'Cross nats preview: Fire on ice in Rhode Island
By: Neal Rogers, Velonews Associate Editor :: Break out the cowbells, wool socks and long underwear, the second weekend of December has arrived, meaning the most important cyclo-cross race of the North American calendar is about to take place. Held in the natural amphitheater of the Roger Williams Park in Providence, Rhode Island, the 2005 Liberty Mutual U.S. national cyclo-cross championships is expected to host some of the most tightly contested battles for the stars-and-stripes jerseys in recent memory.
After three years of consistent thick mud in the Pacific Northwest, ‘cross nationals returns to the icy conditions of New England. (For DVDs from last year's event in Portland, see race photographer Paul Weiss's Web site, www.paulweiss.bz/) The last time a national cyclo-cross championship was held in New England was 1998, when local favorite Frank McCormack took his second national title. Awarded the national championships this year and next, race promoters are touting this course as one of the best ‘cross nationals courses ever.
"We had an extensive search for a venue that lasted over a year," said Tom Stevens, race director. "After looking at seven venues, we picked Providence. We feel this park will provide perhaps the best course for both riders and spectators."
The event will be held in Providence in both 2005 and 2006. "Racers and spectators will be impressed with this venue," said Richard Fries, communications director and race announcer. "I have announced at eight of the last 10 ‘cross nationals. This venue outdoes them all with its natural stadium landscape. Most of the crowd can follow most of the racing from a single vantage point."
Nearly 1800 competitors are expected to attend. The highest registration, ironically, is for a non-championship event known as the "B" race. Promoters have altered Sunday's schedule to allow them to split the B field into older and younger categories, with the break point at age 35. The split proved nearly even.
Liberty Mutual Group, a leading global insurance provider with headquarters in New England, is be the title sponsor for the event. Liberty Mutual, which shares the same parent company as the Spanish ProTour team sponsor Liberty Seguros, will also sponsor three-time national champion Jonathan Page for the national championship.
"We want to support cycling and are expanding our sponsorship, which now includes three teams, one national championship and a U.S. national champion," said Fabio Selvig, director of team sponsorships for Liberty Seguros. "I don't know if any other U.S. company is making this kind of push in cycling."
Racing begins Friday morning with the masters categories and concludes with collegiate men. Unlike years past, the juniors, under-23 men and elite men race Saturday, with elite women concluding the racing Sunday.
"Some people don't understand the decision to have the elite men race on Saturday," said Fries. "First of all, the elite men were tired of racing on a chewed-up course. And secondly, I know enough to know that you don't go against the New England Patriots if you want to draw spectators. You've got to respect what you are going against."
The race bible (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) describes the course as follows: "The course is fairly wide open and on the longer side to accommodate large fields and to prevent too many riders from being lapped. There is ample space for re-setting sections of the track that might get torn up too much, so the following days/races may have fresh tracks. The ground is mostly hard with very good drainage. It would have to be exceptional conditions to slow the racing down appreciably (heavy snow for instance). There will be four obstacles: one long run with wood and earth stairs at the bottom, one 5-meter set of stone and cement stairs, one set of hurdles on flat ground, and one 10- to 12-second run that may have earth and wood stairs mid-hillside if the conditions are dry. The course is 3.2km long, of which about 1km is paved in four sections. There is also about 200 meters of gravel road. The rest is grassy parkland."
Exceptional conditions appear to be on the way. A storm expected Friday could bring four to eight inches of snow, making things interesting not just for Friday's racers but also for the rest of the weekend. Saturday's forecast is for sunshine but temperatures in the 30s, with a chance of snow again Sunday.
"The forecast is looking good, substantial snow on Friday, up to a foot is likely," writes 2001 national elite ‘cross champ Todd Wells (GT-Hyundai) on his Web site (www.toddwells.net). "It looks like it will barely get above freezing this weekend, so the white stuff should stick around and stay slippery and not turn to a mud bog. I hope we're racing on an ice-skating rink this weekend."
Wells has been going for quality, not quantity
photo: AbbiOrca.com
Elite men: Can anyone turn the Page?
Wells took a break from racing following the conclusion of the cross-country season and comes into the weekend riding a high after wins at the U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross finale in San Francisco on November 20 and last weekend at the W.E. Stedman Grand Prix in Wakefield, Rhode Island.
But Wells is anything from cocky. "There have been years Gully [Marc Gullickson] and I won every race between us, and Page worked us over at nationals," he said. "So I have taken a different approach this year, with fewer races."
Wells conceded that European-based three-time and defending champion Page (Cervelo) comes into this weekend as the favorite, followed by last year's runner-up Ryan Trebon (Kona). And that's okay with him.
