Another Helmet Camera Video

Jim Gentes, who provided a helmet camera video from Thursday's 40+ Men's B race, is back with a video from the Masters Men 50+ race on Saturday. Click here for the start and Part I. Click here for Part II and the finish.

Video Emerges Of Ryan Trebon's Crash

Defending national Men's Elite champion Ryan Trebon was knocked out of this year's race when another rider crossed over the course into his path.

A bystander caught the violent collision on tape:

We'll See You Next Year

Thank you for attending and/or following the action at the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships in Kansas City.

Help spread the word about the 2008 event. Mark your calendar for Dec. 11-14. We'll see you next year.

Day Four Race Report Now Posted

On the fourth and final day of the 2007 Cyclocross Nationals in Kansas City, the sun came out and seven new national champions were crowned.

Read all about it on the official event website.

Post-Race Party Tonight at Dave And Buster's

Registered athletes and KCCX staff and volunteers are welcome to attend tonight's post-race party at Dave and Buster's, 1843 Village West Parkway in The Legend's shopping village.

D&B game cards, worth $5, were distributed in competitor gift bags that were given out at packet pick-up.

Johnson Wins Again In Kansas City

Tim Johnson attacked Jonathan Page on the second-to-last time up the hill to the finish line and never relinquished the lead on the way to winning the Men's Elite title at the USA Cycling National Cyclocross Championships Sunday at Wyandotte County Park.

Johnson, this year's USGP series runner-up, threw his bike into the muddy ditch after the finish line and let out a big yell as the crowd cheered him on.

When the national cyclocross championships were last in Kansas City in 2000, Johnson was the winner.

Local favorite Steve Tilford of Topeka, Kan., double-flatted two times during the race.

Click here for official race results.

Men's Elite Turning Into Three-Man Race

Jonathan Page, Todd Wells and Tim Johnson are duking it out with five laps to go in the Men's Elite race at the USA Cycling National Cyclocross Championships.

The trio has distanced themselves from the field - and defending champion Ryan Trebon is out of the race, having crashed into another rider with six laps to go.

Jason Lowetz, is proving to be a popular rider back in the field. The Glendale, Calif., resident has taped one dollar bills all over his jersey, perhaps inviting the crowd to "reach out" to him.

Click here to all the action with live play-by-play on cyclingnews.com.

Compton Makes It Four Straight

Katie Compton (Spike) of Colorado Springs, Colo., made it four straight Women's Elite national championship titles Sunday. Rachel Lloyd (ProMan) was second and Georgia Gould (Luna) was third.

Compton was the silver medalist at the 2007 UCI Cyclocross World Championships last January. The 29-year-old is currently the No. 2-ranked female cyclocross racer in the world, according to the latest UCI ratings.

The men's race will get underway at a little after 1 p.m.

Women's Elite Race Is Underway

A huge crowd packed the barriers near the finish line for the call-ups prior to the Women's Elite race.

Three-time defending national champion Katie Compton was the first of eight riders called up. She coasted down the hill to the starting grid moments before Bonner Springs Mayor Clausie Smith thanked the crowd for coming to Kansas and apologized for the snow and cold.

Cyclingnews.com is providing live play-by-play of the race. Click here to follow the action.

The 'Real' Masters Champions

Salt Lake City's Lewis Rollins won the Masters 60-64 men's race Sunday and Lee Wilmore of Seal Beach, Calif., was the Masters 65-69 champion and Walt Axthelm of Durango, Colo., took home the stars-and-stripes jersey in the Masters 70+ division.

A total of 12 racers contested the two-lap race, which featured all three categories.

They enjoyed warming temperatures (23 degrees) and sunny skies. With the warm-up, the course was beginning to show more signs of mud.

Driscoll Wins Collegiate Men's Race

Jamey Driscoll of the University of Vermont cruised to the Collegiate Men's national cyclocross title.

One of the top contenders, Joey Thompson of Fort Lewis College, flatted twice and finished second.

Driscoll Leads Collegiate Men's Race

Jamey Driscoll (Fiordifrutta) won't be sprinting it out at the finish line of today's Collegiate Men's race.

With two laps to go, Driscoll - riding for the University of Vermont - is well on his way to a decisive win in the race that features more than 140 competitors.

You Can't Miss This Guy

You won't have much trouble spotting Stephen Williamson making his way around the Wyandotte County Park course.

He's the one wearing more than two dozen cowbells all over his coveralls.

Williamson, a Zimbabwe native who lives in Albuquerque, N.M., is the coach of the Nob Hill Velo junior team.

"I've been collecting cowbells since our junior camp in 2000," Williamson said. "I decided in Rhode Island a couple years ago to put 'em all on at once."

Kacey Manderfield Wins For Lees-McRae

Kacey Manderfield of Lees-McRae College won the Collegiate Women's race, then stayed and cheered on her remaining teammates as they rolled through the finish line.

The Banner Elk, N.C., resident won the three-lap race on a course that is still hard-frozen and rutty. The Chamois Butt'r Way - site of two artificial barriers on Thursday and Friday - was deemed too dangerous again on Sunday morning to include the six-inch wooden obstacles.

Collegiate Women's Race Starts With Pile-Up

If you were racing in the Collegiate Women's race, chances are you hit the deck on the first turn.

Only about the first 15 riders made it through the right-hander that's about 30 meters after the finish line before rider after rider piled up in a crash.

There are 51 riders registered for this race.

Marko LaLonde Wins Singlespeed Race

Marko LaLonde of Madison, Wisc., powered across the finish line first to win the non-championship Singlespeed category race.

LaLonde took the lead midway through the first of five laps and with two laps to go, his lead was 35 seconds. Turning times of just about eight-and-a-half-minutes a lap, LaLonde was within a few seconds of posting the best lap times of the entire event - a mark currently held by Steve Tilford in the Masters 45-49 race.

“The main thing was staying upright because it was so rutted," LaLonde. "You had to stay really light on the handlebars and let the ruts take you. If you tried to fight it, you were going down."

Patrick Morrissey of Albuquerque, N.M., surprised even himself by moving up six places on the final lap to finish fourth.

“I was just thinking I had to put together a clean lap and I did,” Morrissey said.

Singlespeed Race Underway

More than a hundred competitors were registered for the Singlespeed race and it looks like nearly all of them made it to the start line for the first race of the day.

David Meyer of Hudson, Wisc., took the holeshot but Lincoln, Neb., rider Tony Wilhelm moved into the lead by the time the race reached the first trip through the pit area chicane.

Wilhelm, riding a mountain bike, was followed closely by Travis Brown of Durango, Colo., who is riding a cyclocross bike. One woman has even decided to give it a go.

Final Day Of Racing One Hour Away

At 7 a.m., it is still dark here at Wyandotte County Park. But in one hour, the first of six races today goes off.

The singlespeed category is first up, followed by the collegiate women at 9, the collegiate men at 10 and the Masters Men (60-64, 65-69 and 70+ divisions) at 11.

The Elite Women go off at noon, followed by the Elite Men at 1 p.m.

Temperatures will be bitterly cold, but there is no snow in the forecast. It is 14 degrees right now and, with clear skies, the temperature may drop into the single digits before it begins rising later this morning. The good news is that the wind is hardly blowing compared to yesterday's 20 mph gusts.

First word back from competitors pre-riding the course is that it is "very rideable and very fast" at this point.

The Personal Prospective

Many racers are blogging about their experiences at this year's national championships. Here's a sample:

Amy Dombroski, winner of the Under 23 Women
Steve Tilford, winner of the 45-49 Masters
Brandon Dwight, winner of the 35-39 Masters
Chris Locke, Masters 40-44 competitor

Today's Stories Now Posted with Photos

Full stories and photos of today's snowy action are now available on the official website for the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships:

http://www.kccrossnationals.com/NEW_SITE/Photos/news3.html

Sunday's Weather

The final day of the USA Cycling National Cyclocross Championships will be a lot like Thursday: partly sunny, with temperatures in the low 30s. However, it will be a very chilly start to the first race at 8 a.m., when the temperature is only expected to be 16 degrees. The wind is not expected to be as brisk as it was on Saturday.

As for the snowfall total at the Wyandotte County Park course, unofficially, it amounted to nearly three inches. (Pictured: Ally Stacher of Lees-McRae, making her way between the flakes in the Under 23 race. Photo by John Peterson.)

Race Added To Sunday's Schedule

In order to offer the best race conditions possible, USA Cycling will re-run three races on Sunday: the Masters Men 60-64, Masters Men 65-69 and Masters Men 70+ age groups.

The race will be a 30 minutes in duration and take place during a break that was originally an open course practice period.

These categories were originally part of the final race of the Saturday schedule.

Taking A Bite Out Of KCCX

Three guys standing near the finish line Saturday afternoon drew a lot of second glances because of their unusual outfits.

They were dressed as sharks.

It was all in fun to help cheer on Masters 50-54 competitor of Chris Clausen.

So what does Clausen have to do with sharks? He rides for the Big Shark Racing Team out of St. Louis.

Ned Overend Takes Another One

Ned Overend added to his already impressive list of achievements with a win in the Masters Men 50-54 division in the final race of the day on Saturday afternoon.

Overend said he never felt quite in control, despite a sizeable lead. The Durango, Colo., resident said he "jacked up" his shoulder in a hard fall early in the race.

“Even in the end, you had to be ready to put your foot down," Overend said. "Your front wheel was just skittering all over the place. There was one line but when we were lapping riders, you had to go outside of that line.”

Ned Overend Leads The Final Race Of The Day

Specialized's Ned Overend of Durango, Colo., scored the holeshot in the final race of the day. Four age categories - 50-54, 55-59, 60-64 and 65+ - are racing on the course simultaneously as the snow continues to fall. Snowfall estimates range from 2-3 inches, though the course itself is mostly hard-frozen mud.

After leading for the first lap, Overend suffered a mechanical and had to run his bike for a time until he reached the service pit.

Mishaps Include Broken Hand

The medical crew on hand at this year's race has been kept busy. Injuries have ranged from hard bumps and bruises to a broken hand and even a leg wound caused by impalement by a plastic course stake. One rider in the Masters 35-39 race even crashed face-first onto the frozen course, cutting his chin.

Alan Coats Wins Masters 40-44

Alan (James) Coats of Campbell, Calif., didn't let a 12th row start get in the way of winning the Masters 40-44 race.

"I was here in 2000 when it was snow and ice and I swore then that I'd never be back," Coats said.

Troy Tucker turned heads by crossing the finish line with his bike on his shoulder. The Nashville, Tenn., rolled his front tire off the rim on the final trip up the stairs and had to run the final 600 meters.

Riding The Course Is Like 'Jumping On A Tram'

So how is the race course at Wyandotte County Park holding up in Saturday's barrage of large fields, sub-freezing temperatures and blowing snow?

Race announcer John Lefler, Jr., an experienced cyclocross competitor, race promoter and president of the Nebraska Cycling Association, provided this assessment:

"It's almost the other side of the spectrum from yesterday," Lefler said. "It got so muddy late in the afternoon with the lines changing on every lap. Today, it's like this hard-packed, snow and ice surface. Amazingly, when you go through the sections that aren't pedestrian crossings, it's almost like riding on a paved surface. The lines are starting to really be developed.

"It's like jumping on a tram. It's grooved in and it goes. As long as you're on the right track, you'll go."

Brandon Dwight Wins Masters 35-39

Brandon Dwight of Boulder, Colo., successfully avoided the traffic of a host of lapped riders to win the Masters Men 35-39 race. The rider who was chasing him for the last two laps, Frank McCormack, crashed into a lapped rider in the final 600 meters, losing out on his chance to contest a sprint with Dwight.

Also, what was supposed to be a field of 170 riders was decimated by a host of no-shows. Only 93 riders - still a hefty field - actually started the race.

Largest Race Of The Event Underway

The Masters Men's 35-39 field - 170 riders strong and the largest field of the entire national championships - blasted out of the starting grid at 1:14 p.m. The sheer number of competitors delayed the start as officials scurried to get the riders in position.

