Nebraska Cycling News

Walberg, Jensen Score Papio Crit Wins

Written by Ryan Feagan
Thursday, 19 July 2007
Catherine Walberg (Mesa Cycles) took the win. Photo Mark Stursma Papillion, NE - Catherine Walberg, former Cyclocross Masters National Champion, took off at lightning speed with only a few of the pack able to hang on for the first lap on her way to victory at the inaugural Papillion Twilight Criterium saturday. Catherine's lightning speed on lap one mimicked much of the strategy seen throughout the days events, which saw over a 100 riders take part. For a short course, with lap times of 60-80 seconds, confident riders tried to lap their fields early and then sit in to take the top spots. Walberg's strategy didn't immediately pan out, however, as on her first lap, she went hard into the fourth turn and slid out on the hot pavement. Walberg took a short free lap, and then, bleeding and with a torn jersey, was integrated back into the top few riders and proceeded to rip legs off. Marie Neville (Nebraska Medical Center/Team Kaos) hung on to Walberg's wheel as long as possible, but eventually they seperated. All the women soon became strung out to ride at their own pace. Walberg went on to win in fantastic form, showing enduring pace and speed throughout the course, with Neville taking 2nd spot also putting in fantastic and consistent lap times but simply not able to match Walberg's pace. Brian Jansen and Shad Smith of HRRC/Trek leading the way. Photo Mark Stursma In the Men's 1-2 field, four riders attacked early, three from HRRC/Trek along with Lane Anderson (All9Yards). Those four riders succeeded in the lapping the field, but those four magic makers missed one key favorite of the day, HRRC/Treks Brian Jensen. Jensen, fresh off the plane from the Danish National Championships in Denmark, was clearly the favorite to win, having just raced with top national talent from, among others, pro teams CSC and Discovery. But the mid-race crowd pleaser was Clark Priebe of Mack Paper Co-- though he did not make the initial break of four riders, he soon went after them and jumped from the peloton. Priebe quickly found himself in "no man's land", sitting 200 yards off the front of the peloton and simply unable to gain ground. With encouragement from the crowd, Priebe fought hard in this position but couldn't pull it out to lap the field and join the top four riders. After some initial ambiguity, Brian Jensen made his intentions and strength clear when he jumped from the peloton and lapped the field, bringing him up to the top four riders, now 5. Jensen displayed top strength and with help from his HRRC/Trek Store Team, went to a clear and deserved victory in the Men's 1-2 event. Complete Results... Photos by Mark Stursma...
Last Updated ( Thursday, 19 July 2007 )