NCNCA Road

56th Berkeley Hills Road Race
12 May 2013

Sara Clafferty (Pinnacle p/b Argon 18) and Molly Van Houweling (Metromint Cycling) battled each other in the sprint finish for toady’s P/1/2 Women’s race at Berkeley Hills. Coming up the hill to the finish line each racer would make a push and the other would respond. Clafferty took the win by just over the length of a bike. Beth Newell (NOW and Novartis for MS) also charged hard up the hill and took third.

Flavia Oliveira (DNA Cycling p/b Plan7) took fourth place whilst Amy Thornquist (Pinnacle p/b Argon 18) rounded out the top five and secured valuable personal and team points for the 2013 NCNCA Bikereg.com Premier Series.

For P/1/2 Men, Philip Mooney (Jamis – Hagens Berman p/b Sutter Home) managed a solo break on the last lap but was eventually caught by Daniel Holloway (Team Mike’s Bikes p/b Incase) and Taylor Bertrand (Marc Pro-Strava). The three riders settled the race in a sprint finish with the honours going to Holloway. Mooney pulled around Bertrand at the last moment to take second.

Justin Rossi (Marc Pro-Strava) continued his impressive season by taking fourth after out sprinting Adrien Costa (Slipstream-Craddock Junior Development).

ThirstyBear Cycling team mates Hans Gouwens and Aaron Long got away on a three rider break with Master Men 45+ 1/2/3 series leader Dirk Himley (Hammer Nutrition/Charity of Choice). Gouwens took the gentleman’s race win ahead of Himley. Long crossed in third place.

“The plan was to race as hard as we could as a team to keep the pressure on the big peloton” described Gouwens. “We knew we had to split it up early to make a selective group. We did. We ended up with four guys in the top ten. It was a successful race for us.

“I was going to be aggressive from the start so I went from the gun. Was joined, went a couple times more, got pulled back. Then, on the second lap I went again. Aaron [Long] bridged across to me with Dirk [Himley] and we managed to stay away.

“I pulled Himley for the last 3 miles at Copperopolis and he came around me with 100 meters to go. He’s a great guy and returned the favour today as I came around him with a hundred meters to go. Good sportsmanship.”

Cale Reeder (Hammer Nutrition/Charity of Choice) settled back with Himley in the break and won the field sprint for fourth place. Fifth went to Chris Wire (PrimeTime Cycling Team).

Nathan Parks (Folsom Bike/VW/Raley’s) took the win for Master 35+ 1/2/3. Paul Bourcier (Veloce Racing powered by Smith&Nephew) was second as Bryan Hoadley (R4R/Make-a-Wish) took third. Dan Bryant (Folsom Bike/VW/Raley’s) crossed the line in fourth and Robert Pasco (SAFEWAY/PureRED/Bicycles Plus) rounded out the top five.

Chris Phipps, the Premier Series leader for Master 35+, managed a sixth place finish but continues to hold his overall position. Of the riders finishing ahead of Phipps today, Parks is his closest competitor but over 80 points behind. Phipps increases his lead in the series to 35 points.

For more race coverage from Berkeley Hills, please visit NorCal Cycling News.