Johnson was all ’bout bidness before Saturday’s start

When I arrived at the site of Saturday’s Blue Sky Velo Haunted Cross race the course was covered in six inches of snow and it was near freezing. It was icy and slick, racing could be treacherous. But with Colorado’s incredible sunshine, by the time the pros rolled out there were only hints of snow, it was 50 plus degrees, and much of the course was tacky mud that was technical but not deep. It was perfect for racing Cross and even better for spectating.

Someone tell Jeremy Powers I posted of a picture of him on theroaddiaries…

The pro races were loaded with talent which included SRAM equipped Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com riders Driscoll, Johnson, and Powers, who swept the Men’s podium. In fact the front row of the men’s race was a SRAM all star line up that included Jesse Anthony (Jamis), Joachim Parbo, Tim Johnson, Jeremy Powers, Jamey Driscoll, and Chris Jones (Champion).

Johnson wins, the relief and joy is obvious

The Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com trio, obviously super comfortable in the conditions, swept the podium with Johnson winning . He described the course, his bike, and his ride as simply “awesome.” I spent the morning with Team Manager Stu Thorne as he prepped the bikes for what would certainly be a tough day on equipment. Thorne said despite the mud there were zero equipment issues. Performance in the worst condition is something we have long preached at SRAM and based on our shifting ratios (Exact Actuation) mud and stuff have significantly less effect on drivetrain performance. Matt Pacocha, VeloNews Technical editor and local Cross star, has long run SRAM on his bikes and this year rolls with 2010 SRAM Force.

Katie Compton (Planet Bike) was gone from the front of the Women’s raceafter one lap when put major seconds into Georgia Gould (Luna) up the one climb on the course just past start/finish. Compton raced with a serious expression and finished with a two minute margin on second place. The World’s number one ranked Cross rider felt good about her ride and plans to continue her World Cup assault in Europe after the weekend’s races in Colorado. Her goals for the season include repeating as National Champ, a World Cup overall title, and the World CX Championship. The softspoken but extremely funny SRAM RED equipped Coloradan appears unstoppable.

Katie Compton (Planet Bike) gives me the tumbs up after her crushing win…her small thumbs are one of the reasons she prefers SRAM’s reach adjust

Stu Thorne, Cannondale/Cyclocrossworld.com team manager is happy because he found his wallet? Nope, his riders just swept the Blue Sky Velo Haunted Cross race in Longmont, CO

Driscoll and Powers finish 2nd and 3rd in the wake of teammate Johnson

VeloNews tech editor Matt Pacocha rolls through the mud in Longmont, CO, on his SRAM Force equipped steed