FORT COLLINS, Colorado (VN) — U.S. national champion Jeremy Powers came from behind on Saturday to win day one of the Smartwool Cup in Fort Collins.
The Colorado race was the second stop on the U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross circuit.
Powers (Rapha-Focus) chased down solo breakaway Ryan Trebon (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) with a lap and a half to go and then beat him to the line for the victory. Ben Berden (Raleigh-Clement) out-kicked Danny Summerhill (Garmin-Sharp) for third.
First out of the blocks was Tim Johnson (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com), who grabbed the holeshot. Then Powers took the lead, with Johnson second and Berden third as the men turned seven-minute laps on the tacky track.
The lead group grew to eight before Trebon laid down an attack that gave him a half-dozen bike lengths over the others.
The big man built a 24-second advantage over a chase containing Powers, Johnson, Berden and Summerhill before Powers finally grabbed some daylight of his own.
The national champ quickly put 30 seconds on Summerhill, Johnson and Berden and closed to within 12 seconds of Trebon as the Cannondale rider hit four laps to go. Behind, Geoff Kabush (Scott-3Rox Racing) had joined the battle for third.
With two laps remaining Trebon was still out front, pursued by Powers. But the Rapha rider was breathing down his neck, just a handful of seconds down.
And then Trebon had trouble clipping in on a remount and Powers was on him.
The two men were together going through the barriers, and then Powers took the lead going into the bell lap. Next time through the finish he was the winner of the race.
Editor’s note: Stay tuned for more from Fort Collins.
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