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Trebon takes USGP final; Tim Johnson and Katarina Nash win the series
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Thankfully, the apocalypse was called off on Sunday as heavy rains returned to Portland and along with it some serious slop. What was Saturday an obvious motocross course transformed quickly into deep, goopy swamp.
The junior men saw the worst of the weather with heavy rain and cooler temperatures. As soon as the elite women were called up, the rain machine paused and racers had to contend with the leftovers.
Katarina Nash (Luna) scored back to back wins and took the USGP series overall.
Ryan Trebon (Kona) put on a cyclocross clinic with powerful mud riding to take the victory nearly a minute ahead of Todd Wells (GT). Tim Johnson (Cyclocrossworld.com-Cannondale) rounded out the podium and clinched the series win.
Nash a natural
Almost a carbon copy of Saturday's womens race start, an elite group formed just after the first run up. Wendy Simms (Kona) and Sue Butler (Monavie-Cannondale) grabbed the hole shot followed closely by teammates Nash and Georgia Gould, and Rachel Lloyd (California Giant Berry).
Less than half a lap later, Lloyd was dangling and Nash applied the pressure. When the leaders passed through the finish area the first time, the top four were all but secured. Nash had opened a gap on Gould while Simms and Butler were right behind.
Nash and Gould created substantial gaps on the rest with Nash holding strong 10 seconds over Gould.
"Today was much more challenging and I focused on picking good lines and trying to pin it
all day," commented Nash. "It was best to be up front to ride your own race."
With two laps remaining, Nash enjoyed a 15-second lead and was over a minute ahead of fourth place. Butler edged closer to Gould while Lloyd found her way to Simms. In the final pass through the swamp, Lloyd passed and dropped Simms and Nash maintained her lead over Gould, who was clearly digging very deep to close the gap.
Butler claimed the SRAM most aggressive rider award in addition to her first podium appearance. "I Love racing at home and wanted to get on the podium all season," said Butler. "Today was my day."
Nash took the series jersey from Gould after a virtual tie going into the day.
"We raced each other all day, I was chasing as hard as I could," Gould said. "Today was less tactical and more about speed and a little luck. The less you could let little mistakes bother you, the
better."
Trebon teaches a lesson
In the men's, Johnson and teammate Jeremy Powers, Trebon, Todd Wells (GT) and Troy Wells (Clif Bar) inched away from the field during the first spin through the chicane.
Dangling closely was U23 racer Nicholas Wayhall then Andy Jacques-Maynes. Before exiting the pit onto the tarmac, Trebon, Todd Wells, Johnson and Powers developed a rapidly growing lead.
During the middle laps, Trebon was obviously on form, leading each lap and creating a big gap on the straight away. "We were just riding around in the mud," Trebon said wryly. "I was cold the first few laps. It took me a while to warm up." When he did warm up there was no looking back.
He put in a big attack in the woods dropping Wells and hurting Johnson. Wells tried to follow but couldn't get the wheel.
With three laps to go, Trebon had 20 seconds on Wells and a further five on Johnson. Powers was able to lose Troy Wells when he washed out spectacularly in a corner.
Coming into the final stretch of the two mile course all alone, Trebon crossed the finish to huge applause. His win moved him into second overall in the USGP series. Wells rolled in a few seconds
ahead of Johnson.
Looking to nationals
"I need to have the race of my season next week if I want to defend at Nationals," Johnson admitted. "We have a lot of fighting on our hands."
Todd Wells was disappointed to lose the USGP lead he carried into the weekend. "I was hopping to keep the jersey coming into today but I had a bad day yesterday," he said. "Nationals is still the big
goal."
Race Notes
Junior Zack McDonald won his fourth consecutive USGP event followed by Gavin Mannion in an exciting battle. Erick Emsky was third. McDonald claimed the series overall.
Mannion and McDonald stuck together for nearly all the race until Mannion had a flat front tire and needed a bike change. McDonald soloed to the win. This race and USGP series will help determine who goes to the World Championships in January.
Related
Day 2 Highlights Video |
Day 1 Video 
Day 2 gallery by Ben Ross- Johnson, Nash win Day 1 in Portland | Day 1 gallery
- NEW: Final USGP series standings: Women, Men, U23 Men, 35+ Men, Junior 17-18 Men
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