Age-graded titles awarded at cyclocross nationals

By USA Cycling

The USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships opened on Thursday with just over 50 master-aged riders tackling the demanding course at Kansas City’s Tiffany Springs Park. Gary Thacker (Louisville, Colo./Chipotle-Titus), Phil Bannister (Putney, Vt./Putney-West Hill), Rob Lea (Taneytown, Md./Team Fuji), Walt Axthelm (Durango, Colo./Durango Wheel Club) and Ronald Riley (Aptos, Calif./Team Santa Cruz) won the first of 35 stars-and-stripes jerseys to be awarded at this year’s competition.

With sunny skies and temperatures comfortably in the 30′s the first national championship contest went off at 1:00 p.m. After the early week snow and the morning’s B races, the well-broken-in course made for a slow start to the master men’s 55-59 contest. The slick corners were however no problem for Louisville, Colorado’s Thacker who moved to the front on the first lap and never looked back. The 55-year old veteran mountain biker took up cyclocross only three years ago, but has quickly taken to America’s fastest growing cycling discipline.

“I spent most of the first lap just trying to get to the front,” explained Thacker, a first-time national champion. “There were some loose corners, but the course dried out as the race went on. This was a goal of mine from the beginning of the season. You have to do it while you are young, you know.”

Fred Whitworth (Charlottesville, Va./Van Dessel Factory Team) wrapped up second place, with a time of 39:02, nearly two minutes behind Thacker’s winning time of 37:09. Torre Smitherman (Gainesville, Ga./GTC) finished just over a minute later in third, but the real battle was for the last two podium spots with five additional riders finishing in under 42:00. After a fierce battle, Joseph Brown (Walled Lake, Mich.) and Michael Longmire (Missoula, Mt./Northern Rockies) ultimately rounded out the podium in fourth and fifth place.

In the men’s 60-64 contest it was all Bannister as he opened up a huge gap in the first pair of laps. With the majority of the 17-rider field dismounting for the off-camber downhill sections, Banister displayed superior technical ability, riding a few of the declines on the hilly course. Appearing to be at ease, the first-time national champion took control and went on to take the convincing win.

“I had a friend on his bike giving me readings all over the course, which seemed helpful,” said Bannister. “It was a really hard effort for me and luckily I was able to know how far out I was toward the end.”

Bannister’s only real challenge came from multi-time national champion John Elgart (Sacramento, Calif./Webcor-Alto Velo) who significantly closed the gap on the final lap. The 18-time national champ has four cyclo-cross titles to his name and although he was denied another today, he solidly rode to the silver. After 15 years of racing cyclo-cross Elgart has as much experience as almost any American.

“The course is well-designed, but tough as the off camber corners are slippery and it’s hard to go fast on this course,” said Elgart. “It would be a faster course with grass, but the mud makes it more technical. It’s great to see everyone out here as the sport of cyclo-cross has grown so much in the last decade or so.”

In the day’s most exciting finish, John Rubcic (Hemet, Calif./UC Cyclery-JW Flooring) won the sprint for third over Cal Giant’s Frank Cuaresma (San Jose, Calif.) who had to settle for fourth.

With six starters racing in a group with the 60-64 age division as well as the 70+ entrants, Leatook the men’s 65-69 title by three minutes over Joe Saling (Bridgewater, N.J./Team Somerset-Van Dessel). Axthelm won the 70-74 stars-and-stripes, finishing in 50:37, while Riley came in at 52:28 to win the 75-79 national championship.

The USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships will continue Friday, with both junior and master’s men and women battling for their shot at a national title.

2008 USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships
Kansas City, Missouri
December 11-14

Thursday’s National Champions:

Men 55-59: Gary Thacker (Louisville, Colo./Chipotle-Titus)

Men 60-64: Phil Bannister (Putney, Vt./Putney-West Hill)

Men 65-69: Rob Lea (Taneytown, Md./Team Fuji)

Men 70-74: Walt Axthelm (Durango, Colo./Durango Wheel Club)

Men 75-79: Ronald Riley (Aptos, Calif./Team Santa Cruz)

FILED UNDER: Cyclocross TAGS: U.S. Cyclocross Nationals