NATIONALS DAY 2

Cross Nationals Thursday Racing Huge Action For NCNCA Athletes.

ALL USA CYCLING NATIONAL CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS HERE.

Aaron Bradford(Family Cycling Center)- pictured below- delivered a outstanding ride in the TT for the starting grid of Thursday's Single Speed Cross Championship.  Bradford was 3rd out of 73 riders.  The Men's Single Speed race has world class talent in the line up and Bradford showed Nor-Cal style & class in his TT run.

Dean Poshard(Rock Lobster) & Tom Feix(Penn. Velo) each made top 10 placings on day one of Nationals.  Congratulations Dean(7th place Men's B) & Tom(10th place Men's B 40+)!

For a somewhat complete list of all racers competing on Thursday please read on....

Please check out this video for a view of course conditions in Bend, Oregon this week.  This is a video of the TT course the day before competition, and is best watched in full screen on your computer to get the full effect of the epic surroundings NCNCA racers are facing.

Kathy Pruitt(Family Cycling Center)- pictured below- qualified 2nd overall in the Women's Single Speed TT.

Stella Carey(Rock Lobster)

                                 Gina Hall(Cal Giant Inc./Specialized)

                                              Linda Elgart(Webcor)

                                                John Elgart(Webcor)

                                 Kathleen Hannon(Hunter/Freewheel)

Yvonne Walbroehl(Penn. Velo)

Janel Lodge(Bay 101/HRS/Rock Lobster)

                                  Karen Brems(Team Rambuski Law)

Beverly Chaney(Roaring Mouse)

Kathleen Bortolussi(Bay101/HRS/Rock Lobster)

Each of the riders you see in the photos above will be in action Thursday in Bend, Oregon.

Many other Nor-Cal racers will be racing, all with a shot at the podium, and the coveted Stars & Stripes Champions jersey.

Please see this schedule for Thursday's racing and most of the other Nor-Cal riders who will be on course in Bend.

My words of wisdom regarding Thursday's racing at the Cross Nationals in Bend......

Someone from Nor-Cal is going to ride great & claim the precious Gold, Silver, or Bronze medal!

Ride Safe & Have Fun!

NATIONALS

FIRST SET OF RESULTS FROM THE USA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS CAN BE VIEWED HERE.

When I arrived in Bend it looked like this...

This is the view many of Northern California's best Cyclocross racers are getting upon arrival in Bend, Oregon for this weeks USA Cyclocross National Championships.

The weather forecast looks really awesome the next few days, if you like harsh racing conditions.

Racing in the snow and rain can not be that bad, can it?  We will see as the competitions begin!

In action today is-

Miss Mary Perez- Women B Race

Kathleen Boyle- Women B Race

Haley Juno-Galdes- Women B Race

Karch Miller- Men 10-29 B Race

Dean Poshard- Men 30-39 B Race

Tom Feix- Men Masters 40+ B Race

Jim Gentes- Men Masters 40+ B Race

Shawn Miller- Men Masters 40+ B Race

Jeff Sobul-  Men Masters 40+ B Race

Jeff Traugott- Men Masters 40+ B Race

Lots of chances for success from Nor-Cal in this group.  One rider who stands out is

Tom Fiex(Peninsula Velo).  Fiex, pictured below, has been on fire recently with his form and he has had a standout season racing in the Masters 45+ division.  Fiex has produced many outstanding rides this year, and I have a feeling today could be another fine result for the fast riding Fiex.

RACING

NCNCA Cross steps up to Nationals week.

Nor-Cal's best flock to Bend Orgeon looking for Championships and ready to fight!

First, props to Levi Leipheimer for taking to some Cyclocross at this past weekend's Santa Rosa race.  Northern California has some of the best cyclists in the world riding around, and it is great to see a Nor-Cal Tour de France rider turn up for a local Cross race & get muddy!

National Championships are this week, and I must start the kick off for the Championships on this page with the Nor-Cal Masters Men. 

The most outstanding Masters racing in America goes off each week in the NCNCA region.  Our Masters athletes are world class, and this week someone who races Masters events from Nor-Cal will deliver the goods at Nationals.

Cal. Giant Inc. is the Masters super team.  Each of the riders on this program has a chance for success this week in Bend.

Todd Hoefer is a Masters Champion, and is a rider who trains, races, and lives for the Gold Medal at Cross Nationals. Hoefer appears to just be finding his best form at the perfect time leading to Nationals, as he claimed victory and the final race of the BASP Series this past Sunday.  Hoefer really appears to be ready for a big ride at the most valuable Cross race in America...

Justin Robinson is legend.  Robinson has a huge history of success in big races.  He has made Masters Nationals his own personal playground.  If the racing is hard and difficult this week in Bend, Robinson will be at his best...

