Race Report byTom Simpson Photos by Jeff Clark |
27 October, 2002 - Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, Watsonville, CA
Jacque-Maynes and Lloyd score record victories at Surf City Round #2
The horse barns and sheep stalls of Surf City’s 2nd round of 2002 competition are familiar ground for Ben Jacques-Mayne and Rachel Lloyd as they each continued their mastery of the dry and dusty circuit. Over 300 starters (296 finishers) saw bright sunny skies contribute to Jacques-Mayne’s 4th consecutive victory at the Fairgrounds course.
After taking a tumble at the UCI races in Portland the week prior, an aching Jacques-Mayne had his hands full during the first 2 laps with Chris Pietrzak until a shoe problem dropped Pietrzak and left the door open for Jacques-Mayne. Pietrzak enjoyed his best-ever Surf City finish, ultimately losing only 39 seconds to J-M. The rib injury sustained in the first corner at the Portland International meet the previous weekend meant J-M had little power to hop any of the barricades and had to modify his approach to the uneven stairstep climbs. Pietrzak, after his win at Central Coast’s event Sunday, 10/20, has made a significant jump into the top hierarchy of NorCal ‘cross riders and appears ready for the return of the Clif Bar team and Jacques-Mayne’s Spokesmen/Bullion teammate, Justin Robinson in upcoming rounds of Surf City and the Redline Cup finale in Napa, 1 week before the National Championships. The podium positions were another dogfight all morning. Initially John Funke, Larry Hibbard, Todd Hoefer, Jesse Scatton and Chris D’Alusio formed the chase group that later disintegrated into private duels with Funke earning the bronze, Master’s legend Hibbard in 4th and then within just 20 seconds the balance of the top-10 riders sprinted home.
Lloyd’s 2nd consecutive Surf City win came on the heels of a very successful UCI trip up north the previous weekend, splitting wins with Clif Bar’s Gina Hall at Portland and Tacoma. Taking an immediate lead on the first barricade and runup, Lloyd never looked back, notching her 3rd victory at the Fairgrounds, dating back to 1998. Velo Bella’s Shelley Whisenhant led a contingent of 10 riders from her team entered that day to climb to 2nd by the conclusion, finishing 45 seconds in front of bronze medallist Sarah Kerlin. Lloyd appears to have the same form in 2002 that took her to a 9th place finish at the World’s in Tabor in February 2001.
Camarillo’s Mark Noble continued his hot streak at Surf City with another solo victory in the Master’s 35 race. Todd Hoefer, Mark Howland, and Chris D’Alusio formed the loyal opposition with Noble pulling away on the last lap. For Hoefer and D’Alusio the Master’s event was a tune-up as both riders also finished in the top 10 in the Elite Men’s event.