"The last time I won I wasn't even considered the favorite," Wells said. "So that's cool with me. There are a lot of good guys coming. I think Page has to be the favorite, but there are also guys like Barry Wicks, Tim Johnson and Adam Craig that will be in there."
Indeed, there are seven riders that have a realistic shot at the title: Page, Trebon, Wells (GT-Hyundai), Wicks (Kona), 2000 national champ Johnson (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau), 1997 national champ Mark McCormack (Clif Bar) and former national junior and under-23 ‘cross champion Adam Craig (Giant).
"In the elite men's field, I'd have to say Page is even money," said Fries. "At the next level I'd say you have Trebon, Johnson and Wells, with two-to-one odds. Trebon has shown he's consistently stronger than Johnson and Wells, but you have to count them in because there's snow on the ground and they are fantastic bike handlers. In the next category would be McCormack, Wicks and Craig, who probably have four-to-one odds but could pull off something amazing."
Fries added that unlike years past, when Page was able to use his superior strength and bike-handling skills to power away from the field in three consecutive years of thick mud, the Providence course is more likely to be slick and fast. "I think this could be the best year ever for ‘cross nationals," he said. "I don't think Page is a shoe-in by any means. He's going to have to race well and have no mistakes, whether they be mechanical or otherwise."
Johnson is renowned for his toughness in bad weather
photo: Chris Milliman
After three years away from the sport, Johnson has enjoyed a rebirth of sorts this year, winning the Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series ahead of McCormack and finishing the USGP series second, behind Wicks, with a win in Gloucester in blizzard conditions and again in Sterling, Massachusetts, in the snow. His 2000 elite national title came on the ice in Kansas City in conditions similar to those expected Saturday.
As for Trebon, who won two of four USGP events before heading to Europe, he's also calling Page the favorite.
"Jonathan seems to be running better than ever this year," Trebon said. "I've raced with him twice this year and he finished ahead of me both times, but it's so different over here than over there. In Europe we're racing with so many other people, we're not racing against each other, so it's hard to gauge."
Trebon added that while Page may be the favorite, he's taken something away from each time they've toed a start line together. "I'd say I have a better idea up what I'm up against than I did last year," he said. "I feel stronger and more experienced than a year ago. It's much harder racing in Europe, and I've gained more confidence over there. The courses are harder and there's a lot of battling back and forth. I know I'm stronger and faster than last year, hopefully I can go out there and race."
And then, there are the Kona boys
photo: AbbiOrca.com
Trebon's teammate Wicks won the Watsonville USGP event with ease, and showed it was no fluke the following day by tearing off the front with Wells, finishing second. But Wicks surprised many with his showings in Rhode Island last weekend, finishing eighth on Saturday and fifth on Sunday. Not to worry, Wicks says.
"I was feeling good last weekend, even if I didn't look good," Wicks said. "I showed up to those races not really thinking about them. I didn't race the weekend before that. After the San Francisco races I went home and hung out while everyone was in Sterling [The Gearworks Bay State Cyclo-Cross event on November 26]. So last weekend was really just to open the legs. The fitness is there, I was just getting the legs going. They were horrible results, but not indicative of how I'll be going this weekend."
Six-time national and under-23 national champ Jesse Anthony didn't hide his hopes to see McCormack, his longtime coach and Clif Bar teammate, take victory, but admits he also sees Page, McCormack's Colavita Olive Oil road teammate, as the favorite.
"I'd have to pick Page to repeat," said Anthony, also a New Englander. "I'd love to see Mark McCormack or Tim Johnson win, as they are both good friends of mine. Mark has been doing well for so many years but he hasn't won nationals for a while. But I think smart money would be on Page. He's done it the last three years. You can never really tell from his European results how he's going, but this year he's had better results than before. I wouldn't underestimate Trebon, either. Last year he gave a huge effort, and I think this year he'll make even more of a challenge. Ryan is good when it's a fast course. And of course Wells is going super fast right now, too. I wouldn't discount him."
After a trial-by-fire introduction to cyclo-cross racing, ProTour rider Chris Horner (Saunier Duval) will come to nationals in hopes of improving on his top-15 finishes at the Watsonville and San Francisco USGP events. While a top-10 finish is possible, don't expect Horner to factor into the top five - his handling skills simply aren't on a par with more experienced ‘cross racers, particularly in icy conditions.
