2024 Sacramento Cyclocross Series - Rusch Park Day 1 Men's & Women's A Race Recap

The 2024 Sacramento Cyclocross Series Presented by Performance Bicycle headed to Rusch Community Park in Citrus Heights for it's only scheduled doubleheader weekend on November 16th & 17th. Day 1 of racing so fair weather with great traction from rains two and three days previous.
The Men's race saw 19 starters and it was full gas from the whistle for Jeremy Ferguson (Enjoy Cycling). Michael Machado (Coureur Monterey Bay) and Michael Dietrich were the only riders able to stay close, and the three pulled away from the field by the end of lap 1 with Ferguson extending a gap over the two chasers in lap 2. At the end of lap 3, Ferguson was still pushing and washed out in the final turn which was slippery due to pine needles hidden in the grass. Machado was close enough to capitalize and attacked, with Dietrich also making it by Ferguson going into lap 4. Ferguson had no mechanical issues from the crash, and was able to chase back into second on lap 4 with his fastest lap of the race, but Machado would remain out of reach for the remainder of the eight lap race. Michael Dietrich would settle comfortably into third but with a charging Bradley Wiggs (Voler Factory Racing) in the last two laps closing the gap to only 9 seconds.
The Women's race had 10 starters on the grid, with all the front runners from Race 4 ready to open it up on this fast course. Julie Young (Julie Young Training) took to the front with the holeshot, and Megan Brinkmeyer (Quodapp) held on to her wheel for the first lap but Young's power on this wide open course couldn't be matched. By the end of lap two there was almost twenty seconds between them and these two would stretch out a big lead over the rest of the field and ride the rest of their seven lap race alone but avoiding any major mishaps or mistakes. Madeline Ortenblad (Rock Lobster) was alone in third for the first four laps, but Caetie Ofiesh (Ornot) and Lindsay Wetzel Polin (Team Feral Catz) got together and started a chase up to Ortenblad. They would be right on her wheel going into the last lap, but Ortenblad had saved a match for the end and was able to hold on to third handily.
Men's Top 10 Results:
1st - Michael Machado (Coureur Monterey Bay)
2nd - Jeremy Ferguson (Enjoy Cycling)
3rd - Michael Dietrich
4th - Bradley Wiggs (Voler Factory Racing)
5th - Justin Robinson (Santa Cruz Factory Racing)
6th - Paul Bourcier (Elliston Coaching)
7th - Jack Duncan (Mike's Bikes)
8th - Christopher Peck (Los Gatos Cycling Club)
9th - John Borstelmann
10th - Owen Gillette (Sonora FBC)
Women's Top 10 Results:
1st - Julie Young (Julie Young Training)
2nd - Megan Brinkmeyer (Quodapp)
3rd - Madeline Ortenblad (Rock Lobster)
4th - Caetie Ofiesh (Ornot)
5th - Lindsay Wetzel Polin (Team Feral Catz)
6th - Corina Bennett
7th - Aubree Watkins
8th - Emily Funk
9th - Marila Alvares
10th - Rhonda Yaeger (Team Betty)
Full Results available at: www.clippedinf...
Race 6 is back at Rusch Park for Day 2 of the doubleheader, with a reverse direction course.