Despite the blowing snow and bitter cold, a good crowd of spectators has turned out to watch the start.

Pulled Pork, Chili and A Breakfast Burrito

Famous Dave's BBQ is doing brisk business in the Expo tent, serving up warm, delicious fare that includes pulled pork and chicken sandwiches, hamburgers, chili, breakfast burritos and plenty of Boulevard Brewing Company beer to wash it all down.

The top selling items Saturday at lunchtime: pulled pork sandwiches and chili. Beer sales, they say, have lagged as the temperature has dropped.

Andy Jacques-Maynes Wins Men's 30-34

On Memorial Day Weekend, Andy Jacques-Maynes suffered a horrific crash at a race in Morgan Hill, Calif. He broke 16 bones and wasn't sure if he would even be back on the bike this season.

But Saturday morning, it was Jacques-Maynes (California Giant Berry Farms) of Capitola, Calif., who crossed the finish line first in the Men's 30-34 race, beating Grant Berry of Durango, Colo.

Afterwards, Jacques-Maynes said it was so cold that his contact lenses began to ice up.

It's Snowing Again As 30-34 Men Underway

Snow is falling again and it's not getting any warmer at the third day of the USA Cycling National Cyclocross Championships.

In between the Under 23 Men's race and the start of the Men's 30-34 race, race support staff used a pick-up truck equipped with a snow plow to clear snow and ice from the finish line area.

From the "It Wasn't Meant To Be" category, Specialized's Wiley Mosley of Latham, N.Y., continued his string of misfortune at the national championships. Thursday, Mosley had his chain break at the start of the Men's 30-39 B race - which forced him to run his bicycle nearly half the course to the service pit.

Saturday, Mosley was rounding the first turn, 300 meters after the start, when he lost traction and went down. The ensuing pile-up put him at the bottom of a pile of cyclists. When Mosley finally got up, he gathered his bike and headed for the comfort of a warm trailer rather than continuing on.

Selander Wins Under 23 Men In Sprint Finish

Bjorn Selander of the Ridley Factory Team outsprinted Jamey Driscoll (FiordiFrutta) in a finish that looked more like a criterium sprint than the finish of a cyclocross race.

The two sprinted it out up the final uphill slushy stretch of pavement, with Selander only taking the lead with 50 meters to go.

Driscoll Leads With A Lap To Go

Jamey Driscoll of Jericho, Vermont, holds a nine-second lead over Bjorn Selander of Hudson, Wisc., with one lap remaining in the Under 23 men's race.

Danny Summerhill of Centennial, Colo., is locked in a battle for third place. Summerhill finished second at the World Cyclocross Championships in Hooglede-Gits, Belgium, last January. In that race, he battled back from a crash with two laps to go to earn the silver medal.

The race is going much longer than the planned 45 minutes because of the variations in lap times between the first two laps and the third.

Under 23 Men Will Have New Champion

The Under 23 men's race will have a new champion this year, now that Jesse Anthony has moved on to the elite men's ranks.

With 79 competitors, this is a fairly large field.

The snow has stopped falling, but the gusty north wind has dropped the temperature to 21 degrees, with a wind chill in the single digits.

Dombroski Repeats As Under 23 Champ

Velo Bella-Kona's Amy Dombroski of Boulder, Colo., won the Under 23 women's race as snow continued to fall at Kansas City's Wyandotte County Park.

Dombroski's lap times, on average, took about 12 minutes on the snow-packed, icy course. That was the same pace as riders in the Junior Men 10-12 race Friday morning, who enjoyed a much smoother ride over frozen grass.

SRAM Keeps The Racers Rolling

SRAM’s crack neutral support team of Butch Balzano, Jose Alcala and Merlyn Townley are keeping the competitors rolling at this year’s USA Cycling National Cyclocross Championships.

Balzano said every day has brought a little something different.

“As the sun came up on the first day (Thursday), it got a little muddy, which changed the dynamics of the race and the bikes got a lot dirtier,” Balzano said. “Because it’s really cold today, we’re expecting the bikes won’t get as dirty, so it’ll be a case of keeping the lube on the chain. I don’t think we’ll have as many bike changes.

Keeping spare bikes clean comes at a price in sub-freezing temperatures, Balzano said.

“The water from the bike wash would freeze in the cables and the drive train and then the bike wouldn’t shift,” he said.

SRAM is based out of Providence, R.I., and has provided neutral support and service at more than 100 events this year.

First Up: Under 23 Women

The first racers out of the starting grid Saturday morning will be the Under 23 women.

With snow steadily falling and yesterday's muddy course now hard-packed and frozen, the race promises to be completely different from the first two days of competition.

There are 20 racers expected to compete in this race, including defending champion Amy Dombroski of Boulder, Colo. However, word back from the start line is that there are many no-shows.

Snow Is Falling

The first flakes of snow began falling in Kansas City much later than originally forecast, but the predicted accumulations of four to six inches at Wyandotte County Park still stands for Saturday.

Of bigger concern to the competitors will be a biting wind out of the northeast, which is gusting to 20 mph. With the temperature standing at 23 degrees at 7:30 a.m., the "feels like" temperature is only 11 degrees.

The local forecast calls for snow to continue through mid-afternoon, with the heaviest accumulations occurring between 6 and 10 a.m.

Putting You On Board...

An intrepid competitor in the Men's B 40+ race offers video of a lap around the Wyandotte County Park course shot from a camera mounted on his helmet during Thursday's race.

Click here to ride the first half of the course with Jim Gentes of Soquel, Calif.

Haven't seen enough? Click here to watch the second half of his ride, including his sprint to the finish.

Full Report on Cross Nats Day 2 Now Posted

Find a full summary of today's races, action photos, and list of new 2007 cyclocross national champions by clicking here.

Snow Will Be Most Intense Saturday Morning

KCTV Chief Meteorologist Katie Horner warns that the winter storm that will move through Kansas City tonight and Saturday will reach its highest intensity Saturday morning.

"Visibility will be reduced to a quarter of a mile and with the wind gusting to 20 miles an hour, the wind chill will be five to 10 degrees," Horner said during the CBS station's 5 p.m. newscast.

All races for Saturday are a go, said Race Director Bill Marshall of KLM Marketing Solutions. However, racers are reminded to allow plenty of travel time to the Wyandotte County course because of the adverse driving conditions that are expected.

Steve Tilford Handily Wins Masters 45-49

Tilford led wire-to-wire in winning the Masters 45-49 title.
Steve Tilford of Topeka, Kan., wo the Masters 45-49 race by nearly two minutes in the final race of the day.

It was the now five-time national cyclocross champion's ninth win of the season (and his fourth in a cyclocross race) and adds to an already impressive career that includes five world mountain bike masters championships.

"I woke up pretty nervous today," he said. "It's different from when I was winning mountain bike worlds. After I won that a few times, I kind of got more of a relief than actual happiness so I kind of quit going at that point. Cyclocross is just plain fun. Even when I was wallowing in the mud today, I liked it."

And what about that mud - which was as deep as four inches in some spots?

"It's like sand, you just have to let your front end go," he said.

The bigger concern than the course conditions during his race, Tilford said, was navigating through a host of lapped riders. On his final trip through the Chamois Buttr' Way barrier section, he was the last of a group of nine to enter the stretch - and first to emerge - all in a span of less than 150 meters.

"I actually felt kind of bad passing all those guys," Tilford said. "A lot of the time they come to nationals and that's their whole goal - not to be lapped."

Any chance for a victory in Sunday's Elite Men's race?

"Realistically, four or five guys would have to have pretty off days for me to win the race," he said. "A good result for me in that race would be between fifth and 12th place. You look at the speeds and the maturity of the sport in the last three years and the way it's going now guys are really keying in on it."

Largest Field Of The Day Set To Go

Exactly 120 riders are toeing the start line for the final race of the day. The "feels like" temperature is 28 degrees. Topeka, Kan., resident Steve Tilford is the favorite, having already won four national titles. Last week, he traveled to Tulsa, Okla., and won the Oklahoma state cyclocross race.

A large crowd has gathered around the barriers surrounding the first turn of the race, which is just after the finish line, and about 250-300 meters from the starting grid.

Sue Butler Takes Women's 35-39 Crown

Sue Butler of Portland, Ore., won the Masters Women 35-39 race ahead of Lincoln, Neb., rider Sydney Brown - who only started bicycle racing a year ago.

Maureen Bruno Roy of Arlington, Mass., was the winner of the Masters Women 30-34 race.

Catherine Walberg Wins Masters 45-49

First to congratulate Catherine Walberg of Topeka, Kan., on her win in the Masters Women 45-49 race was four-time cyclocross national champion Steve Tilford, who also hails from Walberg's hometown of Topeka, Kan.

"That was awesome, so awesome," Tilford said as he emphatically hugged Walberg.

Walberg said the friends and family and fans who cheered her on are the ones who helped "make it happen."

"I really felt motivated by them," she said. "There was a lot of pressure for this race because I won last year. It is practically our hometown and we want to do everything right."

Walberg said she rode the course with Tilford Thursday afternoon and then again Friday morning.

"Steve showed me all the lines," she said.

Still, Walberg said she struggled at the beginning of her 45-minute event.

"At the start, I was kind of frozen in place but then about mid-race I started to really get going. I settled in and really let the course help me win."

Shannon Gibson of El Paso, Texas, won the Women's 40-44 race.

Second Session Underway

The sun is gone. The wind is picking up. And racing in Friday afternoon's session is underway at the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships.

The snow that is expected to fall later today and through the night will provide a welcome relief from the thick muck that has slowed speeds to a crawl for the women as they rode through the zig-zag section near the pits.

A bit of comic relief emerged during intermission: Race announcer Dave Towle said a WTB saddle was among the items in the lost and found bin.

Junior Men's Results Are Posted

SportsBaseOnline has posted all of the Junior Men's results to the official event website, www.kccrossnationals.com.

Click here to go directly to the results page.

Barriers Are Back In

Bill Marshall's KLM Marketing Solutions staffers worked quickly in the "intermission" portion of Friday's schedule to ready the course for three more races in the afternoon.

Staffers dumped sandbag after sandbag into several inches of mud as the wooden barriers were put back in place. They had been removed after the first race of the morning when officials deemed that stretch of the course too dangerous because of the slick, icy terrain.

Contrast that with the sloppy muck that now leads up to "Chamois Butt'r Way" - the barrier section that runs adjacent to the Expo tent. As one competitor described it, "it's the kind of mud you step into wondering if your shoe is going to come back out of it when you pull your foot out."

Luke Keough Wins Junior Men 17-18

Luke Keough of Sandwich, Mass., won the Junior Men 17-18 race, moving up a category this year after winning the 2006 Junior Men 15-16 title.

Zach McDonald of Bainbridge Island, Wash., rode a wheelie across the line for second place, while Eric Emsky of Fall City, Wash., was third.

The race completes the morning session. Next up - at 1 p.m. - is the Masters Women race, which comprises five different age categories.

KLM Marketing Solutions staffers will spend the next hour working to get the course ready for the afternoon session. And yes, snow is on the way. Watch the radar here.

'It's Just Insane Out There'

The chatter in the crowd Friday morning is about the snow, according to one of the race announcers, John Lefler, Jr.

"It's all about if, and when, and how much snow we are going to get," Lefler said. "Depending on how much snow we get, it could really help things. Right now, it's just insane out there."

Lefler said snow will change the complexion of the course dramatically.

"I think what you'll find is that a lot of riders who came to this race with great form are going to feel mentally zapped," he said. "It's like you have a Porsche, but you're driving it in two feet of snow.

"It's going to be who can handle their bike the best. It won't be about power."

What A Way To Get Started

Joseph Schmalz of Team X Cycling probably didn't figure his toughest competitor Friday would be some barrier tape and a plastic stake.

But that's exactly what the Lawrence, Kan., resident was wrestling with just moments into the Junior Men 17-18 race. Schmalz veered off course, which wrapped the tape and stake around his bike.

