Snow, Sleet, Driving Rain and Near Gale Winds Usher in Day One of the Liberty Mutual U.S. National Cyclo-cross Championships Huffman goes down but ge
PROVIDENCE, RI (December 9, 2005) Racers at the Liberty Mutual U.S. National Cyclo-cross Championships kicked off three days of spirited competition this morning under a steady snowfall. Snow turned to sleet then turned to freezing rain then back into snow during the master women's 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59 race yet despite the increasing slickness six new champions earned their stars and stripes today.
"I raced in Chicago last week and it was snowing just like this but we didn't have the base layer of the icy conditions, we just had grass—dry and then snow on top so it was different conditions," said Patti Kaufman, winner of the master women 45-49 category. "I had a lot of difficulties with the terrain, it was tough, there were a lot of ups and downs. You knew you were going to go down and you just accepted it."
Audrey Huffman struggled to stay upright due to worsening course conditions and succeeded in sustaining a significant lead until a fall in the final few laps delayed her by ten seconds. No matter since Huffman got back up to finish first in the 40-44 category and collect her championship jersey.
Racing in his third national cyclo-cross championship category (first elite, then pro, now masters 45-49) Steve Tilford claimed his sixth title and will move to the front of the line for Sunday's Liberty Cup race.
Dale Knapp
Master men 40-44 winner Dale Knapp
photo: Chris Milliman
chrismilliman.com
"This is only the second year I rode masters," said Tilford. "I mainly rode today because there was a chance I could line up on the front row for Sunday's Liberty Cup race. I don't like starting 40 or 50 guys back so if I can race on Friday and line up on the front row on Sunday, I was like "hey, that seems like a good trade off."
Other category winners in today's races include Dale Knapp, master men 40-44; Tove Shere, master women 50-54; and Betty Jordan, master women 55+.
Mother Nature showed 'cross fans and racers a bit of wrath this afternoon when blizzard conditions and wind gusts proved too mighty to continue competition. Today's final two races: the master men 30-34 and collegiate men, race have been postponed until Saturday. Racing starts at 9 a.m. with the collegiate men; master men 30-34 will race at 11:30 with the remaining categories in the order that appears on the website.
Results for Day 1 of the Liberty Mutual U.S. National Cyclo-cross Championships are available online at http://www.cyclocrossnationals.com/results_05.htm
About Liberty Mutual:
Boston-based Liberty Mutual Group is a leading global insurer and sixth largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. whose largest line of business is personal auto based on 2004 direct written premium. As of Dec. 31, 2004, LMG had $72.4 billion in consolidated assets and $19.6 billion in annual consolidated revenue. The Company ranks 111th on the Fortune 500 list of largest corporations in the United States based on 2004 revenue.
Liberty Mutual Group offers a wide range of insurance products and services, including personal automobile, homeowners, workers compensation, commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, general liability, global specialty, group disability, assumed reinsurance, fire and surety.
Liberty Mutual Group (www.libertymutual.com) employs more than 38,000 people in nearly 900 offices throughout the world.
About Roger Williams Park:
Known as the 'Jewel of Providence,' the award-winning Roger Williams Park attracts more than 2 million visitors per year. Cited by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of America's premier urban parks, Roger Williams Park was designed by Horace Cleveland. Roger Williams Park is located just south of downtown Providence, the capital of Rhode Island.
About USA Cycling:
USA Cycling is the official cycling organization recognized by the USOC and is responsible for identifying, training and selecting cyclists to represent the United States in international competitions. USA Cycling, doing business as the USCF, NORBA, and USPRO, controls nearly two dozen major events each year and issues permits for up to 3,000 more.
About the New England Cyclo-cross Association:
The New England Cyclo-cross Association is the committee formed specifically to promote the 2005 and 2006 Liberty Mutual U.S. National Cyclo-cross Championships. Headquartered in Arlington, Mass., the core members of this committee have experience promoting four national championships and dozens of national caliber events.
"I raced in Chicago last week and it was snowing just like this but we didn't have the base layer of the icy conditions, we just had grass—dry and then snow on top so it was different conditions," said Patti Kaufman, winner of the master women 45-49 category. "I had a lot of difficulties with the terrain, it was tough, there were a lot of ups and downs. You knew you were going to go down and you just accepted it."
Audrey Huffman struggled to stay upright due to worsening course conditions and succeeded in sustaining a significant lead until a fall in the final few laps delayed her by ten seconds. No matter since Huffman got back up to finish first in the 40-44 category and collect her championship jersey.
Racing in his third national cyclo-cross championship category (first elite, then pro, now masters 45-49) Steve Tilford claimed his sixth title and will move to the front of the line for Sunday's Liberty Cup race.
Dale Knapp
Master men 40-44 winner Dale Knapp
photo: Chris Milliman
chrismilliman.com
"This is only the second year I rode masters," said Tilford. "I mainly rode today because there was a chance I could line up on the front row for Sunday's Liberty Cup race. I don't like starting 40 or 50 guys back so if I can race on Friday and line up on the front row on Sunday, I was like "hey, that seems like a good trade off."
Other category winners in today's races include Dale Knapp, master men 40-44; Tove Shere, master women 50-54; and Betty Jordan, master women 55+.
Mother Nature showed 'cross fans and racers a bit of wrath this afternoon when blizzard conditions and wind gusts proved too mighty to continue competition. Today's final two races: the master men 30-34 and collegiate men, race have been postponed until Saturday. Racing starts at 9 a.m. with the collegiate men; master men 30-34 will race at 11:30 with the remaining categories in the order that appears on the website.
Results for Day 1 of the Liberty Mutual U.S. National Cyclo-cross Championships are available online at http://www.cyclocrossnationals.com/results_05.htm
About Liberty Mutual:
Boston-based Liberty Mutual Group is a leading global insurer and sixth largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. whose largest line of business is personal auto based on 2004 direct written premium. As of Dec. 31, 2004, LMG had $72.4 billion in consolidated assets and $19.6 billion in annual consolidated revenue. The Company ranks 111th on the Fortune 500 list of largest corporations in the United States based on 2004 revenue.
Liberty Mutual Group offers a wide range of insurance products and services, including personal automobile, homeowners, workers compensation, commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, general liability, global specialty, group disability, assumed reinsurance, fire and surety.
Liberty Mutual Group (www.libertymutual.com) employs more than 38,000 people in nearly 900 offices throughout the world.
About Roger Williams Park:
Known as the 'Jewel of Providence,' the award-winning Roger Williams Park attracts more than 2 million visitors per year. Cited by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of America's premier urban parks, Roger Williams Park was designed by Horace Cleveland. Roger Williams Park is located just south of downtown Providence, the capital of Rhode Island.
About USA Cycling:
USA Cycling is the official cycling organization recognized by the USOC and is responsible for identifying, training and selecting cyclists to represent the United States in international competitions. USA Cycling, doing business as the USCF, NORBA, and USPRO, controls nearly two dozen major events each year and issues permits for up to 3,000 more.
About the New England Cyclo-cross Association:
The New England Cyclo-cross Association is the committee formed specifically to promote the 2005 and 2006 Liberty Mutual U.S. National Cyclo-cross Championships. Headquartered in Arlington, Mass., the core members of this committee have experience promoting four national championships and dozens of national caliber events.
posted by Ryan Amirault at Friday, December 09, 2005
