Adam Craig Dominates Men’s Singlespeed Race at 2013 Cyclocross Nationals

by Ted Burns

VERONA, WISCONSIN — Without a cloud in the sky and temperatures almost hitting 40 degrees, the snow blanketing the ground at Badger Prairie Park seemed out of place. However, it made for muddy, slushy racing conditions: perfect for the singlespeed races today. Rocking his traditional jean shorts, Adam Craig (Giant Factory Off Road) took his second singlespeed win of the season (he won SSCXWC back in early December), followed by the defending champion, Bicycle Blue Book/HRS/Rock Lobster’s Aaron Bradford. Third place was scooped up by Wisconsin local Isaac Neff (Trek Cyclocross Collective).

Bradford was unable to defend his singlespeed title this year when 2010 national champion Craig stormed the first hill to take an early lead and the win.  “I didn’t mess up at the start, and I rode some pretty entertaining lines out there,” said Craig. “I don’t know if Bradford pre-rode so I had a little leg up on him on the first lap and got a gap.”

Bradford provided an early challenge the first lap but was hampered by a soft tire.  “I think I might have punctured on the first lap on the gravel descent leading into the barriers,” said Bradford as he squished his tire after the race.  “I’m riding sealant and it sealed up apparently. I figured running low and hitting the rim every once and a while would be faster than trying a wheel change and fooling with that.”

Riders were much more conservative than in 2012 race which was hotly contested between Bradford and Idaho ride JT Fountain.  Softer conditions created deep ruts in the course by the time the men started at 3 PM.  High cold winds started freezing water lining the crevices making each lap different.  Craig unsuccessfully attempted to hop the barriers the last lap after establishing a sizable lead and was quickly rebuffed despite his renown handling skills. Interestingly hopping the barriers on the last lap is exactly what last year’s champion Bradford did last year, but with success to gap his competitors.

The race for third was livened up by Adam Myerson who joined a chase group that included Isaac Neff, Jared Nieter, William Iaia, and Craig Etheridge (Raleigh-Clement). Neff, a Madison native and local favorite, was able to hold off a strong last lap charge by Myerson and Neiters to take third place on the frozen course.

Craig, who made a strong showing at the USGP event in Bend, Oregon, is a dark horse going into the Elite race on Sunday, and a dark horse to make the 2013 USA Worlds team [Read our recent post about the Worlds team selection process].  “I’m just going to try and do the same thing,” said Craig about the upcoming Elite race on Sunday.  “Take off, consistent laps, make no mistakes, try to take some chances in the corners, and ride fast.”

 

2013 Singlespeed National Champion Adam Craig Interview:

[youtube VEg0oflBUO4 580 380]

Photo Gallery of Singlespeed Men 2013 Cyclocross National Championships

 

Tune in regularly right here to Cyclocross Magazine’s 2013 Nationals Homepage for the most comprehensive source of Nationals 2013 info. We will be updating this page hourly for race reports, results, photos and videos!

