2002 CHEQUAMEGON

Sept. 15, 2002 Cable, Wis. - In perhaps the most exciting race of the weekend, Doug Swanson (Trek/VW) surged up the final climb past Jeff Hall (Salsa) to take the Cable Criterium, his first overall victory at the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival.

Steve Tilford (Moots/Shimano) was third, in a battle featuring the same top three players as Saturday's Chequamegon Fat Tire 40, won by Tilford of Topeka, Kan.

Hall, Apple Valley, Minn. attacked on the second-to-last lap of this multi-lap race, which included the 17 fastest riders of the day, and built a twenty yard lead going through the start/finish. Only Tilford and Swanson could answer.

As Tilford faded, Swanson of Minnetonka, Minn. closed the gap and gained momentum going into the final climb. "I knew from earlier (races) that I had a good sprint up the hill," said Swanson. "I love climbing."

On the last lap, Hall, who finished second to Tilford in the Chequamegon 40, seemed to hesitate. "I looked over my shoulder and didn't see him (Swanson)," Hall said.

"It was fun, though. I really liked the format," Hall said. In the men's championship, the last two riders were pulled each lap until only five remained.

Scott Daubert (Subaru/Gary Fisher) of Golden, Colo, finished fourth, and John Devine (Trek/VW) a teammate of Swanson's and winner of Saturday's Short and Fat, placed fifth.

In the women's final, Mary Grigson, the Australian Olympian, took command of the race on the third of five laps and never looked back.

Grigson's second win in as many days seemed as effortless as her first win on Saturday as she methodically turned the pedals to victory. Grigson (Subaru/Gary Fisher) cruised across the line ahead of Duluth, Minnesota's Sara Kylander-Johnson (Ski Hut), winner of Saturday's Short and Fat. Stephanie Moats-Leibke (Dogfish) of Shoreview, Minn. finished third.

Men's Overall Results - Cable Criterium

Women's Overall Results - Cable Criterium