Wells brothers win nationals: Todd, Troy win cyclo-cross titles, FLC wins team championship
By: Marc Witkes, Durango Herald Online :: If you think that biking is only an activity for the sunny, warm days of summer, think again. Despite nasty weather conditions that included ice, slush, snow and mud, Durango cyclists continued their frequent podium visits at the Liberty Mutual U.S. National Cyclo-cross Championships at Roger Williams Park in Providence, R.I. The three-day weekend events, Dec. 9-11, included 1,400 competitors.
The Wells' brothers, Todd and Troy, each took home national championships, while Fort Lewis College won the collegiate championship. Todd races for GT Hyundai while Troy, a student at Fort Lewis College, races for TIAA-CREF/Clif Bar.
Cyclo-cross, a mix of road and mountain biking, running and leaping over various obstacles with the bike hoisted atop a shoulder, including hay bales and other barriers, has been popular in Europe for several years, but is finally catching on in the United States.
During the cyclo-cross season, which begins in the fall, when road and mountain biking is finishing up, older brother, Todd, 30, had been focusing all of his energies on the national championship.
"It's the only race everyone cares about," explained Wells, as he prepared for the weekend's championship. "The weather is supposed to be snowy, and my brother and I both seem to do well in poor conditions."
Despite crashing and breaking his handlebars early in the men's pro race on Saturday, Todd held on for a 14-second margin of victory over Ryan Trebon.
"Fortunately, you are able to switch bikes in cyclo-cross, and I picked up a new bike on the next lap," Todd said.
"It's satisfying to accomplish my goal."
Todd was on his way to Mexico for a little rest and relaxation after another long, but successful, season of professional cycling.
Earlier in the day, Todd watched Troy dust (or rather, mud) the competition in the under-23 national championship.
"It was amazing to see my brother win," Todd said.
Troy, 21, pushed hard at the start of the race and then backed off a little after he opened a little gap during the second and third laps.
"The course was covered with ice and snow and I wanted to be conservative," Troy said. "There were also four run-ups (dismounting and running with the bike) during each lap, and I don't like those and would rather just stay on the bike."
With a busy weekend and still in transit back to Durango on Monday, Troy wasn't able to get much studying done for his final exams next week.
"After finals, I'm leaving on Dec. 21 to race in Europe for one and a half months," Troy said. "I'm excited to race, and last year I only got to stay there for two weeks."
The defending national collegiate champion, Fort Lewis was supposed to race on Friday but was forced to wait another day to claim its title again.
"It snowed all morning on Friday, it started raining, and there was a windstorm blowing three inches of snow sideways," said team manager Dave Hagen.
When conditions settled down on Saturday, the Skyhawks won their third consecutive national championship.
Matt Shriver finished second overall in the men's collegiate race.
"Cyclo-cross is usually not canceled but when I went out to do a few laps on Friday, I couldn't feel my fingers or toes, despite wearing booties, hat and lobster gloves," Shriver said. "I am not stoked for a race to be canceled, but the weather was so bad that even the insane racers of New England didn't want to be out there."
Hagen was thrilled with his team's performance.
"The whole team really stepped it up out here - everyone from our first rider down to our last," he said.
Grant Berry, sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, finished 37th in the Elite Men's division while teammate Ryan Barthel finished 41st.
Shriver, racing for Kona/Easton, added a 47th-place finish in that event.
Other men's finishers in the collegiate races included Adam Snyder (7), Eric Ransom (11), Jon Belcher (21) and Mike Stevens (26).
In the women's collegiate race, Tina Dominic (3), Molly Hummel (8), Onawa Pelham (9) and Chantel Shoemaker (15) all had strong showings.
In the men's master race, Steve Lamont of the Durango Wheel Club finished 12th.
Sunday's races included the low-key Liberty Cup, but, both Todd Wells (1) and Shriver (16) decided to push the pace.
For complete race results, see cyclocrossnationals.com.
The Wells' brothers, Todd and Troy, each took home national championships, while Fort Lewis College won the collegiate championship. Todd races for GT Hyundai while Troy, a student at Fort Lewis College, races for TIAA-CREF/Clif Bar.
Cyclo-cross, a mix of road and mountain biking, running and leaping over various obstacles with the bike hoisted atop a shoulder, including hay bales and other barriers, has been popular in Europe for several years, but is finally catching on in the United States.
During the cyclo-cross season, which begins in the fall, when road and mountain biking is finishing up, older brother, Todd, 30, had been focusing all of his energies on the national championship.
"It's the only race everyone cares about," explained Wells, as he prepared for the weekend's championship. "The weather is supposed to be snowy, and my brother and I both seem to do well in poor conditions."
Despite crashing and breaking his handlebars early in the men's pro race on Saturday, Todd held on for a 14-second margin of victory over Ryan Trebon.
"Fortunately, you are able to switch bikes in cyclo-cross, and I picked up a new bike on the next lap," Todd said.
"It's satisfying to accomplish my goal."
Todd was on his way to Mexico for a little rest and relaxation after another long, but successful, season of professional cycling.
Earlier in the day, Todd watched Troy dust (or rather, mud) the competition in the under-23 national championship.
"It was amazing to see my brother win," Todd said.
Troy, 21, pushed hard at the start of the race and then backed off a little after he opened a little gap during the second and third laps.
"The course was covered with ice and snow and I wanted to be conservative," Troy said. "There were also four run-ups (dismounting and running with the bike) during each lap, and I don't like those and would rather just stay on the bike."
With a busy weekend and still in transit back to Durango on Monday, Troy wasn't able to get much studying done for his final exams next week.
"After finals, I'm leaving on Dec. 21 to race in Europe for one and a half months," Troy said. "I'm excited to race, and last year I only got to stay there for two weeks."
The defending national collegiate champion, Fort Lewis was supposed to race on Friday but was forced to wait another day to claim its title again.
"It snowed all morning on Friday, it started raining, and there was a windstorm blowing three inches of snow sideways," said team manager Dave Hagen.
When conditions settled down on Saturday, the Skyhawks won their third consecutive national championship.
Matt Shriver finished second overall in the men's collegiate race.
"Cyclo-cross is usually not canceled but when I went out to do a few laps on Friday, I couldn't feel my fingers or toes, despite wearing booties, hat and lobster gloves," Shriver said. "I am not stoked for a race to be canceled, but the weather was so bad that even the insane racers of New England didn't want to be out there."
Hagen was thrilled with his team's performance.
"The whole team really stepped it up out here - everyone from our first rider down to our last," he said.
Grant Berry, sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, finished 37th in the Elite Men's division while teammate Ryan Barthel finished 41st.
Shriver, racing for Kona/Easton, added a 47th-place finish in that event.
Other men's finishers in the collegiate races included Adam Snyder (7), Eric Ransom (11), Jon Belcher (21) and Mike Stevens (26).
In the women's collegiate race, Tina Dominic (3), Molly Hummel (8), Onawa Pelham (9) and Chantel Shoemaker (15) all had strong showings.
In the men's master race, Steve Lamont of the Durango Wheel Club finished 12th.
Sunday's races included the low-key Liberty Cup, but, both Todd Wells (1) and Shriver (16) decided to push the pace.
For complete race results, see cyclocrossnationals.com.
posted by Ryan Amirault at Thursday, December 15, 2005