2013 Singlespeed Men Cyclocross National Championships Results:

2013 Cyclocross National Championships Results Singlespeed Men

Place	Name	City	Time	Team
1	Adam CRAIG	Bend, OR	0:43:14Ê	Giant Factory Off-Road
2	Aaron BRADFORD	Santa Cruz, CA	45:25:00Ê	Bicycle Bluebook/HRS/Rock Lobster Cyclocross
3	Isaac NEFF	Madison, WI	46:22:00Ê	Trek Cyclocross Collective
4	Jared NIETERS	Haymarket, VA	46:36:00Ê	SEAVS/Haymarket
5	Adam MYERSON	Dorchester, MA	46:37:00Ê	UCI CT: Team SmartStop p/b Mountain Khakis
6	William IAIA	Englewood, CO	46:38:00Ê
7	Craig ETHERIDGE	Seattle, WA	47:01:00Ê	Donnelly Sports
8	Devin CLARK	St. Louis, MO	47:34:00Ê	Hub Bicycle Company
9	Scott CHAPIN	Santa Cruz, CA	47:37:00Ê	Bay 101/HRS/Rock Lobster/Bicycle Bluebook/HRS/Rock Lobster Cyclocross
10	Brad COLE	Lansing, MI	47:57:00Ê	KCCX Fuji Elite Cyclocross Team p/b Challenge Tires
11	Alexander MARTIN	Madison, WI	48:01:00Ê	KS Energy Services / Team Wisconsin/Team Wisconsin
12	Corey STELLJES	Madison, WI	48:02:00Ê	Cyclocrossracing.com
13	Jesse LALONDE	Ely Mn	48:41:00Ê	Twin Six
14	Trevor KOSS	Madison, WI	49:11:00Ê	Magnus
15	Travis BRAUN	Madison, WI	50:09:00Ê	Magnus
16	Joe CURTES	Milwaukee, WI	50:23:00Ê	Twin Six
17	Luke WOODARD	Mason, OH	50:36:00Ê
18	Eric NELSON	San Clemente, CA	50:37:00Ê	Mudfoot
19	Brad YOUNG	Porter Corners, NY	50:40:00Ê	Woodstock Bicycle Club
20	Micah FRITZINGER	Georgetown, IN	51:04:00Ê	McDonalds Cycling Team/Peloton Sports Group
21	Jeff CURTES	Menomonee Falls, WI	51:08:00Ê	Speedvagen Racing
22	Isaac YOUNG	Minneapolis, MN	51:15:00Ê
23	Walid ABU GHAZALEH	Chicago, IL	52:03:00Ê	The Pony Shop
24	Kailin WATERMAN	Oakland, CA	52:14:00Ê
25	Lee UNWIN	Madison, WI	52:41:00Ê
26	Adam RACHUBINSKI	Centennial, CO	53:41:00Ê	Groove Subaru-Alpha Bicycle Co
27	Daniel CASPER	Northfield, MN	54:05:00Ê	Revolution Cycle/Twin Six
28	Kristopher AUER	Baltimore, MD	@2LapÊ	Charm City Cycling LLC
29	Michael CURTES	Mequon, WI	@2LapÊ	Twin Six
30	Mark HARMS	Madison, WI	@2LapÊ	HTFU Racing
31	Chris MCGEE	Golden, CO	@2LapÊ	Feedback Sports Racing
32	Samuel DOBROZSI	Loveland, OH	@2LapÊ
33	Ernesto MARENCHIN	Stow, OH	@2LapÊ	Twin Six
34	Alex WORK	Santa Cruz, CA	@2LapÊ	Bicycle Bluebook/HRS/Rock Lobster Cyclocross
35	Daniel WHEELER	St. Paul, MN	@2LapÊ	Gopher Wheelmen
36	Derek GRIGGS	Seabrook, NH	@2LapÊ
37	Jeffrey WALKER	Tully, NY	@2LapÊ
38	Brian MILNICK	Bennett, CO	@2LapÊ	Routine Leg Works
39	Michael JAMES	Gainesville, GA	@2LapÊ	Dingo Race Productions LLC
40	Alan ZINNIKER	Aliso Viejo, CA	@2LapÊ	Ritte CX Team
41	Steve SCHAFER	Barrington, IL	@2LapÊ	Verdigris-Village CX Team/Village-Verdigris Cycling
42	Rory MURPHY	Champaign, IL	@2LapÊ
43	BRENNAN WODTLI	Bend, OR	@2LapÊ	All Access Racing
44	James SUMMERS	Overlandpark, KS	@2LapÊ	Slimenundgrossen
45	Joseph FORTIN	Albuquerque, NM	@2LapÊ
46	Joshua ARENDS	Chicago, IL	@2LapÊ	ROBOTS <3
47	Ross GIESE	Lake Geneva, WI	@2LapÊ	Team Velocause
48	Robert HIGGINS	Chicago, IL	@2LapÊ	Johnny Sprockets
49	Keith ORTIZ	Chicago, IL	@3LapÊ	Half Acre Cycling
50	Drew WILSON	Rochester, MN	@3LapÊ
51	Matthew PRIOR	Minneapolis, MN	@3LapÊ
52	Jonah THOMPSON	Albuquerque, NM	@3LapÊ	High Desert Bicycles Team
53	dominic LEONE	Wauwatosa	@3LapÊ
54	John GROSZ	Waupun, WI	@3LapÊ
DNS	Michael ROWELL	Bedford, MA		Bikeway Source/Bell Lap Racing/Bell Lap Cycling Club
DNS	Marcus BUSH	Minneapoilis, MN
DNS	Chad BROWN	Fitchburg, WI
DNS	Mark BABCOCK	Marietta, GA		Deeds Publishing/Nouveau Velo Cycling Team
DNS	Louis KUHN	Evanston, IL		The Pony Shop
DNS	Christopher WOODY	Colorado Springs, CO
DNS	Jeremiah GANTZER	Bettendorf, IA		Double I Cycling Experience (DICE)
DNS	Oliver VRAMBOUT	Bayport, MN		The Bikery Du Nord
DNF	David SCHUNEMAN	Duluth, MN		Velo Duluth
DNF	CJ CONGROVE	Randolph, MA		Cycle-Smart Inc.
DNF	Braden KAPPIUS	Littleton, CO		TEAM CLIF BAR Cycling
DNF	Christopher JENSEN	Chicago, IL		ROBOTS <3