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Press Release- Cross Crusade #2 Pier Park

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B Witty

2002-10-15

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NEWS RELEASE-For Immediate Distribution

Contact Information:

Brad Ross/ Brian Witty, Promoters Chris Bright, Media Coordinator

Cyclo-Cross Crusade Series Cyclo-Cross Crusade Series

Telephone: (503) 246-7338 Telephone: (503) 697-5375

E-mail: brad-@prodigy.net <mailto:brad-@prodigy.net> ;

E-mail: cbri-@pixelworks.com <mailto:cbri-@pixelworks.com>

 bri-@tmioregon.com <mailto:bri-@tmioregon.com>

Skerritt, Mazza Take Charge in Victories at Pier Park in 2nd Round of River

City Bicycles 'Cross Crusade Series

The series points battle is starting to take shape after second of eight

rounds; National caliber field expected for UCI 1.3 Cannondale/PDX

International Cyclo-Cross Classic on October 19 at Portland International

Raceway

 Portland, Ore., October 14, 2002- Shannon Skerritt (Trek/VW/Bike

Gallery) and Rhonda Mazza (Team S&M/Vanilla) each took different routes to

cross the finish line first October 13 at Pier Park in North Portland. In

the end they sent messages that they are leading contenders for the overall

honors in this year's River City Bicycles 'Cross Crusade Series as the day's

winners also took over the points leads.

 A summer-like day greeted the nearly 350 competitors at Pier Park in

Portland's St. Johns neighborhood with temperatures hitting the mid-70s

under a pristine sky. The popular course was slightly reconfigured so it

had a "Jekyll and Hyde" personality. The 3.2-kilometer course opened with a

fast, big ring-friendly one-kilometer stretch with only one tight chicane.

A double barrier signaled a drastic change featuring three run-ups,

screaming descents and short power climbs that criss-crossed a scenic gully

and tested the competitors' courage. After emerging from the canopy of

towering pines, the track descended to the finish line on turf and gravel

roads.



'Three Amigos' Drop the Hammer

 From the opening whistle, the contenders in the Category A Men's race

were never in doubt. After the first of eight laps, the 'Three Amigos' of

Skerritt and the Kona/Kenwood duo of Erik Tonkin and Barry Wicks had a

substantial gap. This trio races on the road together during the spring and

summer and invariably finds themselves reunited during the cyclo-cross

season.

 At the line, Skerritt snapped up a $100 cash prime and showed he meant

business. Trek/VW/Bike Gallery teammates Derl Miller and John Leonard

followed, with Mark King (Sunnyside Sports) hot on their tails. Over the

next few laps, the leaders continued to put in sub-7 minute laps and were

pulling away by more than 10 seconds per lap on the field. King was riding

well as he moved ahead of Leonard on the second lap and then worked his way

past Miller into fourth on the next circuit.

 On the fourth lap, the face of the race changed significantly as Wicks

succumbed to the blistering pace and gapped off the leading pair. This was

'cross at its Darwinian best.

 As the laps counted down, Tonkin and Skerritt continued to pour on the

pace. With a little more than one lap to go, Tonkin threw down the gauntlet

and went for broke. As he took the bell at the finish line, he had five

seconds on the Skerritt and looked to be cruising in for a hard-earned

victory. Skerritt had other ideas.

 "I got on the straight and thought I had to get it on the big ring and

bring him back," Skerritt said after the race. He did just that and got in

front of Tonkin at the first barrier. Realizing the effort the Trek/VW/Bike

Gallery rider had just put in, Tonkin forced his way past on the first

run-up to try and crack him. The pair entered the long second run-up neck

and neck, but Skerritt surged one more time and never looked back.

 Emerging from the trees into finish area, the surprised crowd let out

a cheer when it realized Skerritt had not only chased down Tonkin, but also

dropped him on the bell lap. Skerritt finished with a 10 second gap on

Tonkin with Wicks a further 20 seconds behind. A strong Mark King and

scrappy Miller rounded out the top five.

Mazza Motors Away

 Team S&M/Vanilla's Mazza is showing her power early this 'cross season

to reveal she has ambitions to not only win the 'Cross Crusade again, but

assert herself at the upcoming Pacific Northwest rounds of UCI-sanctioned

races. Right from the start, Mazza sprinted at full bore to jump ahead of

the long snaking line of the Category A Women's field.

 The first time through the finish chute, Mazza was chased by

Trek/VW/Bike Gallery's Pennington and the Sunnyside Sports' pair of Karen

Kenlen and Suzanne King. As the laps wore one, Pennington continued to

follow gamely, but Mazza was in a class of her own and was pulling away by

five seconds per lap.

