CYCLOCROSS

The season's first NCNCA Cross races are near, and already some gossip is starting to appear about the 2010 National Cyclocross Championships in Bend Oregon.

Last season the Masters Women racers from Nor-Cal put on a show for the ages in Bend at Nationals. Kerry Barnholt, Karen Brems, Gina Hall, and Barbara Howe, all earned medals- with Hall-Barnholt-Howe bringing home Gold. Seven Masters Women from Nor-Cal made podium in total. It was pure domination by the Women who compete in Northern California, and for 2010 we will see the on course battles resume between these talented female athletes...

Don Myrah, Alan Coats, and Todd Hoefer, are Nor-Cal Masters Men racers who each have cycled to a National Cyclocross Championship in their riding carriers. Masters racing in the NCNCA region is the best in America, and this has been proven year after year...

Each season in the NCNCA riders go to war on course to raise the level of riding among the top competitors. This ends up with some seriously on form competitors heading to the USA National Championships from Nor-Cal. Here is some info anyone who is thinking of racing this years USA Cyclocross Nationals should be aware of.

A longer course will be used for the 2010 event...

For the second consecutive year, the championship course is located on the grounds of the Deschutes Brewery, adjacent to the Old Mill District, but it has been lengthened to help prevent lapped riders from becoming an issue. Returning will be the staircase run-up, set of barriers and off-camber sections, but the addition of a fly-over will allow pedestrians to easily access the vendor area, beer garden and team car parking lots – without needing to cross the course.

Time trials will take place approximately 24 hours before each age-based championship race to determine seeding. Similar to last year’s championship, the top eight from the previous year will receive a call-up to the front row, as will any national champions who have aged up. The rest will be filled in based on time trial results, followed by those who opt out of competing in the TT.

Preliminary Calendar for 2010 Nationals in Bend:
Wednesday December 8th
8am-4pm – Time Trial races in NorthWest Crossing to decide starting positions
2pm-5pm – Singlespeed Men and Womens National Championship races

Thursday December 9th
8am-4pm – Time Trial races in NorthWest Crossing to decide starting positions.
8am-5pm – USA Cycling Cyclo-Cross National Championship races
6pm-10pm – Cross Culture Bike Art Festival
7pm-9pm – Crossing Barriers masters women’s social gathering

Friday December 10th
8am-4pm – Time Trials in NorthWest Crossing to decide starting positions
8am – 5pm – USA Cycling Cyclo-Cross National Championship races
6pm-10pm – Cross Culture Bike Art Festival
7pm-9:30pm – Cyclocross film and music at the Tower Theater

Saturday December 11th
8am-4pm – Time Trials in NorthWest Crossing to decide starting positions
8am – 5pm – USA Cycling Cyclo-Cross National Championship races
6pm-10pm – Cross Culture Bike Art Festival
6pm-8:30pm – World premier of Brian Vernors new cyclocross film and live music at the Tower Theater
9pm-Late – Cross Nat’s Blowout Bash at Deschutes Brewery Warehouse
9:30pm – Clydesdale Cyclocross Championships of the Universe at the Deschutes Brewery Warehouse

Sunday December 12th
8am – 4pm – USA Cycling Cyclo-Cross National Championship races

Full Story here...

Bart Wellens-

It will be interesting to see how the top Cyclocross team in the world- Telenet Fidea- goes about their business in 2010. This team is loaded with some of the best riders on the planet for Cyclocross. The reigning World Champion Zdenek Stybar leads a team with both young and old Cross stars. Kevin Pauwels and Tom Meeusen represent the young, while Petr Dlask and Bart Wellens show the experienced side of the team. Wellens is a major draw in Belgium, and that really is a understatement. He is full of drama, a legend of the sport, many like him- many hate him, and it will be exciting to see if his form can get back to Stybar and Pauwels level displayed last season. If Wellens can get back to being one of the best- the Euro races are guaranteed to be good viewing.

Wellens will go after any spectator who does not cheer for him in races...

Only in Belgium will they turn a moment like this into a top selling video game...

If you win Cyclocross races in Belgium you will become rich! So on course it is every man for himself, and team tactics hardly surface. Wellens comeback after a poor season in 2009 will be one of the big stories for Euro Cross 2010...