Alan Coats is one of the finest Masters racers ever from Nor-Cal.  Somehow, someway, Coats gets the job done in the biggest race of the year- Nationals.  Coats will be a player in Bend when the Gold Medal is on the line...

Gannon Myall has risen to the highest level of Cross racing over the years.  Myall has experience in big races, and the power and style to be on the front when it matters most.  This could be Myall's year to claim a National Medal and stand on the top step of the podium at the USA Championships...

Norm Kreiss has been the best 55+ Masters racer in Northern California for 2010.  Kreiss went undefeated in this division at the BASP Series.  Kreiss will be one of the marked riders at Nationals in this age group, and has a great chance at Gold...

David Anderson has been one of the most consistent 45+ Masters racers for 2010 NCNCA Cyclocross.  Anderson has proven himself to be a true star of Masters racing, and has a solid chance in Bend for success...

Steve Reaney is Nor-Cal's secret weapon for Masters Cross racing.  Reaney is the National Champion this year in the Senior Men's Elite Division for the Criterium discipline of cycling.  Other Cross racers in America could be in for big trouble if Reaney gets a good starting spot in Bend.  If Reaney is on, and feeling good in Bend, he could rip the legs off of the best Masters Cross racers in the USA, let's hope Reaney is on...

Rob Meighan is super talented & can do anything he wants on a Cross bike if he is on form.  Meighan is strong candidate for the podium in the Master Men's 50+ division...

Ana Flores Jr. is a rider who lets his stellar racing do his talking.  Flores Jr. is on the Cal Giant Inc. Masters team for a reason, he is tremendously capable of pulling off huge rides and outstanding results in some of the biggest races of the season...

Team Rambuski Law is another squad with Masters Men who will fight tooth and nail for the coveted Cross National Championship.

Logan Kelsey has showed stupendous form during the 2010 race season.  Kelsey is a Cross racer to the bone, and he defines desire & drive on the bicycle.  If Kelsey has a good day, his potential at Nationals is unlimited...

Tim Thompson is a special rider who can attain super high results in the largest caliber cycle competitions in America.  Thompson is pure class on a bicycle, and it all comes together as a complete package when Thompson races Cross.  If Thompson feels his best, there is nothing that will stop him from the podium in Bend...

Too bad Kevin Merrigan is not going to Nationals.  Merrigan had a break out year in the Masters 45+ division and would truly be a force in Bend in this division.  Merrigan is a past Masters National Champion, and he is a rider who has set the bar extremely high for other Nor-Cal Masters Men to match...

Look at this photo!  It does all the talking when it comes to Jim Gentes and his fight on the bike.  If Gentes is on form, he can produce very big rides...

Rock Lobster's Best.

Mark Howland has been one of the most outstanding & most consistent Cross racers in Nor-Cal over the past 20 years.  Howland is now one of the most dominating Masters 45+ racers in Northern California.  His 2009 & 2010 seasons have been awesome, and if he finds a good groove in Bend, this could be his year for success at Nationals...

Brett Lambert has a fantastic chance at success in Bend this year.  Lambert has put together two amazing seasons of Nor-Cal Cross racing in 2009 & 2010.  Simply put he has been one of the best 45+ Masters racers in Nor-Cal with out a question.  In Bend the steady riding Lambert will contest the 50+ division and looks set challenge for a National Medal in this group...

BASP RESULTS & PHOTOS

BASP Series 2010 is complete.  A Special congratulations to Kerry Barnholt(Scott/Ritchey) & Steve Reaney(Cal. Giant Inc./Specialized) on their tremendous riding in claiming the Elite Division BASP Series titles!

Steve Reaney deserves a little extra praise, as he pulled off an outstanding double BASP Series win.  Reaney was the Masters 35+ "A" division champion, as well as the Elite division champion.  Congratulations on your super strong Cross season Steve Reaney!

BASP Series Final Race Results Here.

BASP Overall Series Point Totals Here.

Congratulations To All The Division Champions!

Cat A Men- Steve Reaney- Cal Giant Inc./Specialized

Cat A Women- Kerry Barnholt- Scott/Ritchey

Master 35+ A- Steve Reaney- Cal Giant Inc./Specialized

Master 45+ A- Kevin Merrigan- Team Rambuski Law

Single Speed A- Rainer Schaefer- Freewheel/Hunter

Master Women 35+ A- Kristin Drumm- Divine Electric

Cat B Women- Joanna Bechtel

Cat B Men- Alex Wick- Davis Bike Club

Master 35+ B- Shawn O'Mera- Velo Reno

Master 45+ B- William Stratchan- Sterling/Sendmail

Single Speed B- Christopher Elbo- Missing Link/3rdRail

Cat C Women- Erin Durkee

Master 55+- Norm Kreiss- Cal Giant Inc./Specialized

Juniors 15-18- Tobin Ortenblad- Spokesman Bicycles

Juniors 10-14- Jovanni Stefani- Sprocket Rocket

Junior Women U15- Eliana Stefani- Sprocket Rocket

Master 35+ C- Michael Lodoen- Murray-Renaissance

Cat C Men- Jonathon  Krier-tran- SJBC



                      All BASP Photos Here.

