• Written by: Lin Ruobai
• Date: Mon Feb 08 2010

A beautiful day for cross. With temperatures around ten degrees and rain on the horizon, it was a perfect day for the launch of the Specialized Sponsored Cyclingnewsasia Cyclocross. With more than 75 racers turning out to the venue it was another record number for cyclocross in Shanghai.

**We will be updating photos at the bottom of the page all day today so check back periodically!!

A great turnout, great sponsors, racers and fans made for a fantastic day. Photo © http://jamestaotao.blogbus.com/

Both racers and spectators were greeted with the smell of fresh coffee from the Castellari coffee tent and smooth reggae as they arrived to race. Spectators lined the course as riders like Cui Yinhao, Feng Kuan Jie, and Lv Taotao were in attendance for the days 1 hour battle. With the course seeing rain the night before riders were ready for a track with a bit of mud, some nice tacky hardpack and some great barriers. . .

A strong 'A Grade' field starts fast. Photo Lexa

There was a very fast start for the elite men with Ed Cork and Feng Kuan Jie pushing the pace hard near the front. The leaders took the race through its first paved left hand corner into the fast concrete straightaway leading to the first bottle neck and dirt section. The pace was high on the double track as riders jostled for position coming towards the first section of barriers and run up. As riders came into the first set of barriers there was a huge bottle neck with riders of various levels of skill trying to master the dismount. Ed Cork showed strong form clearing the barriers with grace and gaining a lead on the majority of riders.

Ed Cork rode a strong and consistent race for second. Photo ©James Le

Not long after the first set of barriers the start of a lead group formed with Ed Cork, Feng Kuan Jie and Simor Grimmer riding at the front. These riders quickly established a gap forcing the rest of the contenders to chase. And chase they did with Cui Yinhao (Trek China) and Robert Lamb behind in seventh and eighth positions respectively with a smooth riding Thomas LeCoq (Specialized S-Riders), and Kaiyuan Wang (Chains Sprockets Bike Shop) just behind them.

Robert Lamb chased all day but could catch a podium finishing fourth. Photo ©James Le

Feng Quan Jie slowly showed his skill by riding sections where the majority of riders were running and hopping many of the ditches that forced many riders to dismount, allowing him to slowly pull away from the fast riding Ed Cork. By the 12th lap Feng Quan Jie had a lead that would allow him to relax and take out the top spot on the podium.

Feng Quan Jie of Holy Brother rolled smoothly through to top spot on the podium. Photo Lexa

Ed Cork continued his smooth riding taking second place with a hard charging Simon Grimmer holding off Robert Lamb to take third place.

The mens A Grade podium of (l-r) Ed Cork, Feng Quan Jie (Holy Brother), and Simon Grimmer

In the 'Adventurer' (B Group) race organiser cyclingnewsasia was overwhelmed with registrations which shows the wonderful growth of 'cross in Shanghai. In only the second year of cyclocross being introduced to Shanghai race numbers in 'B' Group alone exceeded 40 riders.

"B' Grade start. Photo ©jamestaotao.blogbus.com/

Eventual ladies winner Lv TaoTao of team Champion System looks confident on the start line. Photo ©James Le

With the clock set at 40 minutes the rides went off into the first sharp left hander without incident.  By the first right corner the pack was in a long line with riders fighting for a good position turning into the dirt.

Riders show the strain just after the start. Photo ©James Le

Even more riders rolled quickly through the course on Cyclocross bikes this season. Photo ©James Le

Riders Luo Jia Min and Jon Nordmeyer pushed hard at the front and got an early lead. In the ladies competition who was on course at the same time, Lv Taotao of Champion System and Dong Dong Mae led the ladies with the speedy Yuki Zhao, Tori Widdowson and Melissa Devogdt working hard to catch on.

Dong Dong MAE rode her heart out, and was all smiles on the way to a podium spot. Photo ©James Le

The B Grade race remained stable throughout with the leading men slowly increasing their lead. On the ladies side Lv Taotao rode strong and slowly pulled away from second place rider Dong Dong Mae and third place Yuki Zhao.