Here's a look back at the USGP series overall results:
2005 Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross
Series points totals
Elite men
1. Barry Wicks, Kona, 190pts
2. Tim Johnson, Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau, 174
3. Mark McCormack, Clif Bar, 170
4. Ryan Trebon, Kona, 140
5. Adam Craig, Giant, 137
6. Erik Tonkin, Kona, 106
7. Carl Decker, Giant, 104
8. Todd Wells, GT-Hyundai, 90
9. Shannon Skerritt, Vanilla Bicycles, 75
10. Matt Shriver, Kona-Easton, 65
And now, without further ado, theVeloNews prediction of finishing order at the 2005 elite men's national cyclo-cross championship: 1. Page; 2. Trebon; 3. Wells; 4. Johnson; 5. Wicks.
Elite women: Straight outa Compton?
As the sighted pilot of a Paralympic tandem team, last year's surprise winner Katie Compton (Redline) has not competed in a single UCI-sanctioned event all season. (Paralympic rules bar riders carrying UCI points, dating three years back, from competing in Paralympic events.) Last year Compton quietly raced American Cycling Association events in Colorado - with the Cat. 3 men - before arriving in Portland for the national championship, where she started at the back of the field and upset women who had vied for the top podium steps all season long.
Compton will start at the front this year - and this time, everyone will be watching her
"It's the Colorado Springs way to do it, just like Alison Dunlap used to," Fries said. "I think what Katie is doing with the Paralympics is great, and I have nothing but good things to say about that, but it would be fun to see her race more often. She surprised everybody last year. I think the field was shocked. I think they will respond a little more quickly than they did last year."
Missing from the start will be perennial race favorites Gina Hall, who is retired, and Olympic mountain-biker Mary McConneloug, who sat out the ‘cross season this year. The top American women in the USGP series, 2002 national champion Ann Knapp (Kona) and Barb Howe (Velo Bella) are likely to pose the biggest challenges to Compton. "I think everybody wants to see Ann Knapp win, since this may be her last year of racing, and I think she can," Fries said. "But Compton is really powerful."
Colorado-based race announcer Dave Towle has watched Compton race against the men's Cat. 3 field this season. "I think it's a real shame Katie never got to race against Lyne Bessette this year," Towle said. "I asked her, strictly hypothetically, would she go against Bessette in a one-lap drag race, and she said absolutely, she would love to. I for one am bummed she doesn't have a chance to go up against her."
Here's a look at the elite women's USGP series standings. Remember, the top two women, Lyne Bessette and Wendy Simms, are Canadians. Howe finished just three points ahead of Knapp to take the top American spot.
2005 Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross
Series points totals
Elite women
1. Lyne Bessette (Can), Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau, 250pts
2. Wendy Simms (Can), Kona, 192
3. Barbara Howe, Velo Bella, 170
4. Ann Knapp, Kona, 167
5. Melissa Thomas, Tokyo Joes, 134
6. Georgia Gould, Kona, 129
7. Rhonda Mazza, S&M-Vanilla Bicycles, 119
8. Christine Vardaros, Velo Bella, 94
9. Stacey Spencer, Cycle Smart, 74
10. Melodie Metzger, Velo Bella, 68
Our favorites? Hey, we hate to say we told you so, but check out our call on this race last year. Race organizers have posted on the nationals Web site that the defending national champion will be called to the start line first, so Compton won't have to worry about fighting her way through the field this year. If her fitness is anywhere close to where it was last year, the race will be for second place.
U23: Can Anthony keep the streak alive?
One of two men will take the under-23 title on Saturday - Jesse Anthony or Troy Wells (TIAA-CREF-Clif Bar). Dating back to 1999, Anthony has never lost a national championship, and he once again won the U23 USGP and Verge New England series titles. But he was beaten twice this year in U23 racing by Wells, who finished third in the elite men's race in the blizzard in Gloucester.
"Jesse is faster, and can generate more watts," said Wells's older brother Todd. "But when it comes to handling, when skills are involved, [Troy] shines. He's stepped it up this year. He's more serious, more focused."
Fries thinks the conditions might lean in favor of Wells, and questioned whether Anthony would be racing at 100 percent after hitting the deck during the Castor's Grand Prix in Warwick, Rhode Island, on December 4. Anthony did not finish the race, but had the series title already wrapped up.
"Troy Wells is a mudder," Fries said. "That third place in Gloucester in the snow says it all. He does well in cold, sloppy conditions. It's going to come down to the weather. The course is going to change hour to hour."
As for Anthony, he said that while he did require a trip to a physical therapist to address some soreness in his upper back and between his shoulder blades after his crash, he is not injured.
"Troy is the only U23 rider who has been ahead of me at times this year," Anthony said. "I would agree that Troy may be a better technical rider, but I have been able to compete with him on treacherous courses in the past. I beat him at both muddy national championships in Portland, 2004 and 2003. I'm pretty confident in my skills. I've had a really good season, and I'm feeling real strong. I'm just going to go race and do what I know how to do."
