2011 GP of Gloucester, day 1: a Wil Matthews gallery

The amateur men's race boasted a 138-rider field that had the GP Gloucester course buzzing with activity. Photo: Wil Matthews

Chandler Delinks (Cyclocrossworld.com) storms to a third-place finish in the amateur men's race, bested only by two juniors. Photo: Wil Matthews

Cannondale factory mechanic Troy Laffey fine-tunes the Avid Shorty Ultimate brakes on Jamey Driscoll's bike shortly before the start of the elite men's race. Photo: Wil Matthews

From one national champion to another, Tim Johnson (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) provides teammate Katie Antonneau feedback following their reconnaissance of the GP Gloucester course. Photo: Wil Matthews

French national champion Catherine Mani in a moment of levity before the start of the elite women's race. Mani suffered on the course, which required technical skills and power, and finished 12th. Photo: Wil Matthews

Nicole Duke (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) held a substantial gap over Helen Wyman in the early laps of the elite women's race. Photo: Wil Matthews

Following the lead trio was group including Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom), Gabby Day (Renner Custom) and Katie Antonneau (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com). Photo: Wil Matthews

British national champion Helen Wyman veers into the tape after attempting to pass Nicole Duke (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com). Photo: Wil Matthews

British national cyclocross champion Helen Wyman (Kona-FSA) soloed to a clear win after a race-long contest with Nicole Duke (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com). Photo: Wil Matthews

Katie Antonneau powered through the group of riders chasing the lead trio to finish fourth. Photo: Wil Matthews

Andrea Smith (Ladies First) is congratulated by Nicole Gonzales following an impressive second-place finish in the elite women's race. Photo: Wil Matthews

British national champion Helen Wyman is all smiles following her win in the GP Gloucester. Photo: Wil Matthews

New England cyclocross bosses Richard Fries (right) and Chris Zigmont shared announcing duties throughout the day at GP Gloucester. Photo: Wil Matthews

Jesse Anthony, a resident of Beverly, Massachusetts, is greeted by spectators following his call-up before the start of the elite men's race. Anthony will focus solely on road racing following the GP Gloucester. Photo: Wil Matthews

Teammates Tim Johnson and Christian Heule (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) chat before the start of the elite men's race. Photo: Wil Matthews

The usual favorites weren't on the front of the field following the start of the elite men's race, but would come to the front of the event within the first lap. Photo: Wil Matthews

Jamey Driscoll (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) missed third place by only eight seconds, finishing fifth on a very fast day at Gloucester. Photo: Wil Matthews

Spectators watch the GP Gloucester action from the top of 1623 Rock in the historic Stage Fort Park. Photo: Wil Matthews

Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) and Christian Heule (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) drag Ben Berden (Ops Ale) through the technical S-turns. Berden eventually slipped to fourth overall. Photo: Wil Matthews

Christian Heule (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) dismounts before one of the many technical sections on the GP Gloucester course, which featured stairs, barriers, fly-over and a sand pit. Photo: Wil Matthews

Matt Roy does a last-minute cleat cleaning for Mo Bruno-Roy (Bob's Red Mill) just before the start of the elite women's race. Photo: Wil Matthews

French national champion Catherine Mani wasn't pleased with her performance in the elite women's race where she struggled to 12th. Photo: Wil Matthews

The elite men's field winds through the expo area on the first lap of the GP Gloucester. Photo: Wil Matthews

Dylan McNicholas (Cyclocrossworld.com) found himself among the leaders in the early laps, here leading Jamey Driscoll (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) and Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus). Photo: Wil Matthews

The GP Gloucester course wound past several features in the Stage Fort Park on the Gloucester waterfront. Photo: Wil Matthews

Zach McDonald (Rapha-Focus) won the the U-23 race and finished eighth overall in the elite men's event. Photo: Wil Matthews

Swiss national cyclocross champion Christian Huele (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) won the Gran Prix of Gloucester after trading the lead with Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus). Photo: Wil Matthews

Tim Johnson (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) slipped to 10th place after briefly leading the elite men's race at Gloucester. Photo: Wil Matthews

Local resident Jesse Anthony will be taking a respite from cyclocross following the GP Gloucester, where he raced under the World Bicycle Relief colors. Photo: Wil Matthews

Tim Johnson (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) caught the race leaders by surprise with a mid-race attack through the start/finish. Photo: Wil Matthews

Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) tries to put some distance on Christian Heule (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) and Ian Field (Hargroves Cycles) out of the flyover on lap six. Photo: Wil Matthews

Ryan Dromgoole (PACC) was helped to his 67th-place finish by this beer handup from the helpful spectators at the Mazda stairs. Photo: Wil Matthews

Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) looks over his shoulder to see Christian Heule (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) latched on. Heule would come around Powers at the end of the final lap to take the win. Photo: Wil Matthews

Crowds line the fencing along the Mazda stairs, which was conveniently located next to the beer garden. Photo: Wil Matthews

Christian Heule (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) takes the win in front of Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) in Saturday's Gran Prix of Gloucester. Photo: Wil Matthews

Christian Heule (Cannondale-cyclocrossworld.com) looks fresh following a tough, fast and technical 60-minute race that netted him a valuable UCI C-1 victory. Photo: Wil Matthews