He immediately dismounted, but removing the tape and stake from between his frame and wheels was not an easy task. A minute later, he was back on his bike, but already hundreds of meters behind the field.

Bahnson Wins Junior Men's Race

Jeff Bahnson of Newark, Del. won the Junior Men's 15-16 race with local racer Chris Wallace of Team X of Shawnee Mission, Kan., finishing second.

Also competing in the same race, Logan Owen of Bremerton, Wash., won the Junior Men's 13-14 division, while Austin Vincent of Wheatogue, Conn., was the Junior Men 10-12 winner.

Chamois Butt'r Way Barriers Removed

The artificial barriers in “Chamois Butt’r Way” were removed following the first race Friday morning over concerns about the competitors’ safety.

Icy, hardened ground made it dangerous for competitors to negotiate the two six-inch high wooden barriers that run parallel to the Expo tent, so USA Cycling officials made the decision to remove them.

Pending an afternoon warm-up, the barriers may be put back in place for races later in the day.

Anna Young Wins Junior Women 17-18

Anna Young of Madison, Wisc., won the Junior Women's 17-18 division race Friday, beating Michelle Morris of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Coryn Rivera of Tustin, Calif., took the Junior Women's 15-16 title. Andrea Casebolt of Olympia, Wash., was the Junior Women's 10-12 winner, while Elizabeth White of Bedford, N.H. won the Junior Women's 13-14 race.

Complete results for all Junior Women's categories can be found here.

And We Are Underway...

The first race of the day - Junior Women 10-12, 13-14, 15-16 and 17-18 - is underway on a sunny, bone-chilling Friday.

With a wind blowing out of the northeast, it feels colder than the 21 degrees showing on the thermometer.

The youngest competitors in this first race had trouble negotiating the first off-camber, right-hand turn. Many fell off their bikes and had trouble getting their footing on the hardened ground that was slick from frost.

The course is extremely rutty from yesterday's mud-fest. Already, two competitors have had to receive medical treatment after taking hard falls.

The Latest On That Winter Storm

The talk of Kansas City is snow - and plenty of it.

A winter storm watch is in effect for the Kansas City area and KCTV5 Chief Meteorologist Katie Horner said competitors at the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships can expect a fresh blanket of snow on the course for Saturday's races.

Snow will begin to fall late Friday afternoon, Horner said, and continue through early Saturday afternoon. The heaviest snow will occur overnight, through to about 7 o'clock that morning.

Accumulations will range between two and four inches, Horner said, with five to seven inches on the ground in areas south of Kansas City.

Looking For Some New Wheels?

What better place to try out some new wheels than a national championship event?

Zipp is inviting participants at the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships to experience the perfect cyclocross wheelset for every course and weather condition.

Sign up at the Bike Source area in the Expo tent and try out a set of Zipp's newest wheels. Race 'em, ride 'em or just check 'em out before you buy them or you put them on your Christmas wish list.

All it takes is a driver's license and you're on your way. First-come, first-served, though, because quantities are limited.

Morrissey Wins Day's Muddiest Race

The course thawed to a viscous mess in some places by the noon start of the men’s race. Suddenly, risks that seemed outrageous earlier in the day were within reason for the 118 competitors who lined up at the start.

The course’s first turn also had become a prime viewing sight, since slippery grass made crashing inevitable in the earlier races. But Steve Songer (Team X Cycling), 46, of Overland Park, Kan. collected the holeshot and flawlessly pulled the field through the turn without incident. Songer quickly faded into the pack, though, as eventual winner Patrick Morrissey of Albuquerque, N.M., (NM Team Cross) made his way forward. By the time he reached the barriers, Morrissey was in command and on his way to winning the 45-minute race by 37 seconds.

“One of the keys is to go well up the pavement and then I think if you overcook it on the pavement, you’ll pay,” he said. “So I just kind of took it easy up the pavement and then I had plenty left once we got into the dirt.

“You’re constantly looking at the course, constantly looking for a better line and when you’re alone, you can find it,” he said. “I did go down on one corner – I just didn’t respect it.”

Behind him, the field strung out in gaps ranging from three seconds to more than a minute. Troy Krause (Lincoln Industries-Lemond) went on to finish second, Darron Cheek (A Racers Edge) was third and Brent Evans (Color Me Safe) and Andy Lucas (X Racing) rounded out the podium in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Bavineau Overcomes Mishaps

In his own words, Beverly, Mass., resident Marc Bavineau (ECV), 31, rode a race “fueled by adrenaline" to capture the win in the B men’s 30-39 category. Raw power became his tool, which he used to carve out a victory.

“Over the course of the first lap I moved to the front and a couple guys in front of me bobbled,” Bavineau said. “Then I got a chance to get up front. From there, I just didn’t look back. I crashed twice, ripped a shifter off my bike and rode half a lap with no rear brake or shifting.”

Despite those mishaps, he recovered fast enough to put a 25-second lead into second-place Gary Douville (NEBC – CycleLoft) by the end. He said his win erases the frustration of a number of runner-up finishes. At last year’s national championships, Bavineau was 58th in the 30-34 age group race.

Farther back at the start of the race, Wiley Mosley (Specialized – North Atlantic Velo) stomped on his pedals a bit too eagerly and snapped his chain.

“The first 40 or 50 yards, my chain broke and I had to run,” Mosley said. “I don’t really know how far, but quite far.”

On foot, Mosley sped for the pits, where he momentarily ran helter-skelter looking for his backup bike. With the new bike beneath him, Mosley took off to redeem a lousy start and he succeeded – somewhat – by weaving his way through traffic to finish 40th out of 117 starters. Mosley will take his chances two more times this weekend in the 30-34 men’s and single-speed categories.

Knapp Overcomes Poor Starting Spot

Fourteen-year-old Jeff Bahnson (C2S – Henry’s) lit a pace hot enough to worry – or at least confuse – some of the more experienced racers in the field of the first men’s race of the event. Bahnson hauled the field around for two laps until fatigue started to take prisoners. Ryan Knapp of Columbus, Ind., (BikeReg.com), whose starting position at the back put him at a disadvantage for a podium finish, succeeded in steadily moving up until he was in reach of the lead.

