Harlton third at 26 seconds back.

A clean sweep

In the men’s race, Jesse Anthony (Jamis) took the hole shot, followed closely by Powers, Andy Jacques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling) and Jamey Driscoll (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com).

Jacques-Maynes crashed out in an off-camber turn, and by the end of the first lap, Powers had built a 10-second lead. Johnson and Driscoll bridged up, and then the Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com train got rolling. Anthony hung on for a bit, but the pace was too high and by the end of the second lap, the Cannondale trio was clear.

Toronto CX – 2009 – Day 2: : Jeremy Powers flies through the sand pit.

Photo: © Cyclingphotos.ca

“After my mishap yesterday we wanted to make sure we were clear of everyone early and that’s what we did,” said Powers.

Added Johnson: “It was like a team time trial. We were trying to rip each others’ legs off, but still work together as a team.”

Anthony dropped back to a group containing Tristan Schouten (Planet Bike), Derrick St. John (Garneau Club Chasseur) and Mike Garrigan (La Bicicletta). St. John and Schouten drove the chase, losing the others, and after several counterattacks, St. John jumped away with a half lap to go.

On the last lap, Powers launched the first attack, but crashed near the pits. Driscoll and Johnson took a gap, only to see Driscoll hit the deck just as Powers regained contact.

Toronto CX – 2009 – Day 2: Tim Johnson will finish second.

Coming out of the final corner first and sprinting away, Powers took the victory by a single second over Johnson, with Driscoll rounding out the podium in third, 15 seconds behind.

“Even when it’s sunny and dry, it’s still hard!” said Johnson.

Despite the Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com sweep, Jonathan Page (Planet Bike) — who was racing the second round of the UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Pizen, Czech Republic, where he finished 13th — remains atop the NACT standings.