CYCLOCROSS NATIONALS DAY 1: JUNIORS AND MASTERS
CYCLOCROSS NATIONALS DAY 1
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The U.S. Cyclocross National Championships officially opened with over 400 junior and master riders aged 10 to 67 competing for stars-and-stripes jerseys at Wyandotte County Park in Kansas City, KS.
Snow and ice storms lead to bone-chilling action across all junior age divisions as well as all master women's categories. The highly anticipated master men 45-49 contest capped off the day in what is often referred to as competitive cycling's fastest growing discipline.
JUNIOR WOMEN
After the B races broke in the icy 1.91-mile course the prior day, the junior women's race started the quest for a national championship under clear skies but with frozen course conditions. In a race that saw several riders take out barriers, Anna Young (Madison, WI) rode comfortably to the win in the 17-18 age division. Michelle Morris (Cincinnati, OH/One Call Now-Troy Chiropractic) won the silver medal in the eldest of the junior divisions. With a time that would have put her among the top of all the young ladies. Multi-time National Road Champion and defending National Cyclocross Champion Coryn Rivera (Tustin, CA) added another jersey to her collection with a win in the 15-16 age division.
Kaitlin Antonneau (Racine, WI/Nove-Iscorp) was the only rider able to hang even close to Rivera, finishing over one minute back in second place. In the 13-14 field, Elizabeth White (Bedford, NH) rode away with the win, nearly four full minutes ahead of her closest competition. Of the 10-12-year-old young women who braved the early morning December conditions, Andrea Casebolt (Olympia, WA) earned her first stars-and-stripes jersey in a time of 36:25.
JUNIOR MEN
The junior men 10-16 took off on the day's second race with 30 seconds dividing each age group. Just as he did in the Under-29 B race on opening day, it was Jeff Bahnson (Newark, DE) pushing the pace. This time however, despite several early race crashes, he wasn't going to let anything stop his quest for the 10-16 gold.
"Doing yesterday's U29 B race definitely paid off," explained Bahnson. "It was a great warm-up and it helped me prepare for today."
Logan Owen (Bemberton, WA) took the 13-14 crown beating out a charging Curtis White (Delanson, NY/Capital Bikes) by just over 20 seconds. Eleven-year-old BMX National Champion Austin Vincent (Weatogue, CN) added a Cyclocross National title to his list of accomplishments, outracing the 20 other competitors who lined up in the 10-12 age division.
In the popular 17-18 "elite" junior men's category, the Pacific Northwest region showcased its bright young talent with three of the four top riders hailing from the state of Washington. It was however Luke Keough of Sandwich, MA who took the win by 40 seconds over the closest Washingtonian, Zach McDonald of Bainbridge Island (Oh Boy Oberto-Redline). After several of the pre-race favorites exited the race early, McDonald charged to overtake Rad Racing teammates Eric Emsky (Fall City, WA) and Steve Fisher (Lynnwood, WA) on the final lap to earn the silver.
"These were the toughest conditions I've ever raced in," said Keough after displaying superior bike handling skills. "This put Portland to shame."
MASTER WOMEN
After a short break for lunch, the master women took to the line for their 45 minute national championship bout. Pro mountain biker Shannon Gibson (El Paso, TX) took a comfortable win in the master women 40-44 age-division.
"I went out hard and there was some carnage behind me that worked in my favor," explained Gibson.
After multiple lead changes in the 45-49 division, defending National Champion Catherine Walberg (Topeka, KS) worked her way up and overtook second place finisher Kris Walker (Pocatello, ID/Kreigcycling) on the final lap. Kathy Sarvary (Lunenburg, MA) took her fourth national title in impressive fashion in the 50-54 age division, while Diane Ostenso (Cottage Grove, WI) earned the title for the 55-59 women. Nancy Brown (Bennett, NE) and Julie Lockhart (Dunstable, MA) earned stars-and-stripes jerseys in their respective 60-64 and 65+ age-categories, both with extremely strong times.
With a stacked field that included many of the same women who will line up for Sunday's elite contest, the 30-34 master women's race was possibly the fastest of the day despite the thick, late day mud. Rebecca Wellons (Woburn, MA/Ridley Factory Team) charged out of the gate, but suffered an early crash that left her untangling her bike from the course marking tape. Maureen Bruno-Roy (Arlington, MA) picked up the lead and rode strong through the sloppy course conditions to earn the national title. A charging Josie Jacques-Maynes (Capitola, CA/Giant Berry Farms), overtook several riders on the first few laps and picked up an impressive second place finish.
