Cyclocross country
By: Heather Clark, Bend (OR) Bulletin :: Strange as it sounds, at least a few Central Oregon cyclists were glad to see snow piling up on the ground last week.
In fact, they were actually out riding in it - preparing for what is likely to be a snow-laden course this weekend at the U.S. National Cyclocross Championships
After two years in Portland, the cyclocross nationals move to Providence, R.I., where more than 1,200 riders are expected to compete this Friday through Sunday for national titles in 25 categories.
The three-day event is sanctioned by USA Cycling, the governing body of competitive cycling in the United States, and recognized by the International Olympic Committee and International Cycling Union (UCI).
Cyclocross is a full-throttle, 30- to 60-minute circuit race that challenges riders over a variety of on- and off-road terrain, including leaping over barriers and scaling steep sections where cyclists must dismount and "run up."
Because cyclocross racing commonly takes place during the fall and winter, course difficulty is often determined by weather conditions like rain or snow.
Carson Miller, the third-place finisher in the junior men's 15-16 division at the 2004 national championships, upgraded to the elite junior men's 17-18 UCI division this year. (In cyclocross, racing ages are determined by how old a rider is during the year in which the world championships are held - in this case, 2006.)
A junior at Bend's Summit High School, Miller, 16, competed at four of the six U.S. Grand Prix of Cyclocross races this season. He picked up a fifth-place finish at the Stumptown Classic in Portland, along with three other finishes this year. Miller is currently ranked 10th in UCI points.
For Miller, a top-five performance at the national championship event could mean an invitation to 2006 World Cyclocross Championships next month in Zeddam, Netherlands. A win on Saturday would guarantee it.
"I'm definitely starting to feel stronger and see my 'cross technique improving," says Miller, who also races road and mountain bikes.
With older riders in his age category producing better results this season, Miller recognizes that a spot on the world team is a long shot this year.
"It's been much harder for me," he explains, "racing in much bigger fields with kids who train like athletes - kids who live and breathe cyclocross."
The key to a good performance, he says, is starting the race at the front of the pack and keeping his bike upright.
"It'll be critical to have a good start," Miller says. "This year racing UCI juniors, it comes down to who doesn't crash. If you crash, you surrender the race."
Miller will be joined in Rhode Island by other Central Oregon cyclocross racers, including Don Leet and Joanne Stevens, both of Bend.
Leet, competing in the men's 55-59 category on Sunday, is hoping for snow.
"Anytime it takes more technical skills, I have an advantage over the other riders in my category," notes Leet, who was a silver medalist at the 1988 world mountain bike championships in the downhill race. "It's a challenge being able to ride this crazy stuff and also go hard - using both fitness and bike-handling skills."
Although Leet has not raced before on the East Coast, he's had plenty of national championship experience. In 2004 he finished seventh, and in 2002 he was sixth.
Leet's 2005 resume includes a banner year racing at Portland's Cross Crusade series. He finished second overall in points in a field of 20 riders.
Stevens, 38, sacrificed impressive results for tougher competition over the course of the 2005 'cross season. Instead of racing in her masters age group at the Grand Prix of Cyclocross series races, she chose to test her merit against elite and professional women in order to be in top shape at this Saturday's national championship race in the 35-39 division.
"The competition is a lot stiffer in the elite category, so it pushes you," says Stevens. "You've got to put yourself in an uncomfortable situation if you ever want to improve. It's not about how well you finish, but just for the experience."
Like Miller, Stevens, who finished eighth in her age group last year at the national championship race, believes a strong sprint start is critical to the race's outcome.
"Everybody is fighting for that line at the start," she says. "It can be very intimidating. If you get bogged down (in the pack) you can lose so many more places."
In addition to the women's 35-to-39 race on Saturday, Stevens plans to ride Sunday in the women's elite competition.
Other Central Oregon riders expected to make their mark on the national championship course - all from Bend - are Jim Miller, participating in his first-ever national championship race, and professionals Adam Craig and Carl Decker in the men's elite race on Saturday.
"I've never flown to a bike race," says Jim Miller, who is scheduled to compete Friday in the men's 45-to-49 division. "So to pack up my bike and fly somewhere feels pretty big-time."
