Gallery: Cyclocross nationals, elite men and women

Tall prairie grass was the distinguishing characteristic of the back half of the Verona, Wisconsin National Championships venue. Photo: Wil Matthews

Jonathin Page (Planet Bike) surveys the course Sunday morning. Photo: Wil Matthews

Cal Giant Berries-Specialized Team Director Anthony Gallino with Teal Steston-Lee and Meredith Miller shortly before the Elite Women's race. Photo: Wil Matthews

Mo Bruno-Roy (Bob's Red Mill) readies before the Elite Women's race. Photo: Wil Matthews

A particularly Belgian-like atmosphere was present during Sunday's races. Photo: Wil Matthews

Meredith Miller (Cal Giant Berries-Specialized) tales the hole shot in the Elite Women's race. Photo: Wil Matthews

Katie Compton (Rabobank-Giant) rode clear of the Elite Women's field early in the first lap. Photo: Wil Matthews

Katie Antonneau had a tremendous ride, breaking clear of the chase group to finish second overall in the Elite Women's race and first in the U23 race. Photo: Wil Matthews

Meredith Miller (Cal Giant Berries-Specialized) and teammate Teal Stetson-Lee worked together in the chase group. Miller, beset by problems throughout the race, finished sixth. Photo: Wil Matthews

Nicole Duke and Katie Antonneau (Cannondale-cyclocrossworld.com) worked together mid-race. Photo: Wil Matthews

Coryn River (Exergy-Team Twenty12) finished fifth overall in the Elite Women's race and second in the U23 race, the best cyclocross result yet for the Marian University student best known for criterium wins. Photo: Wil Matthews

Katie Compton (Rabobank-Giant) finished with two-minute and one second margin of victory. Photo: Wil Matthews

Race fans lined the uphill barrier section. Photo: Wil Matthews

Though Katie Compton (Rabobank-Giant) was powerful and smooth on course, she wasn't flawless, having hit the deck in the slippery sections twice. Photo: Wil Matthews

Katie Compton (Rabobank-Giant) claims her eighth Cyclocross National Championship in Verona, Wisconsin. Photo: Wil Matthews

Katie Antonneau's career-best finish brought the Cannondale-cyclocrossworld.com rider to tears of joy immediately after crossing the finish. Photo: Wil Matthews

Katie Antonneau (Cannondale-cyclocrossworld,com) after winning the U23 race and finishing second overall in the Elite Women's race. She won the Collegiate Women's title the previous day. Photo: Wil Matthews

Teal Stetson-Lee (Cal Giant Berries-Specialized) and Nicole Duke (Cannondale-cyclocrossworld.com) share congratulations after their podium finishes. Photo: Wil Matthews

Meredith Miller (Cal Giant Berries-Specialized) and teammate Teal Stetson-Lee following the race. Asked by her teammate what went wrong during the race, Miller replied "What didn't?" Photo: Wil Matthews

Katie Compton's winning Rabobank-Giant cyclocross bike. Photo: Wil Matthews

Muddy fields, winter skies and flags bearing the arms of the Flemish community helped create a genuine cyclocross environment at the Wisconsin venue. Photo: Wil Matthews

Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) warms up minutes before being called to staging. Photo: Wil Matthews

Zach McDonald (Rapha-Focus) claimed the hole shot ahead of a charging Elite Men's field then immediately ran off course, putting him deep in the pack. Photo: Wil Matthews

The Elite Men's field started with 107 riders, creating a busy first lap. Photo: Wil Matthews

Ryan Trebon was first through the barriers on the first lap. Photo: Wil Matthews

Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) was the only rider in the Elite Men's field regularly bunny-hopping the barriers. Photo: Wil Matthews

Jonathon Page (Planet Bike) puts and elbow to Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) in attempt to disrupt Powers' approach to the barriers. Photo: Wil Matthews

Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) leads the select group. Photo: Wil Matthews

Ryan Trebon (LTS-Felt) in one of his turns at the front before the select group disintegrated and he was forced to chase Jeremy Powers solo. Photo: Wil Matthews

Chris Jones (Rapha-Focus) follows teammate Zach McDonald after McDonald rejoined the lead group. Photo: Wil Matthews

A deep sandy section in the infield section of the course tested riders. Photo: Wil Matthews

Jonathon Page (Planet Bike) took frequent turns at the front of the lead group. Photo: Wil Matthews

Ryan Trebon (LTS-Sports) found the lead group still tight even into the fifth lap. Photo: Wil Matthews

Course conditions remained slippery throughout the day. Photo: Wil Matthews

Tim Johnson (Cannondale-cyclocrossworld.com) was beset by a flu on New Year's Eve, but was able to put in a gutsy ride with several attacks. Photo: Wil Matthews

Chris Jones (Rapha-Focus) slipped from the lead group on the sixth lap. Photo: Wil Matthews

Jonathon Page (Planet Bike) takes a clean bike. Page's pit strategy was unusual in that he preferred to have several paces between his bikes in the pit. Photo: Wil Matthews

Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) barrier-hopping skills excited the crowds every lap. Photo: Wil Matthews

Tim Johnson (Cannondale-cyclocrossworld.com) shows the strain maintaining pace with Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus.) Photo: Wil Matthews

Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) starts to leave Ryan Trebon (LTS-Felt) on the sixth lap. Photo: Wil Matthews

Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) claims his first Cyclocross National Championship title. Photo: Wil Matthews

Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) overcome with emotions immediately following his win, is greeted by his girlfriend Emily Welles. Photo: Wil Matthews

Zach McDonald congratulates his Rapha-Focus teammate and new National Champion Jeremy Powers. Photo: Wil Matthews

Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) following his first National Championship win. Photo: Wil Matthews