I got my first win at Valmont Bike Park on Saturday Nov. 17 in the 55+ cyclocross race. Click here to see more. It was very satisfying to finally win on that course, especially since the course was set way differently than it has been in the past, and it didn't have much in the way of power sections where you could pass other riders, so it did not suit my strengths. I also don't think I had ever beaten Gary Thacker before, the guy who has been dominating this category for the past few years in Colorado and is a former national cyclocross champion. All in all, a very good day in what has been a great season for me. I have four wins and four second places out of ten race starts this season. And in US Gran Prix of Cyclocross races I have two wins (in Ft. Collins, CO) and a 3rd and a 4th place (in Louisville, KY).
Saturday started cool and dry and turned to pouring rain in the middle of my race. Fortunately, I had opted for tires with good tread (Dugast Typhoons) rather than fine tread, which would have been faster in the conditions at the start but which would have been sliding all over the place in the mud that formed rapidly the last two laps. I had lots of catching up to do in both races, since I started in the very back row both days. Unlike local races, in which riders are called to the line based on their points totals, the USGP in my and Emily's categories do not have a points category of their own and don't honor any other. Call-ups are based entirely on order that registration was received, and we registered late.
This past weekend was the Cyclocross Nationals in Wisconsin. Not as much snow as we were used to from racing cyclocross in Colorado this season, and overall a great event. Here are some photos.
It's great to see a father and daughter team racing 'cross together. Emily decided to join Lennard this year to train and race in the local Cyclocross series. Despite a snowy start to the season, the two of them have been out training together at dawn at least once a week, and racing on the weekends. Both are riding custom Zinn magnesium cyclocross bikes, and the lightweight, smooth riding bikes have helped keep the energy levels to the max. (Emily isn't quite lucky enough to have two bikes, like her dad, yet. Christmas is still not here......)