Wil Matthews gallery: 2012 CXLA, day 1

Julie Krasniak models her Rapha-graphic Oakleys. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com

Zach McDonald raced on one of the Focus Mares frames recovered after a pre-season theft. It still bore an "evidence" sticker from the San Diego County Sheriffs Department. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com

Downtown Los Angeles peeks out above the peaks of the team tents. Visibility would later drop as the rain moved in at race time. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com

A mechanic uses a power washer to clean Nicole Duke's bike. The CXLA course was more wet than muddy, and riders were mostly able to skip the pit and get by with just the one bike. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com

The elite women's field lines up, with Nicole Duke and Meredith Miller returning to competition on Saturday night. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com

The elite women's field gets under way as the rain begins to fall in Los Angeles. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com

Nicole Duke stormed to an early lead. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com

Katerina Nash was on her own by the halfway mark of the race and soloed to a win in Los Angeles. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com

Meredith Miller returned strong after surgery to repair a broken right wrist from a crash in the Providence Cyclocross Festival in October. Miller claimed second behind Nash. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com

Caroline Mani leads a close race for second place on the last lap, but slipped to third behind Meredith Miller. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com

Katerina Nash gets the win in Saturday's CXLA After Dark round. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com

Jamey Driscoll readies for the start as the elite men's field is given the one-minute signal. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com

Ryan Trebon and Ben Berden lead the elite men's field through the shadows off the start line. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com

Todd Wells returned to the cyclocross circuit Saturday night. With a second-row start, he was busy mid-pack most of the race. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com

Chris Jones led early in the race. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com

Jamey Driscoll went clear with three laps to go, taking the win ahead of his teammate Ryan Trebon. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com

Tim Johnson leads halfway through the race with Ryan Trebon close behind. The Cannondale duo would later ride to protect the lead of their teammate Jamey Driscoll. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com

Zach McDonald remounts after a run-up, on his way to fourth overall and the U23 win. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com

Jamey Driscoll takes a soggy victory in the UCI CXLA After Dark race on Saturday night. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com

Elite men's podium: Jamey Driscoll on the winner's step, flanked by Ryan Trebon and Ben Berden. That's Zach McDonald in fourth at left. Photo: Wil Matthews | www. wilmatthewsphoto.com