Brothers battle to finish of FIAC National Cyclocross Championships
By KAREN KEFAUVER
Sentinel Correspondent
WATSONVILLE — As identical twins, Andy and Ben Jacques-Maynes are accustomed to sibling rivalry. The one-upmanship carries over to the arena of bicycle racing, where both garnered national recognition. The brothers’ keen sense of competition was on display Sunday at the 2005 Federation of Independent Associations of Cycling (FIAC) National Cyclocross Championships, held at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville.
The men’s 60-minute elite race capped a day of racing that began at 9 a.m. and attracted an estimated 200 athletes. Men, women and juniors (under age 18) competed in events ranging from the beginner to the elite levels of competition.
Soon after the 1 p.m. start of the elite men’s race, the Jacques-Maynes brothers rapidly pulled ahead of the dozens of other professional-caliber racers to capture the lead. As they left much of their competition behind, it was as though the brothers share a genetic talent for the sport of cyclocross, in which they have been a fixture for years both in Northern California and in races around the country.
The pair battled for dominance on the looping course, which encircled the fairgrounds. Winding through flat bumpy fields, leaning into hairpin turns, and jumping on and off their bikes to leap over barriers and to run up hills, the men’s field was fast and furious under looming rain clouds.
Ben Jacques-Maynes eventually shook his brother off his tail, creating a 20-second gap, which he maintained up to the finish line. While Ben Jacques-Maynes of San Jose finished the race first, it was his brother, Andy Jacques-Maynes, of Capitola who was named the Men’s 2005 FIAC National Cyclocross Champion. (Only elite racers who chose to purchase an ABR racing license were eligible to win the championship. Andy Jacques-Maynes bought one; his brother didn’t).
"That was by far the tightest and toughest race of the year," said Ben Jacques-Maynes, who rides for the Kodak Gallery Easy Share/Sierra Nevada Team.
His brother agreed.
"He went straight for the throat," said Andy Jacques-Maynes, a member of the California Giant/Specialized Team.
Both 27-year-olds had it tough: Andy Jacques-Maynes logged more than 230 miles on his bike in the week prior to the race while his brother was losing sleep as a new dad.
"One of us had to crack first," said Ben Jacques-Maynes with a grin.
Third place men’s elite finisher Justin Robinson of Bonny Doon was also sleep-deprived after the arrival of his new daughter.
"I am just happy to be out here," said Robinson, who received massive applause for bicycling up a brutally steep hill with about a 25 percent grade, which nearly every other racer chose to run up instead of ride.
In the women’s elite race, Sarah Kerlin of Santa Cruz, finished first and was also named the 2005 FIAC Women’s National Cyclocross Champion. Kerlin, who races for Velo Bella, credited her road racing skills for her victory.
"It came down to a matter of tactics," said Kerlin, who chose the right time to surge ahead of her closest competitors.
Kerlin has been traveling the country to compete in cyclocross but has found that racing locally has really honed her skills.
"It helps to be out here suffering," she said, adding that the national competition will be arriving in Watsonville at the Santa Cruz Fairgrounds on Saturday, November 19, for a Grand Prix race.
Following Kerlin in the elite women’s field were Lauren Constantini in second place and Stella Carey of Soquel, in third.
Dozens of other Santa Cruz racers enjoyed top three finishes, winning medals and prizes in their categories, including Janel Lodge of Santa Cruz, who won the Women’s B race and Phil Sims of Santa Cruz, who won the singlespeed race. Larry Hibbard won his Masters A race despite a nagging cold.
"I would race on my deathbed," said Hibbard, 47, of Aptos, who has been racing cyclo-cross since 1986,
Race Director David Gill was pleased with the turnout.
"It all came together," Gill said. "Our volunteers from the UCSC Cycling Team and from Team Santa Cruz really came through."
For full race results, visit . The FIAC National Cyclo-cross Championships are unrelated to the U.S. National Cyclocross Championships which will be held Dec. 9-11 in Providence, R.I.
