Repeat champions rule final day of 2013 Elite Mass Start Track Nationals
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Print Rock Hill, S.C. (Aug. 24, 2013) -- Familiar faces stood atop the podium as the 2013 USA Cycling Elite Mass Start Track National Championships came to a conclusion on Saturday before another large crowd at the Giordana Velodrome in Rock Hill, S.C.
Jackie Simes (Alburtis, Pa./Pure Energy Racing) and Tela Crane (Sammamish, Wash./Broadmark Capital) both won their third Stars-and-Stripes jerseys of the week, while Cari Higgins (Boulder, Colo./ExergyTWENTY16), Matthew Baranoski (Perkasie, Pa./Pure Energy Racing) and Bobby Lea (Mertztown, Pa./Pure Energy Racing) also added to their collection of 2013 titles.
Simes teamed with two-time Olympian Lea to successfully defend their 2012 title in the men's Madison. The duo turned in a dominating performance in the evening's final event and were never seriously threatened. For Lea, it was also his third national title of 2013, having won the individual pursuit and international omnium two weeks ago at the Elite Timed Track National Championships in Carson, Calif.
"A 50k race with only seven teams, we didn't really know what to expect, but we figured it was our race to lose," said Lea. "We started banking points and seeing if the opportunity presented itself to lap the field. That opportunity came up with around 30 laps to go and from there we were able to take the lap and just play defense for the rest of the race."
"It's been a great nationals for both of us here," Simes said. "We came in riding really strong and obviously this is the best outcome we could have hoped for. It's great to have played out the way it did."
Winning the battle for the silver medal was the team of Jacob Duehring (Irvine, Calif./Horizon Organic-Panache Elite Cycling) and Zachary Kovalcik (Portland, Ore./Sizzle Pie Cycling p/b Veloforma), while Andrew Crater (Asheville, N.C./Finish Strong Elite Cycling Team) and Liam Donoghue (Boulder, Colo./Natural Grocers Cycling Team) earned the bronze medal.
Crane stood on the top step of the podium after both of tonight's women's events. She won the keirin event to improve on her bronze medal from 2012, and then teamed with Higgins to blow away the field in the Madison as the duo won every sprint during the race. For Higgins it was her second straight Madison title and third Stars-and-Stripes jersey of the past three weeks.
"I was pretty happy that Cari was my teammate because I was tired going into it, finishing the keirin and going straight into that," Crane said of winning the Madison with Higgins. "She really helped with a lot of extra pulls through the race."
"But that was our strategy," added Higgins. "We know that Tela can out-sprint anybody out here. If I could just keep up the endurance part of our partnership, we would be fine.
Placing second in the women's keirin was Jennifer Valente (San Diego, Calif./ExergyTWENTY16) while Dana Feiss (Telford, Pa./Home Depot Center Team) won the bronze medal.
In the women's Madison, the team of Colleen Hayduk (Kutztown, Pa./Fearless Femme p/b Pure Energy Cycling-Vie 13) and Ruth Winder (Lafayette, Calif./Vanderkitten) took the silver medal ahead of the squad composed of Shelby Reynolds (Cypress, Calif./Helen's Racing) and Kate Wilson (Los Angeles, Calif./Home Depot Center Team).
Baranoski won the men's sprint to claim his fourth national title of 2013 and second gold medal in Rock Hill. He won both of his finals matchups against David Espinoza (Wellington, Fla.).
"I'm really happy with how I performed here and back in L.A. two weeks ago," said Baranoski. "The split nationals were something a little different for us, so being able to perform for that long I'm just happy I was able to pull it off. The battle (with Espinoza) was great. David is a great tactician. I race him all the time at T-Town, so he's definitely a rider I know a lot about. Both rides were super close. The last ride I was having some difficulty but was still able to pull it off. It's great to have a big crowd here at Rock Hill and they put together a great event."
Danny Robertson (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Momentum Coaching Group p/b Atomic) won the bronze medal matchup with Jonathan Fraley (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) but needed the full three races to do so.
2013 USA Cycling Elite Mass Start Track Championships
Giordana Velodrome – Rock Hill, S.C.
August 22-24, 2013
RESULTS | PHOTOS
Women's Keirin
1. Tela Crane (Sammamish, Wash./Broadmark Capital)
2. Jennifer Valente (San Diego, Calif./ExergyTWENTY16)
3. Dana Feiss (Telford, Pa/Home Depot Center Team)
Men's Sprint
1. Matthew Baranoski (Perkasie, Pa./Pure Energy Racing)
2. David Espinoza (Wellington, Fla.)
3. Danny Robertson (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Momentum Coaching Group p/b Atomic)
Women's Madison
1. JL VELO/EXERGYTWENTY16: Tela Crane (Sammamish, Wash.) and Cari Higgins (Boulder, Colo.) 28
2. VIE13: Colleen Hayduk (Kutztown, Pa.) and Ruth Winder (Lafayette, Calif.) 15
3. CONNIE CYCLING FOUNDATION: Shelby Reynolds (Cypress, Calif.) and Kate Wilson (Los Angeles, Calif.) 15
Men's Madison
1. PURE ENERGY RACING: Bobby Lea (Mertztown, Pa.) and Jackie Simes (Alburtis, Pa.) 38
2. SIZZLE PIE/FELT: Jacob Duehring (Irvine, Calif.) and Zachary Kovalcik (Portland, Ore.) 26
3. FINISH-STRONG.ORG: Andrew Crater (Asheville, N.C.) and Liam Donoghue (Boulder, Colo.) 17
Jackie Simes (Alburtis, Pa./Pure Energy Racing) and Tela Crane (Sammamish, Wash./Broadmark Capital) both won their third Stars-and-Stripes jerseys of the week, while Cari Higgins (Boulder, Colo./ExergyTWENTY16), Matthew Baranoski (Perkasie, Pa./Pure Energy Racing) and Bobby Lea (Mertztown, Pa./Pure Energy Racing) also added to their collection of 2013 titles.