The ladies podium an excited (l-r) Dong Dong Mae, Lv Taotao (Champion System), Yuki Zhao

In the mens race it was a solid 40 minutes of single file suffering as it seemed like riders remained in one big fast moving snake throughout the course. Riders like Luo Jia Min, Chen Jun and Jon Nordmeyer stayed at the front keeping the pace high while David Cole stealthily moved his way up. The mens final podium (B) was #1 Luo Jia Min, #2 Jon Nordmeyer, and #3 David Cole.

Overall racers had a superb day with decent weather and fast lap times. Prizes were given away to the top three in every group as well as excellent random draw prizes which were provided by www.cyclocrossworld.com

A Grade (B Grade below and more photos at bottom)

Finishing Place/Rider #/Rider Name/#laps/Time/Gap to the winner/Avg Speed

排名     号码     姓名     圈数     总成绩     差距     平均时速
1 009     Fend Kuan Jie   15     1:01:42.368     0:00.000     29.17km/h

2 024     Ed Cork            15     1:03:21.911     1:39.543     28.40km/h
3 030     Simon Grimmer 15     1:03:42.715     2:00.347     28.25km/h
4 008     Robert Lamb       15     1:09:38.530     7:56.162     25.84km/h
5 021     Zheng Yi            14     1:01:03.665     -1Lap     27.51km/h
6 019     Miu Lilong           14     1:01:03.725     -1Lap     27.51km/h
7 011     Cui Yinhao          14     1:01:42.098     -1Lap     27.22km/h
8 023     Tao Wenle         14     1:02:31.453     -1Lap     26.86km/h
9 031     Chang Bin          14     1:02:47.288     -1Lap     26.75km/h
10 022     Huang Liang     14     1:04:10.297     -1Lap     26.17km/h
11 045     Tore Tjetland   13     1:00:35.309     -2Lap     25.74km/h
12 013     Thomas LeCoq  13     1:01:08.382     -2Lap     25.51km/h
13 033     Kaiyuan Wang   13     1:01:14.009     -2Lap     25.47km/h
14 046     A046               13     1:02:22.737     -2Lap     25.00km/h
15 005     Robbie Trapp    13     1:02:29.235     -2Lap     24.96km/h
16 035     Miguel Huelamo 13     1:03:24.791     -2Lap     24.60km/h
17 025     Kevin Cofra       13     1:04:20.419     -2Lap     24.24km/h
18 010     Zhu Tian Yuan  13     1:04:21.316     -2Lap     24.24km/h
19 040     Miu Lilong         12     0:59:29.437     -3Lap     24.20km/h
20 026     Eric Paulson      12     1:00:19.478     -3Lap     23.87km/h
21   015     A015             12     1:00:25.800     -3Lap     23.82km/h
22   020     A020             12     1:00:45.030     -3Lap     23.70km/h
23   034     A034             12     1:01:31.169     -3Lap     23.40km/h
24   002     A002             12     1:02:08.329     -3Lap     23.17km/h
25   018     A018             12     1:03:16.422     -3Lap     22.75km/h
26   050     A050             12     1:05:02.620     -3Lap     22.13km/h
27   047     A047             12     1:05:03.185     -3Lap     22.13km/h
28   007     A007             12     1:05:05.330     -3Lap     22.12km/h
29   043     A043             12     1:05:14.977     -3Lap     22.06km/h
30   001     A001             12     1:05:33.878     -3Lap     21.96km/h
31   012     A012             12     1:05:54.765     -3Lap     21.84km/h
32   048     A048             11     1:03:12.787     -4Lap     20.88km/h
33   038     A038             11     1:03:13.196     -4Lap     20.87km/h
34   014     A014             11     1:03:17.902     -4Lap     20.85km/h
35   041     A041             10     1:08:37.787     -5Lap     17.48km/h
36   039     A039             9     0:48:40.969     -6Lap     22.18km/h
37   042     A042             9     1:00:48.146     -6Lap     17.76km/h
38   028     A028             8     1:00:42.333     -7Lap     15.81km/h
39   049     A049             8     1:00:57.312     -7Lap     15.74km/h
40   044     A044             6     0:30:38.486     -9Lap     23.49km/h
41   037     A037             6     0:34:23.361     -9Lap     20.93km/h
42   032     A032             4     0:20:43.033     -11Lap     23.16km/h