Sentinel Correspondent
WATSONVILLE — As identical twins, Andy and Ben Jacques-Maynes are accustomed to sibling rivalry. The one-upmanship carries over to the arena of bicycle racing, where both garnered national recognition. The brothers’ keen sense of competition was on display Sunday at the 2005 Federation of Independent Associations of Cycling (FIAC) National Cyclocross Championships, held at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville.
The men’s 60-minute elite race capped a day of racing that began at 9 a.m. and attracted an estimated 200 athletes. Men, women and juniors (under age 18) competed in events ranging from the beginner to the elite levels of competition.
Soon after the 1 p.m. start of the elite men’s race, the Jacques-Maynes brothers rapidly pulled ahead of the dozens of other professional-caliber racers to capture the lead. As they left much of their competition behind, it was as though the brothers share a genetic talent for the sport of cyclocross, in which they have been a fixture for years both in Northern California and in races around the country.
The pair battled for dominance on the looping course, which encircled the fairgrounds. Winding through flat bumpy fields, leaning into hairpin turns, and jumping on and off their bikes to leap over barriers and to run up hills, the men’s field was fast and furious under looming rain clouds.
Ben Jacques-Maynes eventually shook his brother off his tail, creating a 20-second gap, which he maintained up to the finish line. While Ben Jacques-Maynes of San Jose finished the race first, it was his brother, Andy Jacques-Maynes, of Capitola who was named the Men’s 2005 FIAC National Cyclocross Champion. (Only elite racers who chose to purchase an ABR racing license were eligible to win the championship. Andy Jacques-Maynes bought one; his brother didn’t).
"That was by far the tightest and toughest race of the year," said Ben Jacques-Maynes, who rides for the Kodak Gallery Easy Share/Sierra Nevada Team.
His brother agreed.
"He went straight for the throat," said Andy Jacques-Maynes, a member of the California Giant/Specialized Team.
Both 27-year-olds had it tough: Andy Jacques-Maynes logged more than 230 miles on his bike in the week prior to the race while his brother was losing sleep as a new dad.
"One of us had to crack first," said Ben Jacques-Maynes with a grin.
Third place men’s elite finisher Justin Robinson of Bonny Doon was also sleep-deprived after the arrival of his new daughter.
"I am just happy to be out here," said Robinson, who received massive applause for bicycling up a brutally steep hill with about a 25 percent grade, which nearly every other racer chose to run up instead of ride.
In the women’s elite race, Sarah Kerlin of Santa Cruz, finished first and was also named the 2005 FIAC Women’s National Cyclocross Champion. Kerlin, who races for Velo Bella, credited her road racing skills for her victory.
"It came down to a matter of tactics," said Kerlin, who chose the right time to surge ahead of her closest competitors.
Kerlin has been traveling the country to compete in cyclocross but has found that racing locally has really honed her skills.
"It helps to be out here suffering," she said, adding that the national competition will be arriving in Watsonville at the Santa Cruz Fairgrounds on Saturday, November 19, for a Grand Prix race.
Following Kerlin in the elite women’s field were Lauren Constantini in second place and Stella Carey of Soquel, in third.
Dozens of other Santa Cruz racers enjoyed top three finishes, winning medals and prizes in their categories, including Janel Lodge of Santa Cruz, who won the Women’s B race and Phil Sims of Santa Cruz, who won the singlespeed race. Larry Hibbard won his Masters A race despite a nagging cold.
"I would race on my deathbed," said Hibbard, 47, of Aptos, who has been racing cyclo-cross since 1986,
Race Director David Gill was pleased with the turnout.
"It all came together," Gill said. "Our volunteers from the UCSC Cycling Team and from Team Santa Cruz really came through."
For full race results, visit . The FIAC National Cyclo-cross Championships are unrelated to the U.S. National Cyclocross Championships which will be held Dec. 9-11 in Providence, R.I.
posted by Ryan Amirault at Thursday, November 10, 2005