Simes teamed with two-time Olympian Lea to successfully defend their 2012 title in the men's Madison. The duo turned in a dominating performance in the evening's final event and were never seriously threatened. For Lea, it was also his third national title of 2013, having won the individual pursuit and international omnium two weeks ago at the Elite Timed Track National Championships in Carson, Calif.
"A 50k race with only seven teams, we didn't really know what to expect, but we figured it was our race to lose," said Lea. "We started banking points and seeing if the opportunity presented itself to lap the field. That opportunity came up with around 30 laps to go and from there we were able to take the lap and just play defense for the rest of the race."
"It's been a great nationals for both of us here," Simes said. "We came in riding really strong and obviously this is the best outcome we could have hoped for. It's great to have played out the way it did."
Winning the battle for the silver medal was the team of Jacob Duehring (Irvine, Calif./Horizon Organic-Panache Elite Cycling) and Zachary Kovalcik (Portland, Ore./Sizzle Pie Cycling p/b Veloforma), while Andrew Crater (Asheville, N.C./Finish Strong Elite Cycling Team) and Liam Donoghue (Boulder, Colo./Natural Grocers Cycling Team) earned the bronze medal.
Tela Crane (l) and Cari Higgins are all smiles after getting their Stars-and-Stripes jerseys. (photo by Weldon Weaver)
"I was pretty happy that Cari was my teammate because I was tired going into it, finishing the keirin and going straight into that," Crane said of winning the Madison with Higgins. "She really helped with a lot of extra pulls through the race."
"But that was our strategy," added Higgins. "We know that Tela can out-sprint anybody out here. If I could just keep up the endurance part of our partnership, we would be fine.
Placing second in the women's keirin was Jennifer Valente (San Diego, Calif./ExergyTWENTY16) while Dana Feiss (Telford, Pa./Home Depot Center Team) won the bronze medal.
In the women's Madison, the team of Colleen Hayduk (Kutztown, Pa./Fearless Femme p/b Pure Energy Cycling-Vie 13) and Ruth Winder (Lafayette, Calif./Vanderkitten) took the silver medal ahead of the squad composed of Shelby Reynolds (Cypress, Calif./Helen's Racing) and Kate Wilson (Los Angeles, Calif./Home Depot Center Team).
Baranoski won the men's sprint to claim his fourth national title of 2013 and second gold medal in Rock Hill. He won both of his finals matchups against David Espinoza (Wellington, Fla.).
"I'm really happy with how I performed here and back in L.A. two weeks ago," said Baranoski. "The split nationals were something a little different for us, so being able to perform for that long I'm just happy I was able to pull it off. The battle (with Espinoza) was great. David is a great tactician. I race him all the time at T-Town, so he's definitely a rider I know a lot about. Both rides were super close. The last ride I was having some difficulty but was still able to pull it off. It's great to have a big crowd here at Rock Hill and they put together a great event."
Danny Robertson (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Momentum Coaching Group p/b Atomic) won the bronze medal matchup with Jonathan Fraley (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) but needed the full three races to do so.
2013 USA Cycling Elite Mass Start Track Championships
Giordana Velodrome – Rock Hill, S.C.
August 22-24, 2013
RESULTS | PHOTOS
Women's Keirin
1. Tela Crane (Sammamish, Wash./Broadmark Capital)
2. Jennifer Valente (San Diego, Calif./ExergyTWENTY16)
3. Dana Feiss (Telford, Pa/Home Depot Center Team)
Men's Sprint
1. Matthew Baranoski (Perkasie, Pa./Pure Energy Racing)
2. David Espinoza (Wellington, Fla.)
3. Danny Robertson (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Momentum Coaching Group p/b Atomic)
Women's Madison
1. JL VELO/EXERGYTWENTY16: Tela Crane (Sammamish, Wash.) and Cari Higgins (Boulder, Colo.) 28
2. VIE13: Colleen Hayduk (Kutztown, Pa.) and Ruth Winder (Lafayette, Calif.) 15
3. CONNIE CYCLING FOUNDATION: Shelby Reynolds (Cypress, Calif.) and Kate Wilson (Los Angeles, Calif.) 15
Men's Madison
1. PURE ENERGY RACING: Bobby Lea (Mertztown, Pa.) and Jackie Simes (Alburtis, Pa.) 38
2. SIZZLE PIE/FELT: Jacob Duehring (Irvine, Calif.) and Zachary Kovalcik (Portland, Ore.) 26
3. FINISH-STRONG.ORG: Andrew Crater (Asheville, N.C.) and Liam Donoghue (Boulder, Colo.) 17
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This Article Updated August 25, 2013 @ 05:17 AM For more information contact:
