Only 9 months to Cyclocross

Earlier this month, I raced the master’s and elite nationals cyclocross races in Bend, Oregon. I was not that confident going in, as my season had been less than ideal. I broke my collarbone in August (on a time trial bike!) and then got a weird virus in my chest muscles in September. So, it was a slow start and those first few races HURT! Then, right before nationals, I noticed that Karen Brems was in my age group and racing. Hmmm…..her last name used to be Kurreck and she is a past Olympian, national road champion and WORLD champion in the time trial. So, I was pretty sure the race would be for second and thought that getting on the podium would be a good result.

Bob and I got in Wednesday and walked around the course. It was snow-covered, twisty and turny, but not that slick (yet). It looked like a fun course. Thursday, we pre-rode it before Bob’s race and it was a super fun course but very slippery. Friday, I was even more nervous. Pre-riding was encouraging–the course was technical, with icy ruts. I got to the start line and got called up first in our group. Catherine Walberg was right next to me. We spoke a little and I mentioned how nervous I was about Brems and she gave me some good advice, “Just race the course.”

They started the 40-44 age group before us, and as soon as we rolled up to the line, they sent us. They had over 50 women in their group and we caught up with them at the first corner. As I was negotiating the turn and the traffic, I looked up and saw Walberg riding off about 10 riders ahead of me. “There goes the race,” I thought to myself. So I did my best to pass as many of the younger riders as I could as fast as I could. I finally caught up with her, but I didn’t know if anyone else was in front of me. I kept riding hard and passing people and a lap or 2 later, I caught Beverly Chaney, who was second last year. I passed her but still did not know if I was in the lead or not. On the 4th lap, the announcers reported that I was “unofficially” in the lead. The course was softening up and becoming less technical and more of a power course. I knew Chaney and Brems were close and a less technical course would favor Brems’ power, so I rode the last lap as hard as I could. I got to the grassy section and got behind some lapped riders and had to stop in a corner and had to elbow another out of the way over the barriers, but I was still in the lead! (Unofficially) I made the turn into the finish stretch and suddenly there was someone on my inside. And she was sprinting! I actually thought she must be in a different category, but I sprinted her anyway. At the finish line, it was too close to call. Well, it turns out that this gal was Karen Hogan and she WAS in my age group AND I won the sprint!

The elite race was on Sunday. I got a good call up for me—4th row. Things were going well, not that many people had passed me, until the first corner. I got my handlebars caught in the tape (even though Ali warned me NOT to get my bars stuck on the tape). 20 or so women passed me as I got untangled. Then it was just pass as many women as I could. There were lots of crashes, especially on the off-camber grass, so I passed a lot of women. Then, on the 3rd lap, I almost crashed on the pavement. My bike fish-tailed so hard, I could hardly believe I saved it. Then I went into the hill too slow, lost momentum and tipped over. I landed on someone’s front wheel. I got up pretty quickly but several women passed me then. I kept riding hard and was able to catch a few more women and ended up 26th.

The Champ!

Nationally Ali Goulet dominated the USGP Master Series and finished out the year with a 3rd at the National Championships. Dr. Kris Walker came through in a big way at Nationals and defended her National title in a photo finish. She then followed that up with 26th in the Elite race, bad ass. Other rides of note at Nats, Bo Pitkin charged from a 108th starting position to finish 17th in the stacked Masters 35-39 race. Dayna Deuter and Jennie Wade both had rides that were hindered by bad luck and their final placing was by no means an indication of how well they rode. Same with Bob Walker and Mike Kracht, they went big.

The Champ!

In the end wins are nice and all but the true measure of the season is the friendships forged both with team mates and rivals. Across the board I could not think of a finer group of people to hang with then my fellow Big Ringers. I am proud to wear the colors with them. For me personally, on paper it looks like I had an easy time of it, I won a lot of races. Let me just say this, I turned myself inside out every week and I can’t remember a season where I was pushed so hard by my competitors. Every week was a toe to toe slug fest. Every time I train this winter I will remember how hard those guy pushed me.

53:11

Ali and the rest of TheChurchofTheBigRing/RealCyclist.com team are in the final stages of our season and are bringing the show on the road to the big show, Cross Nats in Bend.  If you are there come find us, we will have tent set up with the latest in Big Ring gear, a cooler of beer and bumpin’ tunes.  Stop by and shoot the shit.  Ali is not our only podium shot, we are gonna come out guns blazing and hopefully walk away with some hardware.  The whole crew is super motivated.  Ya, racing is serious business and all too but we are all looking forward to blowing off some steam in a big way after the racing is done, usually plenty of good parties to attend after the elite race on Sunday.  Plus I hear Bend has some great local brews.

So who are you picks for the Elite races?  For the women it will be the Katie Compton show, no real surprises there.  Still the old school in me would love to see Alison Dunlop conjure up some of her old mojo.  The mens race will be a real battle this year, I think the level of parity is at an all time high. The C’Dale team has been running the table like the Saturn bullies of old (I see Bart Bowen is in my Master race). Trebon is racing in front of a home town crowd and when it comes to pure horsepower not many here in America can touch him when he is rolling, plus Wicks seems to be coming around so maybe those 2 can stand up to the C’Dale machine. Jonathon Page is always a question mark, he got the hole shot at last weekends Super Prestige and held on for a solid 15th.  It wasn’t too long ago that the only question around him was how much would he win by. (his win in Napa was one of the most impressive rides I have ever seen) but US cross aint no joke, he can win but it is far from a sure thing. On the mens side I am gonna go with J Pow, Jeremy Powers.  He has looked good all year and is just coming off being sick so I think he may  have a little more in the tank than the others.  He has the speed, the team and the skills.

Tim Az