2005 Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross
Series points totals
U-23 men
1. Jesse Anthony, Clif Bar, 240pts
2. Troy Wells, TIAA-CREF-Clif Bar, 220
3. Mitchell Peterson, Balance Bar-Devo, 118
4. Brady Kappius, TIAA-CREF-Clif Bar, 116
5. Daniel Neyens, Rad Racing Northwest, 115
VN pick: Too close to call, but a nod to Anthony for nationals experience. They don't call him "Mr. December" for nothing. The collegiate title, contested Friday, is likely to go to either Troy Wells or defending champion Matt Shriver, both of Durango's Fort Lewis College. "Those guys can do some damage," said Todd Wells. "I don't know who is going to be able to stay with them, and if anyone does, I don't know how they would be able to get away."
Juniors: Selander or Summerhill?
As with the U-23 race, the juniors race is likely to come down to two riders: defending junior national champion Bjørn Selander (Alan Factory Team) and USGP series overall winner Danny Summerhill (TIAA-CREF-Clif Bar). The pair traded wins all season long, with Summerhill taking the series lead after race 5 and securing it in the series finale. Summerhill will clearly have the team numbers advantage Saturday, but Selander appears to be the stronger rider.
2005 Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross
Series points totals
Junior men
1. Danny Summerhill, TIAA-CREF-Clif Bar, 220pts
2. Bjørn Selander, Alan Factory Team, 214
3. Alex Howes, TIAA-CREF-Clif Bar, 178
4. Chance Noble, Scary Fast , 170
5. Tejay Van Garderen, TIAA-CREF-Clif Bar, 120
Our pick? Too close to call, but we give a slight edge to Selander, as he's won a national title before.
Odds and ends
* Sunday will also feature the Liberty Cup, a non-championship invitational event billed as a showcase for all national champions, past and present.
Any national champion over the age of 15 is invited to race with no entry fee. Wear the national championship jersey and you start in the front row.
"We're going to have some fun with it," said Lyle Fulkerson, operations director. "The masters and the juniors will get a front spot in front of a big crowd. We are hoping the Canadian national champions attend, too."
"I look forward to seeing how well the younger riders stack up against the elites," said Fries. "Jesse Anthony, Jeremy Powers, and Bjørn Selander will make strong impressions. I also want to watch 16-year-old Alex Coelho, perhaps the best young 'cross racer alive, race the elites."
Last weekend Coelho impressed spectators at the American Cycling Association's Colorado state championship by riding at the front of the elite men's race, won by national cross-country champion Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (since JHK doesn't hold an ACA license, the title went to Jon Baker of Primus Mootry). Coelho (Excel Sports) will race nationals in the juniors 15-16 category and is expected to take an easy victory.
* Who's gonna win? The racers themselves will be asked that question Friday evening during a media reception at 3 Steeple Street Bistro and Bar, 125 Canal St., Providence, just three blocks from the official race hotel, the Providence Biltmore. The first hour is for credentialed media and VIPs. At 9 p.m. the event will be open to all race volunteers and racers who present their bib numbers.
* And finally, here's the schedule for the weekend's action:
Friday, December 9, 2005
8 a.m.: Course open
9 a.m.: Master women 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 45 minutes
10 a.m.: Master men 45-49, 45 minutes
11 a.m.: Master men 40-44, 45 minutes
12 p.m.: Course open, awards ceremonies
1 p.m.: Master men 35-39, 45 minutes
2 p.m.: Master men 30-34, 45 minutes
3 p.m.: Collegiate men, 45 minutes
4 p.m.: Course closed, awards ceremonies
Saturday, December 10, 2005
7:30 a.m.: Course open
8:30 a.m.: Junior women 10-12, 13-14, 15-16, 30 minutes
9:15 a.m.: Junior men 10-12, 13-14, 15-16, 30 minutes
10 a.m.: Junior women 17-18, U23 women, collegiate women, 40 minutes
11 a.m.: Master women 30-34, 35-39, 40 minutes
12 p.m.: U23 men, 50 minutes
1 p.m.: Course open, awards ceremonies
2 p.m.: Junior men 17-18, 40 minutes
3 p.m.: Elite men, 60 minutes
4 p.m.: Course closed, awards ceremonies
Sunday, December 11, 2005
7:30 a.m.: Course open
8:30 a.m.: B women (non-championship event), 45 minutes
9:30 a.m.: B men Under 35 (non-championship event), 45 minutes
10:30 a.m.: B men 35+ (non-championship event), 45 minutes
11:30 a.m.: Master men 50-54, 55-59, 60+, 45 minutes
12:30 p.m.: Course open, awards ceremonies
1 p.m.: Pro/elite men Liberty Cup (non-championship event), 60 minutes
2 p.m.: Elite women, 40 minutes
3 p.m.: Course closed, awards ceremonies
After three years of consistent thick mud in the Pacific Northwest, ‘cross nationals returns to the icy conditions of New England. (For DVDs from last year's event in Portland, see race photographer Paul Weiss's Web site, www.paulweiss.bz/) The last time a national cyclo-cross championship was held in New England was 1998, when local favorite Frank McCormack took his second national title. Awarded the national championships this year and next, race promoters are touting this course as one of the best ‘cross nationals courses ever.
