November 29, 2009. Team Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com newsletter. While team captain Tim Johnson and young gun Jamey Driscoll were at home recovering from Thanksgiving dinner, Jeremy Powers was in Sterling, Massachusetts flying the Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com flag high at the Baystate Cyclocross weekend. Despite lacking the number of teammates he’s accustomed to, Powers raced a stellar weekend to score a pair of victories.
Coming into the weekend, Jeremy Powers was keen to make sure his legs were in the right place before the final stop on US Gran Prix of Cyclocross circuit in Portland and the subsequent culmination of the American cyclocross calendar at the United States National Championships in Bend, Oregon. Powers had been slowly working off the effects the flu that had kept him out of the USGP’s third weekend in New Jersey two weeks prior. Powers’ comeback was headed in the right direction after two second-place finishes in Southampton, New York last weekend, but Powers was eager to prove his legs still had that winning snap. Baystate proved to be just what the doctor ordered. Powers was happy to be back to his usual self, saying “it was really good to get out racing and get some confidence for the next few weekends. It was good all around for me.”
While the course may not have been tailor made for Powers’ strengths, Powers showed that his season is coming together at the right time. Saturday’s racing in Sterling saw high winds pose the day’s main challenge, and put power and the ability to recover at a premium. Powers proved to be the strongest man on the day, fending off strong efforts from Dan Timmerman (RGM Watches – Richard Sachs – Radix) and Justin Lindine (Bikereg.com/Joe’s Garage/IF). Powers reserve strength and great late-season form proved to be the difference maker, and Powers was able to take home his first victory since October 31st in Northampton. “I didn’t really have a plan, per se, I just wanted to be conservative and get in a good day, and try to win. Timmerman was riding really well today; the guys in New England are super fast.”
Come Sunday, the wind had died down in Eastern Massachusetts, and the day’s difference maker would be the new tight, twisting, technical sections added to day two’s course. The course on Sunday was even farther from Powers’ traditional forte, but further proved that he is a true danger man come December 13th. Powers was aware the course may not have played into his strengths, saying, “it was a hard course to get away on because the course was so twisty-turney, there were only a couple sections where you could throw down some power. There was a definite speed limit on the course. You could only take so many corners so fast. There were only a couple sections where I could really shred it.”
While the course and the conditions may have changed, the end result didn’t, and it was again Powers who emerged victorious. Powers had to hold off a determined Justin Lindine, but Powers’ fitness and guile proved best on the day. “I was fourth or fifth at the start and I just nailed it. As soon as I realized I was in a good spot, I just whacked it. I had better legs today than yesterday.” Powers wrapped up his weekend with a pair of wins, which made it eight for the Cannondale/Cyclocross rider on the year, and upped the team’s total to an even twenty for the season.
Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com does not have much more time left this season on American soil, but the two weekends left are two of the most important on the calendar. Next weekend, Tim Johnson, Jeremy Powers and Jamey Driscoll head to Portland, Oregon for the Portland Cup, the seventh and eighth races in the USGP series. Driscoll is the top ranked Cannondale/Cyclocross.com rider in the USGP overall standings, sitting in second with 180 points, 30 points shy of USGP leader Ryan Trebon. Tim Johnson is a further 6 points back, with 174 points.
Looking even further ahead, the team is lining itself up perfectly for the push towards Nationals. Johnson and Powers are each hitting their victory stride, while Driscoll is not far behind. While the Portland Cup should settle out who will be the favorites in Bend, Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com will no doubt be at the top of the list.