"This course suited me," stated Bruno-Roy. "If it were bone dry it would have been hard for me. The muddy, wet conditions actually made it easier for me."
Another racer who will contest Sunday's elite event, Sue Butler (Portland, OR) gained and held a hefty lead despite battling a broken derailleur in the women's 35-39 category.
TILFORD!
The day's final race saw spectators gather to watch one of the area's most popular racers, Steve Tilford (Topeka, KS) take to the start of the master men's 45-49 contest. With the day's largest field of 120 riders all gunning for the pre-race favorite, the hometown hero did not disappoint. Steve took the lead from the get-go and never looked back, riding to a nearly two minute victory. His closest competition, ex motorcycle National Enduro Champion Kevin Hines (E. Warhem, MA) earned the silver medal in with a strong performance over third place finisher Gunnar Shogren (Morgantown, WV/Fort Factory Team).
DAY 1 NATIONAL CX CHAMPIONS
Women 10-12: Andrea Casebolt
Women 13-14: Elizabeth White...NEBC-Cycleloft-Devonshire
Women 15-16: Coryn Rivera...Team Redline
Women 17-18: Anna Young...Regent Cycling
Men 10-12: Austin Vincent
Men 13-14: Logan Owen
Men 15-16: Jeff Bahnson...C2S-Henry's Bikes
Men 17-18: Luke Keough...CL Noonan
Master Women 30-34: Maureen Bruno-Roy...Independent Fabrication-Wheelworks
Master Women 35-39: Sue Butler...River City Bicycles
Master Women 40-44: Shannon Gibson...Velo Bella-Kona
Master Women 45-49: Catherine Walberg...Team Kenda Tire
Master Women 50-54: Kathy Sarvary...Gearworks Cyclery
Master Women 55-59: Diane Ostenso...Spring Street Sports
Master Women 60-64: Nancy Brown
Master Women 65+: Julie Lockhart...NEBC-Cycleloft
Master Men 45-49: Steve Tilford...KCCX-Verge
CYCLOCROSS NATIONALS DAY 2
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Despite blowing snow and temperatures in the teens, Bjorn Selander (Hudson, WI) gave the crowd one of the most exciting finishes of the U.S. Cyclocross National Championships. Also during day two action, Amy Dombroski (Boulder, CO) successfully defended her U23 crown. Several master men's national titles were awarded, including Andy Jacques-Maynes (Capitola, CA) who solidified his comeback with a win in the men's 30-34 age division.
UNDER 23
With last year's winner Jesse Anthony (Beverly, MA) moving on to the elite ranks, the U23 race was wide open. The new heavy hitters included 2007 Junior CX National Champion Danny Summerhill (Centennial, CO/TIAA-CREF), as well as Bjorn Selander and Jamey Driscoll (Jericho, VT/Fiordifrutta), who finished third and fourth respectively in last year's espoir's.
The 2007 U23 race was exciting from start to finish. After Summerhill blew his chain and early leader Nick Keough (Sandwich, MA/Jittery Joe's-Sonic) faded, it was a battle of two. Selander surged late, catching Driscoll at the top of the stairs heading into the final stretch. Driscoll started an early sprint to the finish and led with 60 feet to go. But Selander caught him just before the line to take the win.
It was arguably one of the most exciting finishes of the weekend. "I knew he was closing in and I was trying to keep on the gas," stated Driscoll. "He is a really good sprinter. We hit the pavement neck and neck and he just kicked it."
Selander whose father is also an accomplished racer, trains part time in Belgium with the U.S. National Development Team. "I'm sort of used to these conditions," said Selander. "I have been riding in snow for weeks in Wisconsin and have also raced in Europe."
UNDER-23 WOMEN
The women braved the frozen early morning conditions to compete in the day's first race. Dombrowski defended her 2006 national title in commanding fashion, riding away from the rest of the field. Collegiate Points Race National Champion, Casey Manderfield (Davisburg, MI/Lees-McRae College) also rode the tough course well to take home the silver.
"The course definitely catered to the power rider today, but you also had to have great technical skill," described Manderfield.
