Wieghall and Berg storm the beach at the Seattle ’Cross Series third round

by VeloNews.com

October 20, 2009
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Photos
Results

By LeRoi Smith

2009 SCX #3: Weighall leads McDonald.

Photo: Kenton Berg

Nick Wieghall (California Giant Berry Farms) ensured there would be no repeat men’s winners yet this year, while Kristi Berg (Redline Bicycles) made it three for three at the sand-heavy course third stop of the Seattle Cyclocross Series.

Silver Lake Park in Everett, Washington, hosted the race on a brand new course. After two days of torrential rains, the clouds parted (off and on), providing nearly ideal conditions for this bow-tie shaped course. Each end of the tie was up and down (and up and down) a hillside. Connecting the two halves was a brutal 150 meter stretch of sand along the lake.

Weighall got off the front of the men’s field with Zack McDonald (Classic Cycle) in the first lap. He was able to gap McDonald on the second and maintain the space for the remaining seven laps as he worked his way around and well up into the Masters 1/2 men’s field, mercifully shortening their suffering. Meanwhile, McDonald had a bit wider gap back to third as he worked his way through lapped traffic. A last lap flat for last week’s winner Logan Wetzel (Benaroya Research Institute) relegated him to fourth place as the hard-charging Spencer Paxson (Team S&M) snatched the final spot on the podium.

2009 SCX #3: Course designers found a surprise log obstacle in the single track

Photo: Kenton Berg

With three races and three winners, the men’s elite field is tightly bunched for the series with Wetzel leading teammates Toby Swanson and Russell Stevenson.

Berg dominent

In contrast to the men, the elite women’s field is being dominated this year by Kristi Berg (Redline Bicycles). With her combination of power and strong technical skills, she was not to be denied on this rough and tumble course, extending from the gun and working her way up into the top ten of the large Master Cat 3 35+ Men’s field that started 30 seconds ahead of her. While Berg worked her way off the front of her field, an unfortunate start-time mistake meant Ann Knapp (Kona) was working her way through as well, but two fields back. Knapp started late and in so doing, immediately had to negotiate the Master 1/2/3 women, then the Cat 3 women, then the back of the Cat 3 master men and into her field of elite women. With a gutsy ride she pulled herself up into third place, behind Beth Lyndon-Griffith (Hagens Berman) who in spite of being gapped by Berg, rode a strong race.

Behind Berg the women’s series race is stacked close with Lee Smith (Team Group Health) and Anne Love (uBrdo) second and third, respectively and another 5 or so riders within striking distance.

Next week, the series takes a break from new courses and returns to the tried-and-true Ft. Steilacoom in Lakewood, Washington. SCX is sponsored by New Belgium Brewing, FSA, Redline Bicycles, Thule, Northwave and Bob’s Red Mill. Full results and detailed information can be found at www.seattlecyclocross.com.