the 2007 USGP stop in Portland.
(Photos © J. Maus)
The Greenware® U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross returns to Portland International Raceway Saturday and Sunday for the Stanley Portland Cup, the fourth and final round of the four-weekend, eight-race national series that started in September.
Since 2004, the USGP has featured the deepest, strongest and fastest professional fields racing on this side of the Atlantic, and ‘cross-crazy Portland has always provided a fitting finale. This year’s line-up will be another who’s-who of North American cyclocross stars, including a possible appearance by Euro road racing strongman Chis Horner, a Bend resident who finished 10th at this year’s Tour de France and has taken up ‘cross in his off-season.
Women
Elite Women’s series leader Georgia Gould will be on hand to try and seal the overall win, which is based on points earned from results in each of the eight series races. Gould’s Luna teammate Katerina Nash, the current Czech national champion and a previous Portland Cup winner, is also expected. Portland’s own Sue Butler (Hudz/Subaru) currently sits sixth overall after competing in just two races so far and should be mixing it up trying to move up a few spots. Hood River’s Alice Pennington is currently 18th overall.
Other top women registered include Amy Dombroski (Luna), Meredith Miller (California Giant/Specialized), Katie Antonneau (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com), Mo Bruno Roy (MM Racing/Seven Cycles), Teal Stetson-Lee (California Giant/Specialized), Coryn Rivera (Peanut Butter & Co Twenty 12) and Canadian National Champion Wendy Simms (Ridley/FSA).
The only big name missing from the Elite Women’s race will be six-time national champion Katie Compton (Planet Bike/Stevens Bicycles), currently in Europe training to improve on her bronze and silver medals at the World Championships. You can expect to see the top local and regional riders filling out the elite fields.
how he can move into a podium spot.
He currently sits 5th overall.
Men
Although watching full-time roadie Horner negotiate the twists and turns of the always-creative course on the infield at PIR will be a special treat, the usual suspects of North American men’s cyclocross should be all over the very tip of the race. Look for reigning U.S. National Champion Tim Johnson, along with his Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com teammates Jeremy Powers and Jamey Driscoll, to be forcing the action at the front. The powerful Cannondale trio has been dominating the series, sitting one-two-three overall. Oregon favorite Ryan Trebon (Kona), the defending USGP champ who’s currently fifth, will no doubt be trying to move onto the final overall podium by taking out some wins this weekend.
Olympic mountain biker Todd Wells (Specialized), is sixth overall and would also like to climb onto the overall podium by scoring big in Portland. Chris Sheppard (Rocky Mountain/Shimano), a Canadian national who resides in Bend and was runner-up at this year’s Cross Crusade, should be taking the starting line in the Canadian National Champion’s maple leaf jersey he earned last month in Toronto. Bend’s Adam Craig (Rabobank/Giant) is always a dangerous rider and could make the podium on one or both days. Portland’s Sean Babcock (Kona) is currently 18th overall.
Other riders to watch include Chris Jones (Rapha/Focus), Zach McDonald (Rapha/Focus), Tristan Shouten (CyclocrossRacing.com/Blue/Rolf) and Danny Summerhill (Team Holowesko Partners). Former World Champion silver medalist Jonathan Page is in the middle of his European campaign and will miss the final USGP races after getting off to a rough start in Wisconsin.
Although the brightest spotlight shines on the pro men and women who battle in the afternoon, the USGP offers a full day of racing for all skill and age levels. Several Oregon riders have been excelling in their categories at USGP races across the country. River City/Specialized rider Tim Butler sits third overall in the Masters Men 45+ overall. His teammate Erik Schulz is fourth in the Masters Men 35+ category. Kolben Preble (Clif Bar Development Team) sits 12th overall in the Junior 17-18 series.
Daily Schedule
Racing begins both Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 a.m. for the amateurs and continues throughout the day, culminating with the 40-minute UCI Elite Women’s race at 1:45 p.m. and the UCI Elite Men’s 60-minute event at 3:00 p.m. Full details here.
OVERALL STANDINGS (six of eight races complete)
Elite Men
1. Tim Johnson (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com) 250
2. Jeremy Powers (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com) 234
3. Jamey Driscoll (Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com) 142
4. Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis/Rocky Mount) 138
*5. Ryan Trebon (Kona) 138
* 10. Barry Wicks (Kona) 56
* 15. Adam Craig (Rabobank/Giant) 43
* 18. Sean Babcock (Kona) 29
* 23. Adam McGrath (Feedback Sports/Van Dessel) 18
* 33. Spencer Paxson (Team S&M) 4
Elite Women
1. Georgia Gould (Luna Pro Team) 248
2. Katie Compton (Planet Bike/Stevens) 190
3. Meredith Miller (California Giant/Specialized) 169
4. Kathy Sherwin (Hudz/Subrau) 110
5. Amy Dombroski (Luna Pro Team) 107
*6. Sue Butler (Hudz/Subaru) 60
*18. Alice Pennington (Team S&M) 35
*Oregon riders.
— Pat Malach is the publisher and editor of Oregon Cycling Action. See his past articles for BikePortland here.