MASTERS 30-34
As the late morning snow began to fall the frozen ground made it a race of who would make the least mistakes. Jacques-Maynes came out on top of another exciting sprint to the finish. Of the over 120 riders who pre-registered for the blustery race only 68 made it to the start for five laps of will-power testing competition. After two laps the field had dwindled down to nearly 40 competitors with the leaders established. Grant Berry (Durango, CO/Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory) rode the majority of the race off the front with a group of riders including Jacques-Maynes, Weston Schempf (Sinking Spring, PA/C3-Sollay), Donald Reeb (Keizer, OR/CMG Racing) and Jacques-Maynes' Cal Giant teammate Justin Robinson (Santa Cruz, CA) chasing.
With Jacques-Maynes closing the gap late, the two leaders got tangled up off the front. Both riders recovered and Jacques-Maynes over powered Berry, winning the sprint and the national title. Jacques-Maynes was thankful for the hard earned victory after suffering from 16 broken bones this year alone, including a devastating collision with a light post at the Morgan Hill Memorial Day Criterium that left him critically injured.
"I needed something to motivate me and this race has been one of my goals since my crash," stated Jacques-Maynes.
MASTERS 35-39
In the master men's 35-39 contest, it was Boulder, CO resident Brandon Dwight who caught race leader Mark McCormack (Foxboro, MA/Cliff Bar) before the pair tangled with a group of lapped riders. Dwight, who had managed to move to the front came out on top of the chaos to win the title.
"On the stair run-ups McCormack bobbled and I was able to get in front of him," explained Dwight. "There were probably 10-15 guys who could have all won, but it was just a matter of how much you crashed today and who kept their cool."
With the course growing increasingly hard, the 40-44 men's race was marked by crashes, including some serious carnage right out of the gate. With over 160 registered competitors, only 90 riders actually braved the harsh, windy conditions. A small group including Will Black (Houston, TX/KCCX Verge) and Gannon Myall (Layfayette, CA/California Giant) led most of the way, but it was James Coats (Campbell, CA) coming all the way from a 12th row start to take the victory.
"I tried not to panic and just take it steady," said former motocross and mountain biker Coats. "It was the kind of conditions where the harder you go the slower you go."
In the men's 50-54 race it was multi-time Norba Champ Ned Overend (Durango, CO) taking victory despite an early race mechanical that left him running for the pits. Silver medalist Mark Kutney (Charlottesville, VA/Van Dessel) was the only man to get within two minutes of Overend.
"Ned made a surge and I was holding on from there," said Kutney. "You really had to watch it as things were getting icy out there."
Another Charlottesville native, Fred Wittwer earned the stars-and-stripes jersey in the 55-59 age division in a combined contest on the 1.91-mile course at Wyandotte County Park.
U.S. CX NATIONALS DAY 2 CHAMPIONS
U23 Men: Bjorn Selander...Ridley Factory
U23 Women: Amy Dombroski...Excel Sports
Master Men 30-34: Andy Jacques-Maynes...Cal Giant
Master Men 35-39: Brandon Dwight...Boulder Cycle Sport
Master Men 40-44: James Coats...Morgan Stanley-Specialized
Master Men 50-54: Ned Overend...Specialized
Master Men 55-59: Fred Wittwer...Charlottesville Racing
ELITE CYCLOCROSS CHAMP'S
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It took Tim Johnson (Middleton, MA) seven years and a return to Kansas City, KS, but he reclaimed his title as the U.S. Cyclocross National Champion. The 2000 National Champ outrode last year's World Championship Silver Medalist, Jonathan Page (Northfield, NH/Sunwebprojob) and a bevy of talented riders. Part-time mountain biker Katie Compton (Colorado Spring, CO) earned her fourth consecutive national title in the elite women's race, taking off from the gun and never looking back.
Although Page went off the front at the start, a small group, including Johnson and a mountain bike chase trio comprised of Todd Wells (Durango, CO), Ryan Trebon (Bend, OR/Kona-Yourkey) and Barry Wicks (Santa Cruz, CA), was able to track him down in the early going. As the lead group spread apart a mishap occurred with a rider flying through the tape, colliding head on with defending National Champion Trebon and forcing him out of the competition.
With Page back out front Johnson mounted his attack with two laps to go. The two riders were then neck-in-neck approaching the pits when Page ran off course and became tangled in the tape. Johnson used the opportunity to take off with the lead, riding to his second career national championship.
"It feels so good to be able to say I won this thing," said Johnson. "I haven't been able to wear the stars-and-stripes in a long time."