"We had an extensive search for a venue that lasted over a year," said Tom Stevens, race director. "After looking at seven venues, we picked Providence. We feel this park will provide perhaps the best course for both riders and spectators."
The event will be held in Providence in both 2005 and 2006. "Racers and spectators will be impressed with this venue," said Richard Fries, communications director and race announcer. "I have announced at eight of the last 10 ‘cross nationals. This venue outdoes them all with its natural stadium landscape. Most of the crowd can follow most of the racing from a single vantage point."
Nearly 1800 competitors are expected to attend. The highest registration, ironically, is for a non-championship event known as the "B" race. Promoters have altered Sunday's schedule to allow them to split the B field into older and younger categories, with the break point at age 35. The split proved nearly even.
Liberty Mutual Group, a leading global insurance provider with headquarters in New England, is be the title sponsor for the event. Liberty Mutual, which shares the same parent company as the Spanish ProTour team sponsor Liberty Seguros, will also sponsor three-time national champion Jonathan Page for the national championship.
"We want to support cycling and are expanding our sponsorship, which now includes three teams, one national championship and a U.S. national champion," said Fabio Selvig, director of team sponsorships for Liberty Seguros. "I don't know if any other U.S. company is making this kind of push in cycling."
Racing begins Friday morning with the masters categories and concludes with collegiate men. Unlike years past, the juniors, under-23 men and elite men race Saturday, with elite women concluding the racing Sunday.
"Some people don't understand the decision to have the elite men race on Saturday," said Fries. "First of all, the elite men were tired of racing on a chewed-up course. And secondly, I know enough to know that you don't go against the New England Patriots if you want to draw spectators. You've got to respect what you are going against."
The race bible (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) describes the course as follows: "The course is fairly wide open and on the longer side to accommodate large fields and to prevent too many riders from being lapped. There is ample space for re-setting sections of the track that might get torn up too much, so the following days/races may have fresh tracks. The ground is mostly hard with very good drainage. It would have to be exceptional conditions to slow the racing down appreciably (heavy snow for instance). There will be four obstacles: one long run with wood and earth stairs at the bottom, one 5-meter set of stone and cement stairs, one set of hurdles on flat ground, and one 10- to 12-second run that may have earth and wood stairs mid-hillside if the conditions are dry. The course is 3.2km long, of which about 1km is paved in four sections. There is also about 200 meters of gravel road. The rest is grassy parkland."
Exceptional conditions appear to be on the way. A storm expected Friday could bring four to eight inches of snow, making things interesting not just for Friday's racers but also for the rest of the weekend. Saturday's forecast is for sunshine but temperatures in the 30s, with a chance of snow again Sunday.
"The forecast is looking good, substantial snow on Friday, up to a foot is likely," writes 2001 national elite ‘cross champ Todd Wells (GT-Hyundai) on his Web site (www.toddwells.net). "It looks like it will barely get above freezing this weekend, so the white stuff should stick around and stay slippery and not turn to a mud bog. I hope we're racing on an ice-skating rink this weekend."
Wells has been going for quality, not quantity
photo: AbbiOrca.com
Elite men: Can anyone turn the Page?
Wells took a break from racing following the conclusion of the cross-country season and comes into the weekend riding a high after wins at the U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross finale in San Francisco on November 20 and last weekend at the W.E. Stedman Grand Prix in Wakefield, Rhode Island.
But Wells is anything from cocky. "There have been years Gully [Marc Gullickson] and I won every race between us, and Page worked us over at nationals," he said. "So I have taken a different approach this year, with fewer races."
Wells conceded that European-based three-time and defending champion Page (Cervelo) comes into this weekend as the favorite, followed by last year's runner-up Ryan Trebon (Kona). And that's okay with him.
"The last time I won I wasn't even considered the favorite," Wells said. "So that's cool with me. There are a lot of good guys coming. I think Page has to be the favorite, but there are also guys like Barry Wicks, Tim Johnson and Adam Craig that will be in there."