 At the bell lap, Mazza and Pennington were in cruise control while

King had gotten ahead of her teammate Kenlen. River City Bicycles' Marjon

Marik was chasing in strong fifth place. Mazza crossed the finish line with

a wave and looked quite fresh after the race, which is an ominous sign for

the competition. Pennington followed her in with King, Kenlen and Marik in

the top five.



Cannondale/PDX International Cyclo-Cross Classic Hits Portland October 19

A national-caliber field is expected for the Cannondale/PDX

International Cyclo-Cross Classic on October 19 at Portland International

Raceway. The UCI 1.3 race is the first UCI-sanctioned cyclo-cross race in

Oregon. The PDX International will be a classic Belgian-style test in the

fields surrounding the PIR racetrack featuring wide-open power sections

interspersed with off-camber turns and run-ups utilizing the dikes.

 The field will feature the top talent in the Pacific Northwest facing

off with a deep list of talented compatriots. Headliners expected to be on

the start line include: U.S. National Cyclo-Cross Champion Todd Wells

(Mongoose/Hyundai) with his teammate, and former National Champion, Marc

Gullickson in tow. Dale Knapp (Kona-Kenwood) will challenge along with his

teammates, and local favorites, Eric Tonkin and Barry Wicks. The reigning

Canadian National Champion Peter Wedge should round out a very deep Kona

team. The Clif Bar team travels the powerful team of Jackson Stewart (2002

World's team, Silver 2001 US U-23 Nationals), Dave Wyandt and Andy

Jacques-Maynes (2000 US World Team Member).

 Competing in the elite women's race will be the speedy team of

Jeanette Nussbaum and Ann Grande (Kona-Kenwood), the Clif Bar duo of Carmen

D'Alusio (10th 2002 World's, Silver 2001 US Nationals) and Gina Hall (13th

2002 World's) coming up from California. Local favorites Rhonda Mazza

(Team S&M Vanilla) and Alice Pennington (Trek/VW/Bike Gallery) will also be

battling to capture a podium spot in a very deep Elite Women's event.

Learn more about the Cannondale/PDX International Cyclo-Cross Classic at

www.crosscrusade.com/PDXraceflyer.htm



About the 'Cross Crusade Series

 Now in its 10th season, the River City Bicycles 'Cross Crusade Series

is an Oregon-based grassroots effort that has grown into the largest

cyclocross series in North America. The 2002 'Cross Crusade has more than

$20,002 of prize money up for grabs during the eight races, including two

UCI sanctioned events for the first time.

 The 'Cross Crusade series emphasizes fun and participation which is

evidenced by the expansive prize list that ranges from cash and bike-related

merchandise to six-packs of local microbrews and bottles of Oregon-grown

wines. This level of generosity is made possible by the unparalleled support

of the series' title sponsor River City Bicycles and presenting sponsors

Cannondale, Saturn/RussAuto, MacTarnahan's and Sellwood Cycle Repair. Learn

more about 'Cross Crusade at www.crosscrusade.com.

River City Bicycles 2002 Cross Crusade Round 2- Results

Pier Park, Portland, Oregon

October 13, 2002

Top 20 Category A Men:

1. Shannon Skerritt, Trek/VW/Bike Gallery

2. Erik Tonkin, Kona/Kenwood

3. Barry Wicks, Kona/Kenwood

4. Mark King, Sunnyside Sports

5. Derl Miller, Trek/VW/Bike Gallery

6. John Leonard, Trek/VW/Bike Gallery

7. Jon Meyers, Trek/VW/Bike Gallery

8. Shane Beers, Vision Cyclery SF

9. Chris Brandt, Collins

10. Mike Schindler, Sunnyside Sports

11. Chad Swanson

12. Brody Anderson, River City

13. Rich Cramer, Presto Velo

14. John McCaffrey, Presto Velo

15. Zac Houghton, Presto Velo

16. Tim Coffey

17. Alex Rock, Gary Fisher

18. Sean Garvin, GS Camerati

19. Mark Matson, Gentle Lovers

20. Omer Kem, Team Oregon

Top Category A Women:

1. Rhonda Mazza, Team S&M/ Vanilla

2. Alice Pennington, Trek/VW/Bike Gallery

3. Suzanne King, Sunnyside Sports

4. Karen Kenlen Sunnyside

5. Marjon Marik, River City Bicycles

6. Becky Walter, Nike/Logie Velo

7. Emily Babcock, Gentle Lovers

8. Julie Wilson, Disco Velo

9. Tina Reeb

Full Results @ www.crosscrusade.com/pierresults.htm

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NEWS RELEASE-For Immediate Distribution