ELITE WOMEN
To the surprise of very few, last year's Cyclocross World Championship Silver Medalist, Compton, jumped out to an early lead and went on to earn another stars-and-stripes jersey. U.S. Super D National Champion, Rachel Lloyd (Fairfax, CA) did however catch the eye of many as she rode strongly into the second spot, closing the gap on Compton in the final pair of laps. Fresh U.S. Grand Prix of Cyclocross Champion and 2006 Norba Champ Georgia Gould (Ketchum, ID) held down the third spot despite battling the rough, frozen course.
"I'd definitely say this one was the toughest," stated Compton of her fourth consecutive national title. "The U.S. women are very, very strong."
COLLEGIATE NATIONALS
In the morning's collegiate contest, fresh U23 National Champ's runner-up Jamey Driscoll (Jericho, VT) wouldn't settle for the silver once again, successfully defending his collegiate national title. Driscoll quickly found himself in second place once again as Joey Thompson (Durango, CO/Fort Lewis College) took off with the holeshot. Thompson ran into trouble however around a lap-and-a-half into the four lap affair, suffering two flats.
"I noticed a flat just after the run-up by the pond," said Thompson. "I tried to ride, but ended up running to get back to the pit. By that time I was in third and had to catch back up."
Driscoll used the time to take a lofty lead and ride away with his second collegiate national cyclocross title in as many years. Thompson resurged to win an important battle for the silver over Aaron Bradford (Banner Elk, NC) of rival Lees-McRae College.
COLLEGIATE WOMEN
Kasey Manderfield (Davisburg, MI) helped lead her Lees-McRae College team with a win in the collegiate women's contest. Several familiar names stood atop the podium at the end of the day. Earning her third individual national title, including two on the track, Manderfield jumped out to an early lead, starting up front and avoiding an early race pileup. Several riders including Stephanie White (Bedford, NH) of the University of New Hampshire went hard on the chase, but ultimately couldn't catch the leader. White went on to earn the silver while Amanda Miller (Burlington, IA/Colorado State University), the reigning collegiate cross-country mountain bike runner up, took home the bronze.
"I missed yesterday's U23 race because I was stuck in the snow storm on my way here," explained Miller. "In this race I crashed in the big pileup out of the gate as it was pretty icy. But I am very happy I was able to make it here today for this race."
SINGLE SPEEDS
The day's early action included the Single Speed National Championship race. Marko Lalonde (Madison, WI) earned that national title around 30 seconds ahead of Silver Medalist and 1999 Norba Champ Travis Brown (Durango, CO/Trek).
OLD MEN
Lewis Rollins (Salt Lake City, UT), brother to Black Flag's Henry, rode to the title in the 60-64 age group while R. Willmore (Seal Beach, CA) took home the stars-and-stripes jersey in the 65-69 category. Walt Axthelm (Durango, CO) won bragging rights as the event's eldest national champion in the 70+ division.
U.S. CYCLOCROSS NATIONAL RESULTS
1. Tim Johnson...Cannondale-Leer-Cyclocrossworld...51:58
2. Jonathan Page...Sunweb-Projob...52:06
3. Todd Wells...GT..52:52
4. Barry Wicks...Kona-Yourkey...54:09
5. Troy Wells...Clif Bar...55:25
6. Andy Jacques-Maynes...Cal Giant-Specialized...55:36
7. Bart Gillespie...Mona vie-Cannondale...55:44
8. Tristan Schouten...Planet Bike...55:49
9. Erik Tonkin...Kona Les Gets...55:57
10. Jeremy Powers...Cyclocrossworld...56:17
WOMEN
1. Katie Compton...Spike Shooter...33:47
2. Rachel Lloyd...Proman-Paradigm...34:09
3. Georgia Gould...Luna Chix...35:04
4. Kerry Barnholt...Tokyo Joe's-Van Dessel...35:40
5. Maureen Bruno-Roy...Independent Fabrication...36:08
6. Sue Butler...River City Bicycles...37:34
7. Shelly Olds...California Giant Berry Farms...37:57
8. Melissa Thomas...Maxxis-Lightspeed...38:03
9. Amy Wallace...RGM Watches-Sachs...38:04
10. Wendy Williams...River City Bicycles...38:06
DAY 3 AMATEUR CLASS CHAMPIONS
Collegiate Men Division I: Jamey Driscoll...University of Vermont)
Collegiate Women Division I: Kasey Manderfield...Lees-McRae College)
Single Speed: Marko Lalonde...Bob's Brown Cycles
Master Men 60-64: Lewis Rollins...Contender Bicycles
Master Men 65-69: R. Willmore...Celo Pacific
Master Men 70+: Walt Axthelm...Durango Wheel Club