“I wasn’t even sure if I was coming out here so I registered about two weeks ago and ended up in the second-to-the-last starting row,” Knapp said. “The long road section gave us a chance to kind of spread it out and move up before it got into the single-track. There was that young 14-year-old kid and he was leading for a good while. Luckily, a couple people had some bobbles, which kind of brought it back together, and I was able to keep it upright for the last two or three laps.”

Had 23-year-old Knapp decided to sit this one out today, the win might have gone to a local racer, Adam Lang (Team X Cycling) from Olathe, Kan., who came in 42 seconds after Knapp.

Boni Fends Off Rivals' Attacks

The B women’s category kicked off this year’s USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships at Wyandotte County Park less than two days after a headline-making ice storm moved through the region. Thirty-one women lined up at 9 a.m. to literally break in the championship course, which was covered with a veneer of ice left over from the storm.

Kristal Boni of Broomfield, Colo., (Twin Peaks Racing) took the holeshot and never relinquished her lead, fending off attacks by rivals Deb Whitmore (Asheville BRC), Shawnee Brenner (unattached), Corey Coogan (Ridley), and Lauri Webber (Henry’s).

“I took off and had a lead with a girl right behind me – she seemed to be a little bit stronger in the corners, so I just tried to keep digging out of the corners,” Boni said. “She got me a couple times in corners and I just kept pushing through. Then I could see Shawnee and a few other girls start to close in on us, so I really just tried to keep the gas on and keep going.”

By the race’s midpoint, Boni managed to open up a five-second gap over Whitmore, who led the group of Brenner, Webber, and Coogan. A last-lap effort by Brenner put her in second, ahead of Webber, who finished third. Whitmore was fourth and Coogan fifth to round out the podium.

“Kristal and I race together at home and we’ve been battling it out for the last two years, kind of finishing one after the other pretty much every race,” Brenner said. “We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and I knew if she kept it upright, she had me today.”

Boni and Brenner will go at it again on Friday at 2 p.m. in the women’s 30-34 championship.

Pictures... And Lots Of 'Em

All the colorful, exciting action of this year's USA Cycling National Cyclocross Championships is being captured by the cameras of Action Images.

Photographer Kurt Jambretz and his crew are shooting every race at Wyandotte County Park. Look for images to be posted and available for sale on the Action Images website, www.actionimages.cc, within two days of the event.

"We do all our own post processing and printing in-house," Jambretz said. "Our typical order ships within two days of the order date. We use only the finest archival inks and papers so the prints will last a lifetime."

Jambretz and photographer Ben Ross have shot photos at a number of national sporting events, including the Tour de France and college bowl games. Their work has been published in a number of national publications.

Course Now Open For Training

Following the last of four races on the opening day of the national championships, officials opened the course for training purposes.

Several dozen cyclists immediately took advantage of the opportunity while others discussed how much the conditions are likely to change between today and Saturday. That's when up to six inches of snow could fall in a winter storm that is expected to arrive Friday night.

The course will remain open until 5 p.m., then re-open at 8 a.m. Friday for 45 minutes before it closes before the first race of the day at 9 a.m.

Patrick Morrissey Wins B 40+ Race

Patrick Morrissey of Albuquerque, N.M. captured the Men's B 40+ race over Troy Krause of Lincoln, Neb. The field of 118 riders endured the muddiest conditions of the day, with Morrissey telling the press that he switched bikes several times.

Krause said the course was nothing like it was when he competed in the Boulevard Cup in November.

"Kansas had been in a drought most of the summer and the course was concrete hard," Krause said. "The consistency of the mud today was like peanut butter."

Click here to see the official results.

Marc Bavineau Wins B 30-39 Race

Beverly, Mass., racer Marc Bavineau captured the Men's B 30-39 race Thursday afternoon as the once ice-coated course began to turn into more of a sloppy, muddy track. Last year, Bavineau finished 58th in the Masters Men's 30-34 championship race in Providence, R.I. Click here to see the official results.

Broken Chain Means Pick It Up And Run

Wiley Mosley of Latham, N.Y., drew a huge round of applause for his heroics during the first lap of the Men's B 30-39 race.

The chain on his bicycle snapped at the start, leaving Mosley to watch the other 116 riders sprint up the first hill. Undeterred, the 30-year-old shouldered his bicycle and began chasing them. He ran his bike nearly halfway around the course before reaching the pits, where his spare bike awaited him.

Mosley quickly got on and started feverishly pedaling to catch up as the crowd cheered him on.

Ryan Knapp Wins U29 B Race

Ryan Knapp of Columbus, Ind., won the men's Under 29 B race as the sun broke through the clouds Thursday morning at Kansas City's Wyandotte County Park. Local rider Adam Lang of Olathe, Kan., and Team X Cycling, finished second. Click here to see the official results.

Media Alert: Phone Service

We are experiencing a problem with our phone at the media tent. If you are trying to reach someone at the course, please call (415) 990-1324 and Jodi Hall will relay the message.

First Race Is In The Books

The first race of the 2007 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships - the B Women's event - was won by Kristal Boni of Broomfield, Colo. The four-lap race was run over a hard-packed course that proved slippery in spots. Several riders crashed on the first turn after the finish line on the opening lap. Click here to see the official results.

Kansas City Star Features Tilford

Kansas City Star sportswriter Brent Frazee has a nice feature on Topeka, Kan., resident Steve Tilford in this morning's editions.

Tilford is a four-time national cyclocross champion who plunged into an icy pond on the Wyandotte County Park course last year. He came back to win that race, adding to his remarkable (and long) list of accomplishments.

Snow Likely For Saturday

Fox 4 Meteorologist Mike Thompson said Wednesday night that competitors at the USA Cycling Cyclocross Championships can expect snow Friday night that will continue into Saturday.

"The heaviest snowfall will be early Saturday morning," Thompson said on WDAF's 9 p.m. newscast.

Thursday's forecast calls for a temperature of 31 degrees by noon - which is the start time of the final race of the day.