Contact Information: 

Brad Ross/ Brian Witty, Promoters Chris Bright, Media Coordinator

Cyclo-Cross Crusade Series Cyclo-Cross Crusade Series

Telephone: (503) 246-7338 Telephone: (503) 697-5375

E-mail: <A HREF="mailto:brad-@prodigy.net">brad-@prodigy.net</A>; E-mail: <A HREF="mailto:cbri-@pixelworks.com">cbri-@pixelworks.com</A>

 <A HREF="mailto:bri-@tmioregon.com">bri-@tmioregon.com</A>

 

Skerritt, Mazza Take Charge in Victories at Pier Park in 2nd Round of River City Bicycles 'Cross Crusade Series

The series points battle is starting to take shape after second of eight rounds; National caliber field expected for UCI 1.3 Cannondale/PDX International Cyclo-Cross Classic on October 19 at Portland International Raceway

 

 Portland, Ore., October 14, 2002- Shannon Skerritt (Trek/VW/Bike Gallery) and Rhonda Mazza (Team S&M/Vanilla) each took different routes to cross the finish line first October 13 at Pier Park in North Portland. In the end they sent messages that they are leading contenders for the overall honors in this year's River City Bicycles 'Cross Crusade Series as the day's winners also took over the points leads. 

 A summer-like day greeted the nearly 350 competitors at Pier Park in Portland's St. Johns neighborhood with temperatures hitting the mid-70s under a pristine sky. The popular course was slightly reconfigured so it had a "Jekyll and Hyde" personality. The 3.2-kilometer course opened with a fast, big ring-friendly one-kilometer stretch with only one tight chicane. A double barrier signaled a drastic change featuring three run-ups, screaming descents and short power climbs that criss-crossed a scenic gully and tested the competitors' courage. After emerging from the canopy of towering pines, the track descended to the finish line on turf and gravel roads.

 

'Three Amigos' Drop the Hammer

 From the opening whistle, the contenders in the Category A Men's race were never in doubt. After the first of eight laps, the 'Three Amigos' of Skerritt and the Kona/Kenwood duo of Erik Tonkin and Barry Wicks had a substantial gap. This trio races on the road together during the spring and summer and invariably finds themselves reunited during the cyclo-cross season. 

 At the line, Skerritt snapped up a $100 cash prime and showed he meant business. Trek/VW/Bike Gallery teammates Derl Miller and John Leonard followed, with Mark King (Sunnyside Sports) hot on their tails. Over the next few laps, the leaders continued to put in sub-7 minute laps and were pulling away by more than 10 seconds per lap on the field. King was riding well as he moved ahead of Leonard on the second lap and then worked his way past Miller into fourth on the next circuit. 

 On the fourth lap, the face of the race changed significantly as Wicks succumbed to the blistering pace and gapped off the leading pair. This was 'cross at its Darwinian best.

 As the laps counted down, Tonkin and Skerritt continued to pour on the pace. With a little more than one lap to go, Tonkin threw down the gauntlet and went for broke. As he took the bell at the finish line, he had five seconds on the Skerritt and looked to be cruising in for a hard-earned victory. Skerritt had other ideas.

 "I got on the straight and thought I had to get it on the big ring and bring him back," Skerritt said after the race. He did just that and got in front of Tonkin at the first barrier. Realizing the effort the Trek/VW/Bike Gallery rider had just put in, Tonkin forced his way past on the first run-up to try and crack him. The pair entered the long second run-up neck and neck, but Skerritt surged one more time and never looked back. 

 Emerging from the trees into finish area, the surprised crowd let out a cheer when it realized Skerritt had not only chased down Tonkin, but also dropped him on the bell lap. Skerritt finished with a 10 second gap on Tonkin with Wicks a further 20 seconds behind. A strong Mark King and scrappy Miller rounded out the top five.

Mazza Motors Away

 Team S&M/Vanilla's Mazza is showing her power early this 'cross season to reveal she has ambitions to not only win the 'Cross Crusade again, but assert herself at the upcoming Pacific Northwest rounds of UCI-sanctioned races. Right from the start, Mazza sprinted at full bore to jump ahead of the long snaking line of the Category A Women's field.

 The first time through the finish chute, Mazza was chased by Trek/VW/Bike Gallery's Pennington and the Sunnyside Sports' pair of Karen Kenlen and Suzanne King. As the laps wore one, Pennington continued to follow gamely, but Mazza was in a class of her own and was pulling away by five seconds per lap.

