Jesse Moore, Megan Guarnier and Dean LaBerge were the big winners in the 34th annual Cherry Pie Criterium bike races Sunday at the southern end of Napa Valley Corporate Park.

Moore, a Sacramento resident riding for California Giant Berry Farms Specialized, won the Pro Elite 1, 2, the final race of the day on the closed one-mile course.

Guarnier, part of the PROMAN Hit Squad and a resident of Los Gatos, captured the Women’s Pro 1, 2, 3 race.

LaBerge, a Napa resident who is with Team Specialized Racing Masters, won the Masters 35+ Category 1-4 race for the fifth year in a row.

“This was definitely extra special,” said LaBerge, the 2007 and 2008 state criterium champion. “It’s a lot of fun to be able to race in front of the hometown, to have friends and family there to see it.”

The 603 cyclists who braved the cold and windy conditions on an overcast day were cheered by a large crowd that lined the start-finish line on Napa Valley Corporate Drive, near the Grape Press statue. The top finishers not only received cherry pies, but prize money ranging from $130 to $1,000.

Junior men and women started off the criterium at 8 a.m. Races were based on length, ranging from 20 to 60 minutes depending on the category with a limit of entrants placed on each field.

One-hundred riders competed in multiple races in the event that was sanctioned by USA Cycling and presented by the Eagle Cycling Club and Eagle Racing Team of Napa. The event is race No. 1 in the Northern California/Nevada Cycling Association Junior Points Series. Besides junior classes for all age groups, the Cherry Pie includes races for all categories of senior racers, and several master’s classes. The event has a history of filling to capacity in most categories.

“I’m going to share some pie with my teammates,” said Moore, smiling afterward.

The rains held off just long enough to get in a full day of racing in the early-season criterium. Racers competed for over $4000 in cash and product prizes.

“It was great hearing racers comment about how they loved the course here, or saying this was one of their favorite races that they come back to year after year,” said race director Kevin Joell. “The Eagle Cycling Club is proud to promote a race with the history of the Cherry Pie. Thirty-four years running is a great record for a race like this.

“The wet weather held off just long enough that we were able to pull off a safe and successful event. Thanks to the support of our sponsors and all our hard working volunteers, who really are the ones that make this event happen.”

Moore got off to a good start in the 60-minute race, which was maybe the most difficult of all, as the winds were gusting up to 20 mph. He followed Berkeley’s Nathaniel English of ZteaM and the two turned it into a two-man race for the last 20 minutes. Moore took advantage of his climbing skills at the end, holding off English in a close battle up the hill to the finish line.

“The wind was pretty brutal, there’s no doubt,” said Moore. “But Nathan and I did a really good job swapping, so every other lap we would take the headwind section, so it really helped a lot to have a partner out there that was so strong. We split the work dead even, it was perfect. He’s a really strong rider, he’s an up and coming guy in the area.

“My job is to go out there and take the pressure off of my team. I rode as hard as I could, and it just so happened we made it to the end. I normally would get brought back and our sprinters would win.”

English was second, followed by Alex Moos (BMC Pro Cycling Team) of Switzerland, Patrick Briggs (California Giant/Specialized) of Oakland, Andy Goessling (ZteaM) of Richmond, Scott Zwizanski (Kelly Benefit Strategies) of Mill Valley, Chris Stastny (Davis Bike Club) of Vacaville, Dirk Copeland (California Giant/Specialized of San Luis Obispo, Jan Diemont (Webcor Alto Velo) of Sunnyvale, and Danny Kam (Nu Vision Cyclery) of Las Vegas.

Todd Hennings (Delta Velo) of Napa was 56th.

Guarnier said the wind was a factor, so you had to position yourself well when drafting behind somebody.

“Because if you’re not positioned well, it’s just like you’re out in the wind yourself,” said Guarnier. “It was key being in a good position.”

Guarnier held off Sarah Bamberger (Touchstone) of San Francisco for the win in the 45-minute race. Alison Starnes (Team TIBCO) of Larkspur, Rachel Lloyd (Hit Squad) of Fairfax, Cari Higgins (Hit Squad) of Boulder, Lauren Hecht (Webcor Alto Velo) of Atherton, Linsay Myers (CRM) of San Francisco, Amy Chandos (Davis Bike Club) of Davis, Starla Teddergreen (Sugar CRM) of San Francisco, and Carol Irving (Touchstone Climbing) of Woodland finished third through 10th.

“I really like the race because I like being active the whole time — I like a real race,” said Guarnier. “I don’t like to sit there and look around.

“Today was great, because I had new teammates out here and we had a really fun time. The idea was to try and get a good place for PROMAN and show that we’re strong this year, because we’re a little smaller. But we’re the PROMAN Hit Squad. We’ve got a little punch.”

LaBerge prides himself on his sprinting abilities in cycling, but on Sunday he showed that he’s a quality hill climber, coming from behind to win in maybe the most exciting race of the day. The race went 45 minutes.

LaBerge, who works for Riechers Spence and Associates as an engineering tech, said it was by design to come from behind.

“We just have to stay steady, we don’t have to put our guys on the front exactly,” said LaBerge.

He saved what he had left for the end.

“I didn’t want to waste any bullets out there. As the years go on, you have fewer and fewer bullets. I just wanted to make this one count.

“This hill is about as steep as I can get. I don’t go uphill too well, I’m a sprinter through and through. Sprinting is my thing. Give me 30 seconds and I can take it. This is definitely a tough course, it’s a great course.”

Second was Judd Van Sickle of Sacramento. Rounding out the top 5 were Eric Easterling (Sierra Pacific Racing) of Fresno, Christopher Baker (EMC2/Felt) of Sacramento, and John Fairbanks (Safeway/Bikes Plus) of Sacramento.

Other winners, by category:

• Junior women 10-14: Katrina Howard (Vapor Racing) of Fresno.

• Junior women 15-16: Brianna Mommer (CVC).

• Junior women 17-18: Christina Yglesias (Promm Hit Squad).

• Junior men 10-12: Karch Miller (Davis Bike Club) of Davis.

• Junior men 13-14: Dylan Drummond (Tieni Duro) of Walnut Creek.

• Junior men 15-16: Davis Benkoski (Team Specialized Racing) of Menlo Park.

• Junior men 17-18: Peter Taylor (Team Specialized Racing) of Walnut Creek.

• Women 35+: Liza Rachetto (SugarCRM) of Los Altos.

• Women 4: Ruth Winder (Proman Racing) of Lafayette.

• Category 3: Brandon Trafton (Central Valley Cycling) of Fresno.

• Caregory 4: Brandon Bundy (Team Beer) of Roseville.

• Category 5: Bob McCamish of Roseville.

• Masters 45: Lawrence Nolan (Team Specialized Racing) of Fremont.

• Masters 55: Mark Caldwell (Morgan Stanley) of Moraga.

One of the oldest cycling events in the Napa Valley, the Cherry Pie Criterium has attracted top riders, including state and national champions. Greg Lemond won several times in the early years of the race. Lemond went on to win three Tour de France titles.