"Tomorrow looks like our one-day thaw," Thompson said. "Then, a winter storm will swing through with moderate snowfall for the Kansas City area."

The Fox 4 forecast calls for a 70 percent chance of snow on Friday and a 100 percent chance on Saturday.

Packet Pick-Up Opens; Start Lists Available

Kansas City, Kan. - More than 30 pages of start lists hang on the wall outside the room for packet pick-up at the Holiday Inn Express, the host hotel for the 2007 USA Cycling National Cyclocross Championships.

SportsBaseOnline President Dirk Cowley and his staff were swiftly processing athletes through the first three hours of what will be a 10-hour day (packet pick-up closes Wednesday at 10 p.m.).

Athletes are reminded that they must show a valid USA Cycling license in order to complete their registration.

Final course setup was taking place Thursday afternoon. Conditions will definitely be muddy, with a combination of ice and mud for the early-morning races - provided the temperature remains below freezing.

Thursday's forecast calls for partly sunny skies with temperatures in the mid 30s. However, the temperature at 9 a.m. - the start of the first race - is only expected to be in the mid 20s.

As for those start lists, defending national men's elite champion Ryan Trebon has the distinction of wearing No. 1 for the championships. Katie Compton, the 2006 elite women's champion, will wear bib No. 200.

Competitors Can Expect Muddy Conditions

Kansas City, Kan. – Competitors at the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships in Kansas City will not have to endure the freezing rain or snow from a winter storm that gripped a good portion of the Midwest early this week.

Instead, temperatures in the low to mid-30s are forecast for racing on Thursday through Sunday. The conditions are expected to create a muddy course at Wyandotte County Park (126th Street and State Avenue). No precipitation is in the forecast for the duration of the event, according to the National Weather Service’s local forecast office, so spectators will be able to take advantage of key viewing points along the course. The heated Expo tent and beer garden will also offer prime viewing spots to see all the muddy action.

“I think weather always makes racing more interesting,” said Georgia Gould, recent winner of the overall Gran Prix of Cyclocross Series and the current U.S. mountain bike national champion. “Mud adds an element of finesse and technical skill over and above simple brute strength. In the end, the winner is the one who makes the fewest mistakes on the slippery course.”

Race Director Bill Marshall of KLM Marketing Solutions e-mailed a “weather alert” to every registered rider Monday night, reminding them of the event’s weather policy. The policy is posted on the event website, www.kccrossnationals.com, in the “registration” section.

“We heard from a lot of people who were concerned about getting to Kansas City,” Marshall said. “As of this moment, we do not anticipate delaying any races and USA Cycling is very comfortable with our weather policy.”

Freezing rain fell in Kansas City In the overnight hours of Monday and early Tuesday, causing scattered power outages and forcing many schools to close. But rising temperatures Tuesday morning gave way to afternoon rain. Scattered flurries, with little or no accumulation, are in Wednesday’s forecast.

Tuesday, Marshall and his crew completed the installation of hard fencing on parts of the course. They also drove Bobcat four-wheelers along the 1.91-mile course to harden it up before re-freezing took place overnight.

“The course is in great shape right now,” Marshall said. “We had about an inch of snow on the course before this ice storm but the warmer rain melted it, so now it’s a layer of ice. But it’s been raining more than anything lately, so it’s going to make for pretty muddy conditions for the entire week.”

Admission and parking is free for the duration of the event. Course and parking maps, as well as the opportunity to purchase official race apparel, is available at www.kccrossnationals.com.

Specialized Is Official Bike Sponsor;Will Provide On-Site Team Support

For the third consecutive year, Specialized has signed on as the Official Bike Sponsor of the 2007 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships.

The high-caliber race is hosted Dec. 13-16 at Wyandotte County Park in Kansas City, Kan., on a two-mile course packed with sections of pavement, grass, dirt, sand pits and wooden barriers.

Specialized Riders Club is playing a huge part in the event with a VIP tent this year - one that pulls out the red carpet for all riders, not just the pros. The Specialized Factory Team trailer will be rolling up on Thursday and the club will set up shop with a warm-up tent and trainers, the ability to make last-minute repairs and a great space for riders to meet up both pre- and post-race.

“We are extremely proud to continue our affiliation with the 2007 National Championships," said Tara Moeller, Specialized USA Marketing Manager. "Becoming the Official Bicycle of Cyclocross Nationals allows Specialized the opportunity to support the continued growth and popularity of such an interesting sport. We are excited about sharing the experience of riding with spectators and athletes."

Founded in Morgan Hill, Calif., in 1974, Specialized Bicycles is a company filled with passionate cyclists who are devoted to creating the best bikes and equipment for every kind of rider. In 2005, Specialized introduced the Tricross (specifically designed for cyclocross racing) and never looked back.

For more information on Specialized’s plans or to reserve a trainer or demo bike, visit www.SpecializedRiders.com.

The Athletes To Watch At Nationals

Kansas City, Kan. – Defending Elite Men's champion Ryan Trebon and Women's Elite champion Katie Compton are among the nation's best athletes ready to line up at this week's USA Cycling National Cyclocross Championships in Kansas City, Kan.

Compton, of Colorado Springs, Colo., has won the past three Women's Elite titles and was the silver medalist at the 2007 UCI Cyclocross World Championships. The 29-year-old is currently the No. 2-ranked female cyclocross racer in the world, according to the latest UCI ratings. Her strongest competition in the 98-rider Elite Women's field is expected to come from Georgia Gould (Ketchum, Idaho) and Kerry Barnholt (Boulder, Colo.).

Gould took four of six races and the overall series title at the 2007 U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross presented by Crank Brothers, and currently holds the 2007 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Champion title. The 27-year-old finished second to Compton last year. Barnholt, 24, finished third last year at nationals and was 15th at the World Championships.

Trebon, a resident of Corvallis, Ore., won the 2007 overall series title of the U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross presented by Crank Brothers. The 26-year-old is expected to be strongly challenged by a host of contenders that includes three-time national cyclocross champion Jonathan Page (Tilton, N.H.), USGP series runner-up Tim Johnson (Middleton, Mass.), 2003 collegiate cyclocross champion Barry Wicks (Santa Cruz, Calif.), seven-time Junior and Under 23 cyclocross champion Jesse Anthony (Beverly, Mass.), and 2006 U.S. Cyclocross World Championship team member Jeremy Powers (Niantic, Conn.).

