2024 Sunset Whitney “A” Race Recap
The 2024 Sacramento Cyclocross Series presented by Performance Bicycle traveled to Sunset Whitney Recreation Area in Rocklin, CA for Race 2. This former golf course featured sand pits, high speeds and long off camber sections, with the biggest run-up of the season.
The Men’s and Women’s A race didn’t escape the heat, and with temps in the mid 90’s it was a major factor to overcome for everyone out on course. Jeremy Ferguson (Enjoy Cycling) and Timmy Bauer (Above & Beyond Cancer) joined the Men’s field for the first time this season and quickly took to the front with Will Gregor (Reno Devo Junior Cycling) and Stefen Creason (DDA) giving chase at the end of lap one. On lap 2 Ryan Rinn (Radhaus Racing) and Michael Machado (Coureur Monterey Bay Racing Team p/b Don Chapin) set the fastest two lap times trying to chase down Ferguson and Bauer, but were never able to reconnect and the two leaders pulled away into a race of their own. Machado would eventually ride clear of Rinn and safely hold onto 3rd place while Ferguson and Bauer kept it a tight race until two laps to go when Timmy bobbled on the run-up climb. Ferguson took advantage of the mistake and went into the final lap with a significant gap, but almost gave it all back after going over the bars in the sand pit. Despite the final lap crash, Ferguson held off Bauer by 15 seconds for the win with matching final lap times.
On the Women’s side, Lindsay Wetzel Polin (Team Feral Catz) and Megan Brinkmeyer (Quodapp) jumped out in front just like Race 1, but this time were joined by 17 year old Camille Smith (Cycling Development) who pushed the pace on the front at the end of lap 1. It showed that the Sunset Whitney course played to Brinkmeyer’s strengths, with long power sections and fast off camber, and by lap two she had almost a 30 second lead on Smith and Wetzel Polin fell back another minute. The three rode on their own for the rest of the race, with Smith battling a slowly lowering seatpost throughout the race. Brinkmeyer managed very consistent lap times for the hour and was the only woman to record 7 laps in first place, with Camille Smith holding on for 2nd and Lindsay Wetzel Polin in 3rd with six laps. Tenley Ong was the final woman to get in six laps in 4th place but was six minutes back from Polin.
Men’s A Top 10 Results:
- Jeremy Ferguson (Enjoy Cycling)
- Timmy Bauer (Above & Beyond Cancer)
- Michael Machado (Coureur Monterey Bay Racing)
- Ryan Rinn (Radhaus Racing)
- Jon Wells (Alto Velo)
- Stefen Creason (DDA)
- Nathan Barton (Rock Lobster)
- Daniel Cortopassi (Enjoy Cycling)
- Owen Gillette (Sonora FBC)
- Miles Talbert (Specialized Sacramento)
Womens A Results:
- Megan Brinkmeyer (Quodapp)
- Camille Smith (Cycling Development)
- Lindsay Wetzel Polin (Team Feral Catz)
- Tenley Ong
- Mandi Seavers
- Gabriella Dominguez (Team Booger)
Racing continues for Race 3 at Orangevale Park on October 12th.