B Grade (for more pictures scroll to bottom)

Finishing Place/Rider #/# Laps/Time/Gap to the winner/Avg Speed

排名     号码     姓名     圈数     总成绩     差距     平均时速
1 103     Lu Jia Min           9     0:42:00.573     0:00.000     25.70km/h
2 90      Jon Nordmeyer    9     0:42:24.369     0:23.796     25.46km/h
3 80      David Cole           9     0:42:24.401     0:23.828     25.46km/h
4 88      Chen Jun            9     0:44:06.114     2:05.541     24.48km/h
5 93      Michael               9     0:44:26.176     2:25.603     24.30km/h
6 101    B228                  8     0:39:36.230     -1Lap     24.24km/h
7 107    B202                  8     0:40:10.730     -1Lap     23.89km/h
8 95     B212                   8     0:40:34.276     -1Lap     23.66km/h
9 83     B271                   8     0:41:14.586     -1Lap     23.27km/h
10 71     Jin Wei                8     0:42:30.413     -1Lap     22.58km/h
11 77     Mick Lehpalmer     8     0:42:33.689     -1Lap     22.55km/h
12 73     B276                   8     0:43:39.829     -1Lap     21.98km/h
13  75     Lv Taotao          8     0:43:41.836   -1Lap   21.96km/h
14 86     Maurizio Galante    8     0:43:43.937     -1Lap     21.95km/h
15 92     B227                   8     0:44:32.768     -1Lap     21.55km/h
16 96     B214                   8     0:44:40.207     -1Lap     21.49km/h

17 82     Felippo Resini        8     0:45:10.021     -1Lap     21.25km/h
18 99     B204                   8     0:45:10.204     -1Lap     21.25km/h
19 87     B213                   8     0:45:12.134     -1Lap     21.23km/h
20 97     B216                   7     0:39:43.838     -2Lap     21.14km/h
21  203     B203                  7     0:40:23.450     -2Lap     20.79km/h
22  206     B206                  7     0:41:32.863     -2Lap     20.21km/h
23  226     B226                  7     0:41:36.585     -2Lap     20.18km/h
24  229     B229                  7     0:41:40.936     -2Lap     20.15km/h
25  225     B225                  7     0:43:38.576     -2Lap     19.24km/h
26  217     B217                  7     0:44:01.816     -2Lap     19.07km/h
27  215     B215                  7     0:45:00.576     -2Lap     18.66km/h
28  201     B201                  7     0:45:13.081     -2Lap     18.57km/h
29  280     B280                  7     0:46:55.595     -2Lap     17.90km/h
30  220     B220                  6     0:40:53.040     -3Lap     17.61km/h

31  218     B218                  6     0:41:05.723     -3Lap     17.52km/h
32  224     B224                  6     0:42:21.167     -3Lap     17.00km/h
33  207     B207                  0     0:00:00.000     -9Lap     0.00km/h
33  272     B272                  0     0:00:00.000     -9Lap     0.00km/h

Shanghai Specialized Cyclocross #2 will take place on February 27th.

Riders were 'over the bars happy' with the race.

Robbie Trapp rode a consistent race to 15th in the Mens A Grade. Photo ©James Le

Mick Lehpalmer negotiates a sweeping right/left at speed in the Mens B. Photo ©James Le

There was no question which team Yuki was riding for at the race. . .see face tattoo! Photo ©James Le

Tori Widdowson looking confident - S-riders.com. Photo ©James Le

Melissa Devogdt rode consistently all day. Photo ©James Le

Go! In the mens A. Photo ©James Le