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VERONA, WISCONSIN—On what perhaps was the most treacherous course conditions of the day, as the sloppy snow and mud began to freeze over in the cooling temperatures, Steve Tilford (TradeWind Energy) once again dominated the race to win in the Masters Men 50-54 category.

Tilford accelerated away from a tight pack on the opening turns, and was out of sight by the finish of the first lap. A hard crash on the second lap, however, injured the multi-time National champion’s shoulder, but did not slow his pursuit of another title.

Steve Tilford slides, crashes and solos to another National Championship. ©Cyclocross Magazine

Steve Tilford slides, crashes and solos to another National Championship. ©Cyclocross Magazine

“It just got slicker’n sh**,” said Tilford afterwards. “The water started freezing on top of the dirt. You don’t want to make mistakes, but… You can’t tell if the ruts are mud or ice. One time you hit it it’s soft, the next time you hit it it’s frozen. If you can’t read the course, what can you do? I think the last lap I didn’t fall, but every other lap I fell. Like falling on pavement.”

More exciting was the duel behind him between Evolution Cycling’s Ron Huebner and MAMBO CX’s Jeffrey Appeltans, who battled for much of the race, with Huebner appearing to have the upper hand. Appeltans, however, attacked Huebner on the penultimate lap’s barriers and run-up, opening a small gap that widened when Huebner slid out on the challenging course. Huebner crashed again on the final lap, all but ensuring Appeltans’ second place, and the podium was complete.

Interview with Steve Tilford:

[youtube Y3bJgwLi6Go 580 380]

2013 Nationals Masters Men 50-54 Results

Place NameCity, StateBibTeam
1Stephen TILFORD   Topeka, KS351 TradeWind Energy Cycling Team
2Jeffrey APPELTANS   Philadelphia, PA354 MAMBO CX/GoCycling/Mid Atl Masters Bicycle Org
3Ron HUEBNER   Waterford, VA368 Evolution Cycling Club p/b Long & Foster
4John Paul MCCARTHY (1 - Cat3)   Chicago, IL375 SRAM Factory
5Samuel MORSE   Cohasset, MA376 Corner Cycle Cycling Club
6Donald SEIB (1 - Cat2)   Bryant Pond, ME383 Bikeman.com
7Danny WARNER   Trout Valley, IL395 Verdigris-Village CX Team/Village-Verdigris Cycling
8Dave ECKEL   Trevor, WI360 KS Energy Services / Team Wisconsin/Team Wisconsin
9Tim HACKER (2 - Cat3)   Madison, WI365 Planet Bike
10John SHULL   Libertyville, IL384 Alberto's Sport
11Derek GRIGGS   Seabrook, NH364 
12Robert REUTHER (2 - Cat2)  West Chester, PA381 Bike Line
13Scott STAHL   Fairfax, VA387 SEAVS/Haymarket
14Jim BELL (3 - Cat2)   Saint Cloud, MN357 Revolution Cycle/Twin Six
15Tedd JACOBSON (3 - Cat3)   Pewaukee, WI369 KS Energy Services / Team Wisconsin/Team Wisconsin
16Shawn DOWNING   Baltimore, MD359 Charm City Cycling LLC
17Gregory GOBLIRSCH   River Falls, WI362 Loon State Cyclists
18Bill OKEEFE (4 - Cat3)   Baltimore, MD378 Charm City Cycling LLC
19Joseph PISCITELLO (5 - Cat3)   Rydal, PA379 PA Masters RC
20Mark FEATHERMAN   Elkins Park, PA361 Guys Racing Club
21Gregory ANDERSON (4 - Cat2)   South Elgin, IL353 Spin Doctor Cyclewerks/Spin Doctor Cyclewerks Cycling Club
22Kenneth SMITH   Mansfield, TX385 Oklahoma City Velo Club
23Mark MASTORAS (6 - Cat3)  San Bruno, CA374 
24Jon SUYKO (7 - Cat3)   Rockford, IL389 The Pony Shop
25Paul WARLOSKI (5 - Cat2)   Milwaukee, WI394 My Wife Inc
26Jon HICKS   Winchester, VA366 Sportif Coaching Group/Western Howard County Cycling
27Randal WARREN   Chicago, IL396 xXx Racing
28Mitchell MOSES (8 - Cat3)  Birmingham, AL377 CCR
29Todd ANDERSEN   Fort Wayne, IN352 Men Of Steel Racing LLC
30Dwayne LETTERMAN (9 - Cat3)   Elizabethton, TN372 MSG Cyclocross/Tri Cities Road Club
31Rick BASS (10 - Cat3)   Saint Charles, MO356 Momentum Racing LLC - MO
32Thomas THORNQUEST (11 - Cat3)   Golden Valley, MN391 Kenwood Racing
DNSDavid BARTOL   Grand Marais, MN355 MBRC/Flanders/Minneapolis Bicycle Racing Club
DNSTim GODBY   Louisville, CO363 
DNSSteel BOKHOF (Cat3)   Wilmette, IL358 The Pony Shop
DNSWilliam KOEHLER (Cat3)   Cedarburg, WI371 BELGIANWERKX
DNSPhillip KENEALY   Bedford, NH370 University of New Hampshire
DNSJeffrey HILLIGOSS   Eden Prairie, MN367 Angry Catfish
DNSThomas PRICE   Overland Park, KS380 Trek Cyclocross Collective
DNSDavid LUCZYNSKI   Elgin, IL373 Spin Doctor Cyclewerks/Spin Doctor Cyclewerks Cycling Club
DNSJeffrey WALKER (Cat2)   Tully, NY393 
DNSEric SWENSON   Minneapolis, MN390 Crossniacs
DNSCharles STEARNS   Boise, ID388 Bobs Bicycles Cycling Club
DNSMike ROBINSON   Exeter, NH382 
DNFStephen SONGER   Overland Park, KS386 360 Racing

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!