BloomingCross

Great day of racing out at Twin Lakes. Could have used a few more spectators but I suppose it was the day after homecoming, a successful football game and Little 500 teams had some 16mph riding to do! Ryan Kiel played the role of IUCC President by being the sole IU representative at the races. Thanks to Ryan and Andy for all their hard work organizing the event.
Truesport Race report
BVN race report-
The inaugural BloomingCross cyclo-cross race was held in near perfect autumnal conditions at the Twin Lakes Sports Complex in Bloomington on Sunday 18th October. The race also marked the first event in the fall-long Indiana Cyclo-cross series. Racing continued from mid-morning to late-afternoon with a series of categorized races in which Cat 4 racers represent beginners while Cat 1 racers are experienced national caliber performers. The early races were dominated by the Louisville-based junior Red Zone team with Andrew Dillman, Luke Haley and John Francisco winning the Category 3, Cat 4 and Junior races respectively. Later in the morning Pam Loebig, local resident and Little 500 race director, prevailed in the Womens Category 3/4 race. Adam Rodkey continued his recent strong performances with a solid 3rd place in the Cat3 race. Ryan Shanahan took off the TT-helmet and rolled almost bare-chested to a victory in the Cat 4 masters race!
Pam on the way to victory
The morning dew had burnt off as the Elite riders took to the course with first blood in these highly competitive races going to Bloomington resident Fred Rose who was the Elite Masters champion. One of the title sponsors for BloomingCross is the Direct Result Training (DRT) coaching service and so it was appropriate that one of the DRT sponsored riders, Nicole Borem was the victor in the Elite Womens race. She got the better of Cincinnati based Amanda Mackey who was one of the many racers who traveled to Bloomington from across state lines.
The final event of the day was elite men’s race that played out as a battle between two riders with differing cyclo-cross pedigrees. Experienced Mitchell Kersting (Bob Red Mill) took an early lead and although never headed was pushed throughout the race by cyclo-cross neophyte Erik Hamilton. Erik, who rides for the NUVO-Cultural Trail Team, is a growing talent for whom a big win is surely just around the corner! Local DRT racers Andy Messer and Zach Edwards both finished within the top ten.
Zach Edwards sprinting at the start of the Cat1/2 race.
Andy Messer rolled in 7th
Hamilton tearing it up for 2nd!