While the flowing beach course of CSUMB in Monterey had rain during the Elite races, and this only made the hard packed trails and sand super awesome and tacky!
Cross is alive and kicking in Nor-Cal and there is so much greatness on the horizon.
Saturday's CCCX race will use the famed CSUMB course for round #2 on the Monterey college campus. The course will feature similar portions used in race #1, as we all a new Beach section where both riding and running will come into play. It is going to be fast!
The first version of the packed Bay Area Super Prestige races goes off on Sunday!
Looking at the totals now there are 470 racers on Pre-Reg status. Awesome!
Candlestick Park will be the back-ground for a course that Tom & Alec Simpson have developed over the years. Usage season after season usually leads to keeping the best portions of course from years past and creating new pieces that link up to establish a extra fine course.
I am sure the BASP race will be super & prestigious!
Saturday near Monterey is the classic CSUMB course for the CCCX Cyclocross Series.
The CSUMB is one of a kind for Cyclocross in Nor-Cal and a true gem. Featuring some amazing trails and roads, plus one long downhill beach section that makes the route super for Cross.
Also Saturday near Vacaville at Lagoon Valley is the Sacramento Series. The Lagoon Valley course is fast, wide open and features a brutal hill to test strength and fitness.
Wow... the CCCX Series went off this weekend with Sat. & Sun. racing on a super cool track that was used in both directions over the 2 days of competitions.
"World Class" talent showed up to have at it.... with reigning U23 National Champion Yannick Eckmann(Cal. Giant Inc./Specialized) taking the Men's races both days- with Andy Jacques-Maynes(IBIS/Buy-Cell.com) next best over the two days of racing. While the Women's races were both won by Meridith Miller(Cal. Giant Inc./Specialized) while hard charging Elle Anderson(Cal. Giant Inc./Specialized) proved to be second fastest female over the weekend.
Current World Champions from Northern California Karen Brems(Rambuski Law), Don Myrah(IBIS/Buy-Cell.com) and Henry Kramer(Cal. Giant Inc. Specialized) all looked extremely sharp to open up the season. And of course there is always surprises to the results sheets that keep the racing fresh... so much fun and so much drama Cyclocross always delivers! Other riders showing early season form were Tobin Ortenblad(Cal. Giant Inc./Specialized), Cody Kaiser(Cal. Giant Inc./Specialized), Matt Shriver(Trek CxC), Brian Finnerty(Cal. Giant Inc./Specialized), Murray Swanson(Pen Velo), Tim Cannard(IBIS/Buy-Cell.com), Mark Abele(Rock Lobster), Gannon Myall(Cal. Giant Inc./Specialized), Mark Howland(Family Cycling Center), Julie Bates(Team Roaring Mouse), Livia Perez(Rock Lobster), and Maddie Ortenblad(Bear Development).
All divisions were hotly contested and it was definitely "Game On" for Nor-Cal Cyclocross.
It is only going to get better and better as the 2013 racing rolls on!
But do not expect mud just yet! The course is going to be dry, fast and slick sliding in the turns. Most of the layout is on dry hard-packed dirt that makes for fun riding. Yet Northern California is on a very dry pattern, and the ground will be dry as dry gets. Tire choice and air pressure will already be key and it is just the
first races of the season...
Saturday and Sunday CCCX Cross races should be very exciting.
Mud is going to arrive one day this
2013/14 Nor-Cal Cross season!
This is a fact!
Early season races prepare riders to gain strength and bike handling skills in order to face the challenges the entire Nor-Cal Cross season will bring. Now it is dry dirt, sand and slick corners in all turns. Later it will be moist ground, wet tracks and sloppy sections that bring their own unique challenges...
So much fun racing Cross & so much action on every single lap!
The Cross schedule for Nor-Cal is complete and can be viewed here. September has the CCCX events this weekend & Saturday Sept. 21 & Saturday Sept. 28. The Sacramento Series kicks into gear on Sunday Sept. 22. The first Bay Area Super Prestige race closes out the month on Sunday Sept. 29. Now is time to pin on a race # and get out and compete. Or you will always be playing catch up to the dedicated Cross racers who hone their skills each weekend at the Nor-Cal Cross events
The CCCX Series uses day of registration only. Surf City Series, Murphy Mack's Nor-Cal CX Series, the BASP races, and the Sacramento Series all have Pre-reg links on their web site.
Do check out each race series website the week of each event, just to make sure there are no changes to schedules or locations...
Tim Westmore clicked some great shots from the first Cross race of the season in Folsom. Please have a view here.
This weekend on both Saturday & Sunday I am sure some very cool race photos will be produced.
This video is gnarly! All I can say is technical...!!! Hats of to Katie Compton of the USA for the win. And check out Lars Boom win... after he has 1/2/3 or more chain trouble issues. Watching, you keep thinking there is no way he can win after his
chain drama....
What a win, that guy was flying through the snow sections and clearly was putting out more speed and power then the rest!
I am not supposed to say anything, but Lance Armstrong is supposed to be at the Cross race this weekend.
Keep that on the low please...
Keith DeFiebre is also expected to make an appearance as well!
Cross Vegas is next week! That race is going to be fast and certainly Lance will not be the only rider working out the kinks this weekend in preparation for Cross Vegas...
This weekend at the CCCX race will be the first real meeting of the fast studs of Nor-Cal Cross. Our regions best Elite Women, Elite Men, Masters and Juniors will all be in action. Teams such as Paul Sadoff's Rock Lobster crew & Anthony Gallino's California Giant Inc./Specialized group will be throwing on their proud colors to compete. Lobster features racers Scott Chapin, Aaron Bradford, Katie Jay Melina, and Ellen Sherrill. The Strawberry crew features Justin Robinson, Tobin Ortenblad, Cody Kaiser and Elle Anderson. I do have to think that this season will be the very first in a long while where Cal. Giant Inc. Berries and Rock Lobster racers will not necessarily be the most dominate riders at each race. The riders I listed above are clearly the very best from our region. However this season both Andy Jacques-Maynes & Ben Jacques-Maynes will be racing under new sponsor logos. AJM will now be flying Tim Cannard's IBIS/Buy-Cell.com colors. And BJM will be sporting the Jamis Cyclocross rig and kit. Having the Jacques-Maynes both race on different teams, and not on Cal. Giant Inc. or Rock Lobster, is going to make for the very best Elite racing action we have seen for years.
Andy can be considered the very best racer from our region for Cyclocross over the past few years. While Ben has super skills, incredible talent, and Pro Tour races as part of his diet.
IT IS GAME ON!
The speed and talent on course is going to be "World Class".
Cyclocross season is a special time of year, and Cyclocross is a special sport that brings people together to race fast, compete hard, and enjoy the atmosphere the racing brings on.
But more then fast racing, and tough competition.... Cyclocross in Nor-Cal is plain fun!
Cyclocross is the best way for amateur riders to improve skills & strength.
Cyclocross is the best way for the top racers to show off their talent and speed.
Cyclocross brings people together to enjoy cycling in conditions that are always challenging, dry or wet.
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