Indeed, there are seven riders that have a realistic shot at the title: Page, Trebon, Wells (GT-Hyundai), Wicks (Kona), 2000 national champ Johnson (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau), 1997 national champ Mark McCormack (Clif Bar) and former national junior and under-23 ‘cross champion Adam Craig (Giant).
"In the elite men's field, I'd have to say Page is even money," said Fries. "At the next level I'd say you have Trebon, Johnson and Wells, with two-to-one odds. Trebon has shown he's consistently stronger than Johnson and Wells, but you have to count them in because there's snow on the ground and they are fantastic bike handlers. In the next category would be McCormack, Wicks and Craig, who probably have four-to-one odds but could pull off something amazing."
Fries added that unlike years past, when Page was able to use his superior strength and bike-handling skills to power away from the field in three consecutive years of thick mud, the Providence course is more likely to be slick and fast. "I think this could be the best year ever for ‘cross nationals," he said. "I don't think Page is a shoe-in by any means. He's going to have to race well and have no mistakes, whether they be mechanical or otherwise."
Johnson is renowned for his toughness in bad weather
photo: Chris Milliman
After three years away from the sport, Johnson has enjoyed a rebirth of sorts this year, winning the Verge New England Championship Cyclo-Cross Series ahead of McCormack and finishing the USGP series second, behind Wicks, with a win in Gloucester in blizzard conditions and again in Sterling, Massachusetts, in the snow. His 2000 elite national title came on the ice in Kansas City in conditions similar to those expected Saturday.
As for Trebon, who won two of four USGP events before heading to Europe, he's also calling Page the favorite.
"Jonathan seems to be running better than ever this year," Trebon said. "I've raced with him twice this year and he finished ahead of me both times, but it's so different over here than over there. In Europe we're racing with so many other people, we're not racing against each other, so it's hard to gauge."
Trebon added that while Page may be the favorite, he's taken something away from each time they've toed a start line together. "I'd say I have a better idea up what I'm up against than I did last year," he said. "I feel stronger and more experienced than a year ago. It's much harder racing in Europe, and I've gained more confidence over there. The courses are harder and there's a lot of battling back and forth. I know I'm stronger and faster than last year, hopefully I can go out there and race."
And then, there are the Kona boys
photo: AbbiOrca.com
Trebon's teammate Wicks won the Watsonville USGP event with ease, and showed it was no fluke the following day by tearing off the front with Wells, finishing second. But Wicks surprised many with his showings in Rhode Island last weekend, finishing eighth on Saturday and fifth on Sunday. Not to worry, Wicks says.
"I was feeling good last weekend, even if I didn't look good," Wicks said. "I showed up to those races not really thinking about them. I didn't race the weekend before that. After the San Francisco races I went home and hung out while everyone was in Sterling [The Gearworks Bay State Cyclo-Cross event on November 26]. So last weekend was really just to open the legs. The fitness is there, I was just getting the legs going. They were horrible results, but not indicative of how I'll be going this weekend."
Six-time national and under-23 national champ Jesse Anthony didn't hide his hopes to see McCormack, his longtime coach and Clif Bar teammate, take victory, but admits he also sees Page, McCormack's Colavita Olive Oil road teammate, as the favorite.
"I'd have to pick Page to repeat," said Anthony, also a New Englander. "I'd love to see Mark McCormack or Tim Johnson win, as they are both good friends of mine. Mark has been doing well for so many years but he hasn't won nationals for a while. But I think smart money would be on Page. He's done it the last three years. You can never really tell from his European results how he's going, but this year he's had better results than before. I wouldn't underestimate Trebon, either. Last year he gave a huge effort, and I think this year he'll make even more of a challenge. Ryan is good when it's a fast course. And of course Wells is going super fast right now, too. I wouldn't discount him."
After a trial-by-fire introduction to cyclo-cross racing, ProTour rider Chris Horner (Saunier Duval) will come to nationals in hopes of improving on his top-15 finishes at the Watsonville and San Francisco USGP events. While a top-10 finish is possible, don't expect Horner to factor into the top five - his handling skills simply aren't on a par with more experienced ‘cross racers, particularly in icy conditions.
Here's a look back at the USGP series overall results:
2005 Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross
Series points totals
Elite men
1. Barry Wicks, Kona, 190pts
2. Tim Johnson, Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau, 174
3. Mark McCormack, Clif Bar, 170
4. Ryan Trebon, Kona, 140
5. Adam Craig, Giant, 137
6. Erik Tonkin, Kona, 106
7. Carl Decker, Giant, 104
8. Todd Wells, GT-Hyundai, 90
9. Shannon Skerritt, Vanilla Bicycles, 75
10. Matt Shriver, Kona-Easton, 65
And now, without further ado, theVeloNews prediction of finishing order at the 2005 elite men's national cyclo-cross championship: 1. Page; 2. Trebon; 3. Wells; 4. Johnson; 5. Wicks.