Tim Westmore snapped some photos of the legends on course from the BASP Series final.

SANTA ROSA - SACRAMENTO - BASP SERIES FINAL

The Bay Area Super Prestige Series Final Headlines The NCNCA Cross Racing This Weekend.

Full Info. On The BASP Final Race Here.

Full BASP Series Points Here.

Saturday Cross Racing Fires Off In Santa Rosa & Sacramento.

Santa Rosa - Monkey Cross Info. Here.

Sacramento Series Info. Here.

VIDEOS - USA CROSS NATIONALS SCHEDULE

Ciclista Bonita Cyclocross Team director sportif Miss Mary Perez put together an amazing schedule of all the NCNCA racers who will be taking part in next weeks USA National Championships in Bend, Oregon. Plus their start times, and their divisions/age groups entered.

This schedule is awesome and gives all Cross fans a solid look at when and where history will be made by Nor-Cal's best Cross racers.  Please have a look.

My first selected video is from Koksijde, Begium.  This race course is one of my favorite and next year will host the UCi World Championships for Cyclocross.  This video is very good as it shows my boy Bart Wellens show some solid form and hit off the front of a chase group who was fighting it our for 2nd place.  Eventual winner Niels Albert was alone and solo for the win, but the race for second place was very exciting.  Wellens ended up bitter as Stybar, his team mate, did work with Nys to chase down his surge on the final lap.  Wellens had a good gap but it looked as if Nys was just letting him dangle out there and was never too far behind to close that gap.  Wellens was clearly at his limit, and his last moment knee drop in the sand blocked Nys and showed he was basically done in the final push for the line.  They really changed up the Koksijde course, but I very much liked the sand running sections they added.  The sand portions of this course produce spectacular action from the racers, and make for a one of a kind circuit.  This video shows some tremendous sand sections & running sections that really tested the world's best riders, and the final moments of the last lap are very thrilling.  Plus check out the crowds- off the charts huge!  Nice to see Niels Albert rise to the top step of the podium.

The second video is from the 34e Internationale Nissan Super Prestige Cyclo-cross Gieten.  This video is one of my favorite this season, as any time you have a 4 man group in a shoot out for the overall win, the race action is going to be world class and exciting.  The course was tremendously fast, and yet the turns were extra tricky as conditions were icy and muddy in the corners.  You can see from the riders motions that many of the corners were extra slick and hard to navigate, however the straight away sections were very, very fast.  The four rider shoot out was between Sven Nys,  BKCP-Powerplus team mates Dieter Vanthourenhout & Radomir Simunek Jr., and eventual winner Tom Meeusen.  Young Tom Meeusen is the future star of Cyclocross and he showed his talent and skill in this race.  The riders really battled for position in the final lap.  They came together and had elbow contact time and time again, but kept most of the racing very clean, and no hard blows were traded.  Meeusen and Simunek Jr. did most of the cat fighting, while Nys lurked behind waiting to pounce for the win.  Meeusen really was on fire and did everything right to finally break down Simunek Jr. after they traded the lead 5 or 6 times in the final lap.  The racing was fantastic to watch in the final portions of the last lap.  The big money had to be placed on Nys for the win, and sure enough he set himself in the perfect place to out sprint Meeusen as they came around the final corner and on to the finishing straight.  Simunek had been distanced and Nys was in the right place to go for victory.  Things do not always go to plan, and when Nys super surged on the pedals extra hard to start the final kick for the line his pedal completely shattered off the cranks and Nys nearly was ejected off his bike from this explosion of his equipment.  It was amazing that he did not flip over the bars from ripping his pedals off his cranks in full sprint.  But he is Sven Nys, a Olympic gymnast on  Cyclocross bike.  Meeusen proceeds to sprint on for the win.  This video has some of the best final lap action of the Euro Cross season 2010.

WEATHER

Check out the 10 day weather forecast for Bend, Oregon.

NCNCA racers are a true powerhouse at Nationals, and Nor-Cal will most definitely rise to the top when the conditions are at their worst.

Snow, rain, and freezing temperatures will greet our most dedicated riders in Bend. 

This years National Cross Championships will be legendary, and Northern California riders will be sure and stamp their authority on the proceedings.  Some way, some how, some of Nor-Cal's best racers will deliver great rides!

Good Luck to all.....