Howe, McCormack double-up on Long Island

Another crisp, clear, sunny day on the east end of Long Island set the backdrop for a sweep of the weekend for Barbara Howe (Velo Bella) and Mark McCormack (Clif Bar) as they won again on Sunday on day 2 of the Whitmore’s Super Cross Cup weekend.

Howe once again led the way for the women, but she did not get the hole shot today as she did yesterday. That belonged to Maureen Bruno-Roy (Independent Fabrications), who held it to the barriers to win the first lap preme. The race played out very similarly to Saturday’s race, as the opening lap saw Howe, Bruno-Roy, and Mackenzie Dickey (Team Bike Alley) form the lead group and run away from everyone else. Howe did eventually make her move around Bruno-Roy, and showed that she is on great early season form. Bruno-Roy did not go away quietly, as she stayed within range for the first half of the race. But Howe’s pace was too much to overcome as she came home comfortable for the win. The podium was unchanged from Saturday, with Howe, Bruno-Roy, and Dickey taking the top 3 spots. The one difference from Saturday’s race was the absence of Anna Milkowski (Gearworks/Spin Arts). She started slow again today, but unlike yesterday could not bridge the gap and wound up finishing 6th. Taking advantage was Pauline Frascone (Independent Fabrications), who continued her battle with Rebecca Wellons (Gearworks/Spin Arts) for a while until dropping Wellons and soloing to a 4th place finish.

Wellons rounded out the top 5.

The men’s race was not as pack-laden as was the case on Saturday, thanks in part to a first lap crash on a very treacherous downhill section that involved Troy Wells (TIAA-CREF) and set the field back a bit. Meanwhile a couple of different riders started out the race strong, with John Hanson (NERAC) getting the hole shot and the defending Mid-Atlantic series champion Ryan Leech (Fort/GPOA) taking the first lap preme. But as was the case on Saturday, McCormack immediately went to the front and rode right away and started his assault on the leadership. But this time he has company at the end of the first lap, as Matt White (FiordiFrutta) was the only one to keep pace with McCormack. Meanwhile the front pack had formed with some of the players from yesterday, including Jesse Anthony (Clif Bar), Matt Shriver (Kona/Easton/CCA), and Jonathan Hamblen (FiordiFrutta). Also in the mix were Tyler Johnson (Kona/Easton), Josh Snead (Rock Lobster), and the aforementioned Leach. The pack didn’t stay together long, as riders were popping off the back early and often, including Snead and Anthony, and launching off the front, as Shriver took off after a dropped White. Shriver seemed to have the best legs all weekend, as he caught and blew by White on lap 6 like he was standing still and never looked back after that to sew up 2nd on the day. To White’s credit, he kept himself in check and was able to maintain the 3rd place spot for the rest of the race. Meanwhile, a disintegrated pack was not where Hamblen wanted to be, so he just took off and rode away with 4th spot unchallenged. And the mid-Atlantic fans were in rejoice as their king of the hill Leach was able to maintain a 5th place spot for one of his best results ever. The only lasting race of the day was a cat and mouse affair by Johnson and Jeremy Powers (Jelly Belly/Pool Gel).

It took the last lap to sort it out, with Johnson getting the nod over Powers for 6th on the day.

Whitmore’s Super Cross Cup Day 2 Elite Results

Category: Elite Men 33 starters

Place Time Bib # Rider Team

1 0:56:53 35 Mark MCCORMACK Clif Bar

2 0:57:20 42 Matt SHRIVER Kona Easton/CCA

3 0:57:50 37 Matt WHITE FiordiFrutta Elite Cycling Team

4 0:58:08 58 Jonathan Hamblen FiordiFrutta Elite Cycling Team

5 0:58:42 38 Ryan LEECH Fort/GPOA !

6 0:59:01 68 Tyler Johnson CCA/Easton/Kona

7 0:59:06 65 Jeremy Powers Jelly Belly/Pool Gel

8 0:59:08 45 Matt KRAUS Alan Factory Team

9 0:59:52 62 Michael Cody FiordiFrutta Elite Cycling Team

10 0:59:54 39 Joshua SNEAD Rock Lobster

11 1:00:31 56 Roger Aspholm Westwood Velo

12 1:00:49 53 Noah TAYLOR RGM Watches- RICHARD SACHS – HUDSON VALLEY VELODROME

13 1:00:56 40 Jacob STECHMANN Alan Factory Team

14 1:01:20 41 Justin SPINELLI CYBC/RICHARD SACHS

15 1:01:34 59 Troy Wells TIAA/CREF/Clif Bar

16 1:01:38 61 Jonathan Bruno Independent Fabrications

17 1:01:44 43 Jonny BOLD Corner Cycle

18 1:02:03 46 Robert CAMPOS HVC/Jessies

19 -1 lap 36 Jesse ANTHONY Clif Bar

20 -1 lap 52 Weston SCHEMPF FORT-GPOA!

21 -1 lap 64 Aaron Molloy 1K2GO/S&W SPORTS CYCLING TEAM

22 -1 lap 63 Brad Sheehan 1K2GO/S&W SPORTS CYCLING TEAM

23 -1 lap 66 Todd CASSAN Rocinante

24 -1 lap 54 Matt WILSON NAV/Pedros

25 -1 lap 47 Jeffrey CRADDOCK CCB/Volkswagon

26 -1 lap 49 Brian HAYES RGM Watches- RICHARD SACHS – HUDSON VALLEY VELODROME

27 -1 lap 20 Myles ROMANOW Hampton Velo /Jessie’s

28 -1 lap 67 Logan Hodson Independent Fabrications

29 -1 lap 57 Jonathan Hansen Richmond Cyclisme

30 -1 lap 60 Alistair Sponsel Colavita Racing

Category: Elite Women 12 starters

Place Time Bib # Rider Team

1 39:24 299 Barbara HOWE Velo Bella

2 39:50 289 Maureen Bruno-Roy Indenpent Fabrications

3 41:11 297 Mackenzie DICKEY Team Bicycle Alley

4 41:26 291 Pauline Frascone Indenpent Fabrications

5 42:07 295 Rebecca WELLONS Gearworks/Spin Arts Cycling

6 43:11 298 Anna MILKOWSKI TEAm Lipton

7 44:22 287 Alicia Hamblen Richard Sachs/CYBC

8 46:07 290 Kami Tremblay Gearworks/Spin Arts Cycling

9 46:16 293 Susan MACLEAN Gear Works/Spin Arts Cycling Team

10 46:46 294 Lisa MOST Wissahickon

11 -1 lap 292 Martha WILSON Gear Works/Spin Arts Cycling Team