Elite women: Straight outa Compton?
As the sighted pilot of a Paralympic tandem team, last year's surprise winner Katie Compton (Redline) has not competed in a single UCI-sanctioned event all season. (Paralympic rules bar riders carrying UCI points, dating three years back, from competing in Paralympic events.) Last year Compton quietly raced American Cycling Association events in Colorado - with the Cat. 3 men - before arriving in Portland for the national championship, where she started at the back of the field and upset women who had vied for the top podium steps all season long.
Compton will start at the front this year - and this time, everyone will be watching her
"It's the Colorado Springs way to do it, just like Alison Dunlap used to," Fries said. "I think what Katie is doing with the Paralympics is great, and I have nothing but good things to say about that, but it would be fun to see her race more often. She surprised everybody last year. I think the field was shocked. I think they will respond a little more quickly than they did last year."
Missing from the start will be perennial race favorites Gina Hall, who is retired, and Olympic mountain-biker Mary McConneloug, who sat out the ‘cross season this year. The top American women in the USGP series, 2002 national champion Ann Knapp (Kona) and Barb Howe (Velo Bella) are likely to pose the biggest challenges to Compton. "I think everybody wants to see Ann Knapp win, since this may be her last year of racing, and I think she can," Fries said. "But Compton is really powerful."
Colorado-based race announcer Dave Towle has watched Compton race against the men's Cat. 3 field this season. "I think it's a real shame Katie never got to race against Lyne Bessette this year," Towle said. "I asked her, strictly hypothetically, would she go against Bessette in a one-lap drag race, and she said absolutely, she would love to. I for one am bummed she doesn't have a chance to go up against her."
Here's a look at the elite women's USGP series standings. Remember, the top two women, Lyne Bessette and Wendy Simms, are Canadians. Howe finished just three points ahead of Knapp to take the top American spot.
2005 Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross
Series points totals
Elite women
1. Lyne Bessette (Can), Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau, 250pts
2. Wendy Simms (Can), Kona, 192
3. Barbara Howe, Velo Bella, 170
4. Ann Knapp, Kona, 167
5. Melissa Thomas, Tokyo Joes, 134
6. Georgia Gould, Kona, 129
7. Rhonda Mazza, S&M-Vanilla Bicycles, 119
8. Christine Vardaros, Velo Bella, 94
9. Stacey Spencer, Cycle Smart, 74
10. Melodie Metzger, Velo Bella, 68
Our favorites? Hey, we hate to say we told you so, but check out our call on this race last year. Race organizers have posted on the nationals Web site that the defending national champion will be called to the start line first, so Compton won't have to worry about fighting her way through the field this year. If her fitness is anywhere close to where it was last year, the race will be for second place.
U23: Can Anthony keep the streak alive?
One of two men will take the under-23 title on Saturday - Jesse Anthony or Troy Wells (TIAA-CREF-Clif Bar). Dating back to 1999, Anthony has never lost a national championship, and he once again won the U23 USGP and Verge New England series titles. But he was beaten twice this year in U23 racing by Wells, who finished third in the elite men's race in the blizzard in Gloucester.
"Jesse is faster, and can generate more watts," said Wells's older brother Todd. "But when it comes to handling, when skills are involved, [Troy] shines. He's stepped it up this year. He's more serious, more focused."
Fries thinks the conditions might lean in favor of Wells, and questioned whether Anthony would be racing at 100 percent after hitting the deck during the Castor's Grand Prix in Warwick, Rhode Island, on December 4. Anthony did not finish the race, but had the series title already wrapped up.
"Troy Wells is a mudder," Fries said. "That third place in Gloucester in the snow says it all. He does well in cold, sloppy conditions. It's going to come down to the weather. The course is going to change hour to hour."
As for Anthony, he said that while he did require a trip to a physical therapist to address some soreness in his upper back and between his shoulder blades after his crash, he is not injured.
"Troy is the only U23 rider who has been ahead of me at times this year," Anthony said. "I would agree that Troy may be a better technical rider, but I have been able to compete with him on treacherous courses in the past. I beat him at both muddy national championships in Portland, 2004 and 2003. I'm pretty confident in my skills. I've had a really good season, and I'm feeling real strong. I'm just going to go race and do what I know how to do."
