Geoff Kabush pushes the pace at CrossVegas
Mical Dyck finishes strong in women's race.
Geoff Kabush (Scott-3 Rox Racing) secured a respectable fifth place in a crash-marred finale at CrossVegas held on Wednesday in Las Vegas. U.S. cyclocross champion Jeremy Powers won the title ahead of late-race breakaway companions Tim Johnson (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) and Ben Berden (Raleigh-Clement).
“It was a fun night being part of a great show at CrossVegas,” Kabush told Canadian Cycling Magazine. “Usually I have pretty crap legs and tail gun the lead group but I had some fight and was able to animate the race quite a bit.”
Some of the top cyclocross racers in the world assembled in their starting positions at the UCI Category 1 opener. The first few laps were active but it was Berden and Kabush who initiated the successful mid-race breakaway.
“It was my first ride on my new Scott Addict CX,” Kabush said. “I felt really comfortable riding the four stepped sections and was able to use my skill to my advantage. I was aggressive, made the winning selection of five, and was feeling great sitting third wheel with two and a half laps to go.”
Powers, Johnson, Rob Peeters (Telenet-Fidea) dragged themselves up to Kabush and Berden, forming what looked to be the winning five-man breakaway. In the closing laps, however, Peeters crashed and Kabush hit him, causing upset and separations among the front group.
“Unfortunately the Fidea rider, Peeters I think, laid his bike down in front of me on a high-speed section,” Kabush said. “I had nowhere to go, came to a complete stop and my podium chances disappeared.”
Powers, Johnson and Berden continued to lead the race and finished in that order, several seconds apart from one another. Kabush pushed on and finished fifth, caught at the line by chaser Lars van der Haar (Rabobank), who placed fourth.
“I fought hard to hold things together and was happy to out-sprint Trebon for fifth — my best CrossVegas result,” Kabush said. “I definitely enjoyed being part of the action and it was a great way to start my cyclocross season.”
Canadian Aaron Schooler (H&R Block) finished the race in 33rd, and fellow countryman Mark McConnell (Synergy Racing) came in later at 43rd.
In the women’s race, Sanne van Paassen (Rabobank) took the top spot on the podium ahead of Lea Davison (Specialized) and Alison Powers (Now and Novartis for MS). Canada’s Mical Dyck (Stan’s NoTubes) finished 15th and Jean Ann Berkenpas (Secret Cycles) 25th.
