30th Nevada City Classic
Les Earnest
under clear, sunny skies and moderate temperatures. This climbers'
criterium is the oldest established bike race in the Western U.S. --
only Somerville predates it in the East. Greg Lemond, who grew up
nearby, considered it to be his "hometown" race earlier in his career
and won the Senior event in 1979, '80, and '81.
Sporting Image, a promoting organization that is new to cycling,
organized the meet for the first time and did an excellent job, with
sponsorship by Subaru. Subaru had sponsored a separate criterium
series the last two years but apparently concluded that they could get
more advertising benefit by supporting established events such as the
Nevada City Classic.
Nevada City is an old Gold Rush town in the Mother Lode of the Sierra
Nevada mountains. Many of the buildings date from the 1850s and 1860s
and the town retains much of the fun-loving spirit of the pioneers.
It appears to have the most theaters, restaurants, and bars per capita
of any town in the U.S. While just 2,800 people live there year-
around, some 10,000 show up each Fathers Day to party and watch the
bike races. The entire town pitches in to make it work.
The race program had just three events this year: Juniors, Senior
Women, and Senior 1-2-Pros. The course was a 1.13 mile loop with 400
feet of climb and descent each lap. The juniors and women each did 20
laps while the 1-2-Pro event went 44 laps. Strong fields appeared, as
usual, despite the fact that the 1-2-Pro race was on the same day as
the Corestates Pro event in Filthydelphia. As usual, the tough course
caused the fields to shatter from the beginning, making it a scoring
nightmare for the officials.
The Subaru/Montgomery team managed to dominate the mens event while
Katrin Tobin repeated her 1988 victory. Chad Gerlach, who won the
junior event on Saturday evening was put into the 1-2-Pro event the
next day and finished a creditable 18th. Top 10 results were as follows.
Place 1-2-Pros Women
1. Nate Reiss, Subaru/Montgomery Katrin Tobin, CCC/Ritchey
2. Scott Moniger, Crest Louisa Jenkins, Team Hammerhead
3. Bart Bowen, Subaru/Montgomery Sally Zack, Colobine
4. Tom Rutheford, Ritchey Inga Thompson, Reno
5. Thurlow Rogers, Subaru/Montgomery Sue Sutton, San Diego
6. Greg McNeil, Subaru/Montgomery Julie Young, Menlo Velo
7. Paul Willerton, unattached Jacquie Phelan, Valhalla
8. Eric Rekkas, LGBRC/KOME Marion Clignet, Gatorade/Michelin
9. Wayne Stetina, Subaru/Montgomery Kendra Kneeland, Team Kiwi
10. Steve Johnson, Subaru/Montgomery Christy Nicholson, Velo Club LaGrange
Juniors
1. Chad Gerlach, Cal Fresh
2. Johnathan Vaughters, SVAA/LeMond
3. Tim Cox, Valley Fresh
4. Ozzie Hutchins, SVAA/LeMond
5. Chris Giedt, SVAA/LeMond
6. Andy Kennedy, SVAA/LeMond
7. Aaron Tait, Cal Fresh
8. Derek Brauch, Good Earth/SJBC
9. Todd Hennings, SVAA/LeMond
10. Steve Meilicke, Empire Wheelmen
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Les Earnest Phone: 415 941-3984
Internet: L...@Go4.Stanford.edu USMail: 12769 Dianne Dr.
UUCP: . . . decwrl!Go4.Stanford.edu!Les Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Meghan Cope
Wait a second! The Longsjo Classic in Fitchburg, MA (July 1st this year) is in it's 31st year. So Nevada City is a bit younger!
****Meghan Cope****
VI Corporation, Amherst, MA