Maxxis’ sponsored riders won both Elite Men’s races at the Charm City Cross. Kerry Werner, Jr. of Kona Maxxis Shimano took the victory on Day 1, and James Driscoll won Day 2, with Werner’s teammate Rebecca Fahringer taking third place in Day 2’s Elite Women’s race. Some of the best riders in US cyclocross converged on Baltimore for the UCI-sanctioned event, held October 6-7.
Werner led from the start through the first lap and was part of the front group for much of the race, barreling through a muddy course. “Honestly, I thought I could get away from these guys a little quicker. I thought pushing the pace on some of these corners would have shattered the field a little sooner. I reckon it did. There were five of us that basically stayed away,” he told Cyclocross Magazine. “It was a bit of a chess match. Van den Ham was riding pretty strong. When you see Jamey Driscoll at the front of the race, towards the end, you always have to check yourself…I got three seconds and just ran with it. It was freaking tight. I was not ever relaxed this entire race. It was good. I was happy to win the C1 that way. Man, I am ecstatic. So pulling it off today was huge.” Driscoll also landed on the podium on Day 1, taking third place.
Day 2 featured less mud but higher temperatures. Driscoll, who had not been part of the front group earlier, began to move forward with three laps left in the race. On the next-to-last lap, he attacked and moved into second place. On the final lap, he attacked Werner, gaining the lead one minute before crossing the finish line and going on to win by 11 seconds.
“Obviously, I’m very, very excited to take home the victory today,” Driscoll told Cyclocross Magazine. “I was just pleasantly surprised to see that I was close enough to Kerry and Curtis, who were leading all day. When I was actually able to make contact, I thought it was that mental edge going into the last lap or two. I know that form doesn’t last forever. But I think I can maintain this. Usually when I’ve had good form, I’ve kept it pretty effectively. I am looking forward to a well-planned-out schedule with proper rest. I have Gloucester (Oct. 13-14) and excited to take the form back to New England.”
In fourth place for much of the Elite Women’s race, Fahringer quickened her pace in response to seeing Georgia Gould closing in on her. Fahringer then took third after passing another rider on the 50-foot, 29-step staircase that presented a challenge for every rider during the weekend. She ultimately finished ahead of the fourth-place rider by 17 seconds.
Maxxis congratulates Kerry Werner, Jr. and James Driscoll on their victories and thanks Rebecca Fahringer and all of its riders for their fine performances.
?Bruce Buckley