2005 Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross
Series points totals
U-23 men
1. Jesse Anthony, Clif Bar, 240pts
2. Troy Wells, TIAA-CREF-Clif Bar, 220
3. Mitchell Peterson, Balance Bar-Devo, 118
4. Brady Kappius, TIAA-CREF-Clif Bar, 116
5. Daniel Neyens, Rad Racing Northwest, 115
VN pick: Too close to call, but a nod to Anthony for nationals experience. They don't call him "Mr. December" for nothing. The collegiate title, contested Friday, is likely to go to either Troy Wells or defending champion Matt Shriver, both of Durango's Fort Lewis College. "Those guys can do some damage," said Todd Wells. "I don't know who is going to be able to stay with them, and if anyone does, I don't know how they would be able to get away."
Juniors: Selander or Summerhill?
As with the U-23 race, the juniors race is likely to come down to two riders: defending junior national champion Bjørn Selander (Alan Factory Team) and USGP series overall winner Danny Summerhill (TIAA-CREF-Clif Bar). The pair traded wins all season long, with Summerhill taking the series lead after race 5 and securing it in the series finale. Summerhill will clearly have the team numbers advantage Saturday, but Selander appears to be the stronger rider.
2005 Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross
Series points totals
Junior men
1. Danny Summerhill, TIAA-CREF-Clif Bar, 220pts
2. Bjørn Selander, Alan Factory Team, 214
3. Alex Howes, TIAA-CREF-Clif Bar, 178
4. Chance Noble, Scary Fast , 170
5. Tejay Van Garderen, TIAA-CREF-Clif Bar, 120
Our pick? Too close to call, but we give a slight edge to Selander, as he's won a national title before.
Odds and ends
* Sunday will also feature the Liberty Cup, a non-championship invitational event billed as a showcase for all national champions, past and present.
Any national champion over the age of 15 is invited to race with no entry fee. Wear the national championship jersey and you start in the front row.
"We're going to have some fun with it," said Lyle Fulkerson, operations director. "The masters and the juniors will get a front spot in front of a big crowd. We are hoping the Canadian national champions attend, too."
"I look forward to seeing how well the younger riders stack up against the elites," said Fries. "Jesse Anthony, Jeremy Powers, and Bjørn Selander will make strong impressions. I also want to watch 16-year-old Alex Coelho, perhaps the best young 'cross racer alive, race the elites."
Last weekend Coelho impressed spectators at the American Cycling Association's Colorado state championship by riding at the front of the elite men's race, won by national cross-country champion Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (since JHK doesn't hold an ACA license, the title went to Jon Baker of Primus Mootry). Coelho (Excel Sports) will race nationals in the juniors 15-16 category and is expected to take an easy victory.
* Who's gonna win? The racers themselves will be asked that question Friday evening during a media reception at 3 Steeple Street Bistro and Bar, 125 Canal St., Providence, just three blocks from the official race hotel, the Providence Biltmore. The first hour is for credentialed media and VIPs. At 9 p.m. the event will be open to all race volunteers and racers who present their bib numbers.
* And finally, here's the schedule for the weekend's action:
Friday, December 9, 2005
8 a.m.: Course open
9 a.m.: Master women 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 45 minutes
10 a.m.: Master men 45-49, 45 minutes
11 a.m.: Master men 40-44, 45 minutes
12 p.m.: Course open, awards ceremonies
1 p.m.: Master men 35-39, 45 minutes
2 p.m.: Master men 30-34, 45 minutes
3 p.m.: Collegiate men, 45 minutes
4 p.m.: Course closed, awards ceremonies
Saturday, December 10, 2005
7:30 a.m.: Course open
8:30 a.m.: Junior women 10-12, 13-14, 15-16, 30 minutes
9:15 a.m.: Junior men 10-12, 13-14, 15-16, 30 minutes
10 a.m.: Junior women 17-18, U23 women, collegiate women, 40 minutes
11 a.m.: Master women 30-34, 35-39, 40 minutes
12 p.m.: U23 men, 50 minutes
1 p.m.: Course open, awards ceremonies
2 p.m.: Junior men 17-18, 40 minutes
3 p.m.: Elite men, 60 minutes
4 p.m.: Course closed, awards ceremonies
Sunday, December 11, 2005
7:30 a.m.: Course open
8:30 a.m.: B women (non-championship event), 45 minutes
9:30 a.m.: B men Under 35 (non-championship event), 45 minutes
10:30 a.m.: B men 35+ (non-championship event), 45 minutes
11:30 a.m.: Master men 50-54, 55-59, 60+, 45 minutes
12:30 p.m.: Course open, awards ceremonies
1 p.m.: Pro/elite men Liberty Cup (non-championship event), 60 minutes
2 p.m.: Elite women, 40 minutes
3 p.m.: Course closed, awards ceremonies
posted by Ryan Amirault at Friday, December 09, 2005