For more information, visit www.cyclocrossnationals.com.
In fact, they were actually out riding in it - preparing for what is likely to be a snow-laden course this weekend at the U.S. National Cyclocross Championships
After two years in Portland, the cyclocross nationals move to Providence, R.I., where more than 1,200 riders are expected to compete this Friday through Sunday for national titles in 25 categories.
The three-day event is sanctioned by USA Cycling, the governing body of competitive cycling in the United States, and recognized by the International Olympic Committee and International Cycling Union (UCI).
Cyclocross is a full-throttle, 30- to 60-minute circuit race that challenges riders over a variety of on- and off-road terrain, including leaping over barriers and scaling steep sections where cyclists must dismount and "run up."
Because cyclocross racing commonly takes place during the fall and winter, course difficulty is often determined by weather conditions like rain or snow.
Carson Miller, the third-place finisher in the junior men's 15-16 division at the 2004 national championships, upgraded to the elite junior men's 17-18 UCI division this year. (In cyclocross, racing ages are determined by how old a rider is during the year in which the world championships are held - in this case, 2006.)
A junior at Bend's Summit High School, Miller, 16, competed at four of the six U.S. Grand Prix of Cyclocross races this season. He picked up a fifth-place finish at the Stumptown Classic in Portland, along with three other finishes this year. Miller is currently ranked 10th in UCI points.
For Miller, a top-five performance at the national championship event could mean an invitation to 2006 World Cyclocross Championships next month in Zeddam, Netherlands. A win on Saturday would guarantee it.
"I'm definitely starting to feel stronger and see my 'cross technique improving," says Miller, who also races road and mountain bikes.
With older riders in his age category producing better results this season, Miller recognizes that a spot on the world team is a long shot this year.
"It's been much harder for me," he explains, "racing in much bigger fields with kids who train like athletes - kids who live and breathe cyclocross."
The key to a good performance, he says, is starting the race at the front of the pack and keeping his bike upright.
"It'll be critical to have a good start," Miller says. "This year racing UCI juniors, it comes down to who doesn't crash. If you crash, you surrender the race."
Miller will be joined in Rhode Island by other Central Oregon cyclocross racers, including Don Leet and Joanne Stevens, both of Bend.
Leet, competing in the men's 55-59 category on Sunday, is hoping for snow.
"Anytime it takes more technical skills, I have an advantage over the other riders in my category," notes Leet, who was a silver medalist at the 1988 world mountain bike championships in the downhill race. "It's a challenge being able to ride this crazy stuff and also go hard - using both fitness and bike-handling skills."
Although Leet has not raced before on the East Coast, he's had plenty of national championship experience. In 2004 he finished seventh, and in 2002 he was sixth.
Leet's 2005 resume includes a banner year racing at Portland's Cross Crusade series. He finished second overall in points in a field of 20 riders.
Stevens, 38, sacrificed impressive results for tougher competition over the course of the 2005 'cross season. Instead of racing in her masters age group at the Grand Prix of Cyclocross series races, she chose to test her merit against elite and professional women in order to be in top shape at this Saturday's national championship race in the 35-39 division.
"The competition is a lot stiffer in the elite category, so it pushes you," says Stevens. "You've got to put yourself in an uncomfortable situation if you ever want to improve. It's not about how well you finish, but just for the experience."
Like Miller, Stevens, who finished eighth in her age group last year at the national championship race, believes a strong sprint start is critical to the race's outcome.
"Everybody is fighting for that line at the start," she says. "It can be very intimidating. If you get bogged down (in the pack) you can lose so many more places."
In addition to the women's 35-to-39 race on Saturday, Stevens plans to ride Sunday in the women's elite competition.
Other Central Oregon riders expected to make their mark on the national championship course - all from Bend - are Jim Miller, participating in his first-ever national championship race, and professionals Adam Craig and Carl Decker in the men's elite race on Saturday.
"I've never flown to a bike race," says Jim Miller, who is scheduled to compete Friday in the men's 45-to-49 division. "So to pack up my bike and fly somewhere feels pretty big-time."
For more information, visit www.cyclocrossnationals.com.
posted by Ryan Amirault at Tuesday, December 06, 2005