 At the bell lap, Mazza and Pennington were in cruise control while King had gotten ahead of her teammate Kenlen. River City Bicycles' Marjon Marik was chasing in strong fifth place. Mazza crossed the finish line with a wave and looked quite fresh after the race, which is an ominous sign for the competition. Pennington followed her in with King, Kenlen and Marik in the top five.

 

Cannondale/PDX International Cyclo-Cross Classic Hits Portland October 19 

 A national-caliber field is expected for the Cannondale/PDX International Cyclo-Cross Classic on October 19 at Portland International Raceway. The UCI 1.3 race is the first UCI-sanctioned cyclo-cross race in Oregon. The PDX International will be a classic Belgian-style test in the fields surrounding the PIR racetrack featuring wide-open power sections interspersed with off-camber turns and run-ups utilizing the dikes. 

 The field will feature the top talent in the Pacific Northwest facing off with a deep list of talented compatriots. Headliners expected to be on the start line include: U.S. National Cyclo-Cross Champion Todd Wells (Mongoose/Hyundai) with his teammate, and former National Champion, Marc Gullickson in tow. Dale Knapp (Kona-Kenwood) will challenge along with his teammates, and local favorites, Eric Tonkin and Barry Wicks. The reigning Canadian National Champion Peter Wedge should round out a very deep Kona team. The Clif Bar team travels the powerful team of Jackson Stewart (2002 World's team, Silver 2001 US U-23 Nationals), Dave Wyandt and Andy Jacques-Maynes (2000 US World Team Member). 

 Competing in the elite women's race will be the speedy team of Jeanette Nussbaum and Ann Grande (Kona-Kenwood), the Clif Bar duo of Carmen D'Alusio (10th 2002 World's, Silver 2001 US Nationals) and Gina Hall (13th 2002 World's) coming up from California. Local favorites Rhonda Mazza (Team S&M Vanilla) and Alice Pennington (Trek/VW/Bike Gallery) will also be battling to capture a podium spot in a very deep Elite Women's event. 

Learn more about the Cannondale/PDX International Cyclo-Cross Classic at www.crosscrusade.com/PDXraceflyer.htm

 

About the 'Cross Crusade Series

 Now in its 10th season, the River City Bicycles 'Cross Crusade Series is an Oregon-based grassroots effort that has grown into the largest cyclocross series in North America. The 2002 'Cross Crusade has more than $20,002 of prize money up for grabs during the eight races, including two UCI sanctioned events for the first time. 

 The 'Cross Crusade series emphasizes fun and participation which is evidenced by the expansive prize list that ranges from cash and bike-related merchandise to six-packs of local microbrews and bottles of Oregon-grown wines. This level of generosity is made possible by the unparalleled support of the series' title sponsor River City Bicycles and presenting sponsors Cannondale, Saturn/RussAuto, MacTarnahan's and Sellwood Cycle Repair. Learn more about 'Cross Crusade at www.crosscrusade.com. 

 

River City Bicycles 2002 Cross Crusade Round 2- Results

Pier Park, Portland, Oregon

October 13, 2002

Top 20 Category A Men:

1. Shannon Skerritt, Trek/VW/Bike Gallery

2. Erik Tonkin, Kona/Kenwood

3. Barry Wicks, Kona/Kenwood

4. Mark King, Sunnyside Sports 

5. Derl Miller, Trek/VW/Bike Gallery

6. John Leonard, Trek/VW/Bike Gallery

7. Jon Meyers, Trek/VW/Bike Gallery

8. Shane Beers, Vision Cyclery SF

9. Chris Brandt, Collins

10. Mike Schindler, Sunnyside Sports

11. Chad Swanson

12. Brody Anderson, River City 

13. Rich Cramer, Presto Velo

14. John McCaffrey, Presto Velo

15. Zac Houghton, Presto Velo

16. Tim Coffey

17. Alex Rock, Gary Fisher

18. Sean Garvin, GS Camerati

19. Mark Matson, Gentle Lovers

20. Omer Kem, Team Oregon

Top Category A Women:

1. Rhonda Mazza, Team S&M/ Vanilla

2. Alice Pennington, Trek/VW/Bike Gallery

3. Suzanne King, Sunnyside Sports

4. Karen Kenlen Sunnyside

5. Marjon Marik, River City Bicycles

6. Becky Walter, Nike/Logie Velo

7. Emily Babcock, Gentle Lovers

8. Julie Wilson, Disco Velo

9. Tina Reeb

Full Results @ www.crosscrusade.com/pierresults.htm

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