Rob Jebb proved himself as one of the best long distance cyclo-cross riders in the world at the weekend with a crushing victory in the Iron Cross; America?s version of the Three Peaks.
Jebb finished in a time of 3-36-26hrs, beating the course record by ten minutes and his nearest competitor, Christopher Beck, by 11 minutes. Cycling Weekly / Cycle Sport writer Stu Bowers was third, a further minute back.
Billed as America?s answer to the Three Peaks, the 62 mile race in Pennsylvania?s Michaux State Forest is one of the longest cyclo-cross races in the world and features many similar elements to the Peaks.
Photo: Rob Jebb at the Iron Cross. Courtesy of Wheelbase
With six Three Peaks victories already under his belt, it should have come as little surprise when Jebb ran away from the rest of the field on the steep Power Line run up Wigwam Hill.
Beck was astounded by Jebb's running prowess, after leading into the run up Jebb ran straight past Beck, as the American asked, "are you going to run the whole way up this?" To which Jebb responded with typical northern dryness, "yep".
The Wheelbase sponsored rider?s fell running skills saw him then extend his lead despite Beck and Bowers? leading the chase. Andy Peace another former winner of the Three Peaks finished in sixth after a long hard chase due to a crash on the start straight that put him straight to the back of the field.
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IRON CROSS V: RESULTS
Posn/Name/Team/Home town/Time
1 Rob Jebb (Wheelbase Race Team) Stavely, UK 3:36:26.07
2 Christopher Beck (Joe's Bike Shop) Baltimore 3:47:05.74
3 Stuart Bowers (Cycle Sport) Blandford, UK 3:48:55.43
4 Justin Lindine (CBRC Iron Cross Squad) Maplecrest 3:53:27.27
5 Ray Adams (Visitpa.com-GPOA-Cannondale) Harrisburg 3:54:34.15
Full results available at www.bikereg.com.