A record total of 2,045 entries have been received for the nearly 40 races between Thursday and Sunday at Kansas City's Wyandotte County Park. The complete event schedule is available at www.kccrossnationals.com.

In addition to Trebon and Compton, 13 others are defending their national titles in their category:

• Junior Women 13-14: Elizabeth White (Bedford, N.H.)
• Junior Women 15-16: Coryn Rivera (Tustin, Calif.)
• Junior Women 17-18: Danielle Haulman (Denver, Colo.)
• Under 23 Female: Amy Dombroski (Boulder, Colo.)
• Masters Men 35-39: Richard Feldman (Ketchum, Idaho)
• Masters Men 45-49: Steve Tilford (Topeka, Kan.)
• Masters Men 50-54: Ned Overend (Durango, Colo.)
• Masters Men 55-59: Fred Wittwer (Charlottesville, Va.)
• Masters Men 65-69: Rob Lea (Taneytown, Md.)
• Masters Women 40-44: Sami Fournier (Bend, Ore.)
• Masters Women 45-49: Catherine Walberg (Topeka, Kan.)
• Masters Women 50-54: Kathy Sarvary (Lunenburg, Mass.)
• Masters Women 60-64: Julie Lockhart (Dunstable, Mass.)

Tilford and Walberg are two "local" favorites who will be racing on what can be considered their "home turf." Tilford, 47, is a four-time cyclocross national champion who won the 2007 Oklahoma State Cyclocross Championship race Sunday. Walberg, 44, is a four-time Kansas State Cyclocross champion.

Several 2006 champions have moved up in category since last year:

• Junior Women 10-12: Sarah Huang (Kenosha, Wisc.) to Junior Women 13-14
• Junior Men 10-12: Logan Owen (Bremerton, Wash.) to Junior Men 13-14
• Junior Men 13-14: Yannick Eckmann (Boulder, Colo.) to Junior Men 15-16
• Junior Men 15-16: Luke Keough (Sandwich, Mass.) to Junior Men 17-18
• Elite Junior Men: Danny Summerhill (Centennial, Colo.) to Under 23 Men
• Under 23 Men: Jesse Anthony (Beverly, Mass.) to Men's Elite
• Masters Men 40-44: Mark Noble (Oxnard, Calif.) to Masters Men 45-49

Daily race results, a comprehensive press release and photos for publication will be available at the official website, www.kccrossnationals.com, as well as www.usacycling.org.

The opportunity to purchase official race apparel, as well as download course maps, parking maps and a map of the vendor exposition is available at www.kccrossnationals.com.

Record Number Will Participate In Nationals

Kansas City, Kan. – A record number of registrants have signed up to race in the 2007 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships in Kansas City, Kan.

A total of 2,045 entries were received for the nearly 40 races that will take place between Thursday and Sunday, Dec. 13-16. at Wyandotte County Park.

Last year, 1,940 entrants took part in the championships in Providence, R.I. The last time the national championships were held in Kansas City, in 2000, only 600 riders participated.

“We’ve achieved our first goal – which was to better last year’s total,” said Race Director Bill Marshall of KLM Marketing Solutions. “Our next goal is to make sure that every racer comes away from the event with a positive experience.”

The athletes competing in this year’s championships come from 45 states, plus the District of Columbia. California will have the most representatives – 109 – followed by Kansas with 80 and Missouri with 79. The average age of a competitor is 32 years old.

The Masters Men’s 35-39 category has the most entries – 171 – followed closely by Elite men, which has 167 athletes registered, and the Masters Men’s 40-44 division, which has 161.

Non-championship and beginner-level races are scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 13. Age group national championship races are Friday and Saturday, Dec. 14-15. Collegiate and elite races will take place Sunday, Dec. 16. Admission is free and there is no charge for parking.

All competitors will receive a gift bag filled with merchandise from some of the more than 15 official event sponsors. Included will be an invitation to the post-event party Sunday at Dave and Buster’s at Village West in Kansas City. Racers will also receive a $5 game card to redeem at Dave and Busters.

Course and parking maps, and the opportunity to purchase official race apparel, are available at www.kccrossnationals.com.

Registration Closes Saturday;Boulevard Signs On As Sponsor

Kansas City, Kan. – Registration for this year’s USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships in Kansas City, Kan., closes this Saturday, Dec. 8 at midnight CST.

Registration is only available through the official event website, www.kccrossnationals.com. No on-site registrations are allowed, all entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable and no exceptions will be made.

As of Thursday, more than 1,916 racers had registered for the Dec. 13-16 event at Kansas City’s Wyandotte County Park. When the championships were last held in Kansas City seven years ago, only 600 riders participated. Since then, cyclocross series have sprouted all over the country, and this high-adrenalin winter season sport is now the fastest growing segment of bicycle racing in the United States. Last year, 1,940 riders registered to compete at the national championships in Providence, R.I.

Nearly 40 races will take place over four days of competition. Non-championship and beginner-level races are scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 13. Age group national championship races are Friday and Saturday, Dec. 14-15. Single-speed, collegiate and elite men’s and women’s races are Sunday, Dec. 16.

Boulevard Brewing Company, the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest, has signed on as an official event sponsor. Boulevard will provide (what?)a case of beer to each new national champion, and several brews will be available on tap in the Expo.

“We are proud to have Boulevard continue its long-time support of the sport of cycling by being part of our event,” said Race Director Bill Marshall of KLM Marketing Solutions. “The Boulevard Brewing Company is well known here in the Midwest and this is the perfect opportunity to expose its variety of beers to a national audience.” support the sport locally (HELP!) (I had “share its flavorful taste with people who aren’t familiar with the brand.”)

Boulevard joins over 15 other official sponsors of this year’s event. More information, and the opportunity to purchase official race apparel, is available at www.kccrossnationals.com.

Download this press release as a PDF.