USCX 2023 – 2 – Rochester Cyclocross C2 [FULL RACE]

September 24, 2023

USCX 2023 🇺🇸 – 2 – Rochester Cyclocross C2 – Rochester, New York

The USCX Cyclocross Series is helping to broaden the reach of the sport in the United States by gradually introducing more people to cyclocross, with four rounds lined up for the 2023 season on some of the most challenging courses on the North American circuit. The series is a fairly new addition to the US calendar, with its inaugural edition taking place in 2021 to help introduce the sport to the masses. The USCX series combines the UCI Class 1 and Class 2 cyclocross races to create a four round series in the north-east of the United States, with each round taking place over a weekend with a full two days of racing. Each round has events for both men and women in the elite, junior and amateur categories. The overall standings for the series operates on a points-based system, with the winner of each race taking 15 points towards the title, second place 10 points, third place 8 points and 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point for the rest of the Top-10.

Vincent Baestaens (Spits CX) secured his sixth career elite win at the Rochester Cyclocross, and back-to-back wins this weekend, soloing to the C2 victory on Sunday at Genesee Valley Park in Rochester, New York.

Baestaens finished the race nine seconds ahead of Anton Ferdinande (DHM) and 13 seconds ahead of Loris Rouiller (Helzomat).

“Yesterday, I think I gained a lot of confidence that I was able to still be in the race because the level of the young guys is very high. They are pushing from the beginning,” Baestaens told the USCX audience on the live GCN broadcast after the finish.

“I am lucky with the rain because behind in the turns it is not so explosive and a little more technical and that suits me better. I think the rain was in my favour today. I am still very happy I can play it like that.”

On a wet and muddy course, a lead group emerged on the opening lap that included Ferdinande, Baestaens, Rouiller, Lance Haidet (L39ion of Los Angeles), Andrew Strohmeyer (CXD Trek), Curtis White (Steve Tilford Foundation), Michael van den Ham (Giant-Easton) and Scott Funston (WTB-Pivot).

Ferdinande opened a gap on the group in the early laps holding six seconds over Baestaens and Haidet, with an addition few seconds ahead of the next chase group of Rouiller and Strohmeyer at the start of the sixth lap.

The gaps between the first two groups closed with Ferdinande, Baestaens, Rouiller, Strohmeyer and Haidet all together on the seventh lap.

Baestaens surged with two laps to go, and no one in the group could follow. Rouiller said it came down to the final circuit as a pack of four chased Baestaens. Switzerland’s Ferdinande took the lead of the quartet on the stairs and held off Rouiller at the line for second.

“On the last lap it was maybe a gap of five seconds. On the big run [stairs] I go with the bike so I can close the gap. I thought second was possible today. I know the race is not won until you pass the finish,” he said at the finish, happy to be on the podium in third.

For Ferdinande, he was looking for redemption from Saturday’s C1 race, where he was disqualified for an illegal feed.

“I didn’t sleep well, I was thinking about yesterday. Today was another day. I need to forget it, fast,” he admitted.

“It was a nice race. It was more slippery, I like that. In the beginning I was struggling a little on the running sections. Then I found some good lines and I can take a small gap, but maybe a little bit too early.”

Baestaens, 34 years old, raced through the start of lap eight with 11 seconds ahead of the chase group and then crossed the line with his sixth victory at the Rochester Cyclocross, leaving the pair of 23 year olds behind. He leads the USCX men’s standings with two weekends of C1/C2 races remaining, the next event at Charm City Cross in Baltimore, Maryland on September 30 and October 1.

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