One Kuhl Customer: Heinrich Attacks Early and Wins First-Ever Nationals in Reno – Report

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Christoph Heinrich (Kuhl) knew his competition in the Masters 50-54 race quite well. In fact, he had lost to several of his competitors on several occasions. In short, he knew he was in for a fight on Thursday.

One trick he had up his sleeve was the support of friends and his Kuhl teammates. The 2018 Reno Cyclocross Nationals have brought the West Coast and Western U.S. riders out in droves, and since Heinrich hails from Utah, the trip for his crew was not a long one.

“Oh absolutely,” he said when asked if the positive support helped. “We have a lot of people here from Utah and from my team, and it was great to have that support.”

Heinrich put on a show by getting off the front early and staying on the gas. He was eventually joined by former champion Victor Sheldon, but a roller tubular during the third lap ended his challenge to Heinrich’s supremacy. With no one else close to the Kuhl rider, Heinrich stayed cool and collected and rolled to his first-ever National Championship.

“It feels great,” he said. “First time I have ever won a championship and it feels great.”

Christoph Heinrich celebrates his win. Masters 50-54. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © J. Vander Stucken / Cyclocross Magazine

One Kuhl Customer

With the strong fields at Nationals, riders know that starting fast can send a message and help put pressure on early. The Masters 50-54 race was no different, and Heinrich started strong and forced the other riders to chase him.

The Masters 50-54 field gets underway. Christoph Heinrich was in a good spot to move off the front. Masters 50-54. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © J. Vander Stucken / Cyclocross Magazine

“It wasn’t the plan,” he said about the fast start. “I wanted to be in the elite group, and I happened to be at the front and I said, ‘Well, let’s see what happens.’ I got a gap and kept on it.”

While Heinrich was feeling good, one of the race favorites, former Elite and Masters National Champion Don Myrah got caught behind an early crash. If he was going to get into contention, it would be from nearly last place. Perhaps Masters 35-39 winner Kevin Day had used the small amount of luck allotted gingers for the afternoon.

Don Myrah had a heartbreaking first lap before roaring back from last to second. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine

After the first lap, Heinrich had 11 seconds on a big chase group of six. With the wind in full force, it was fair to expect the group of six to have the advantage pulling through the false flat. However, during the second lap, Heinrich’s lead only grew. He appeared to be a in a good spot.

After Heinrich got off the front, other riders had work to do to bring him back. Masters 50-54. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine

A Bridge and a Mechanical

The one rider who took it upon himself to bring Heinrich back was Sheldon. Midway through the second lap, Sheldon broke off solo and started to chase down the leader. Heinrich has a sizeable lead, so the feat was a herculean one. At the start of the third lap, Sheldon was starting to close down the time.

Sheldon made the catch shortly after the barriers during the third of six laps. His bridge was successful and the latest tight race appeared to be on. Unfortunately, the excitement would be short-lived.

The second half of the course has been causing an increasing number of flats thanks to the rocks dotting the landscape and transitions between surfaces. Mechanicals appear to be playing an increasing role in the racing in Reno. Sheldon did not flat, but he did roll a tubular on the one of the technical descents. His challenge to Heinrich was over and the course claimed its latest victim.

Victor Sheldon suffered a rolled tubular, ending his time at the front. Masters 50-54. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine

Sheldon had bridged solo, so Heinrich was now all alone and his lead was massive. He would not be challenged en route to his first-ever National Championship. Kuhl customer, indeed.

“It was tough because I knew there were really strong riders there who beat me in other races,” he said about his win. “I didn’t think I was going to stay away, but it worked.”

The course had its pitfalls as ruts start to get dug in. Masters 50-54. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine

Behind Heinrich and after Sheldon’s mechanical, a chase of Roger Aspholm and Paul Bourcier formed. As the race progressed, Aspholm gapped Bourcier, but slowly but surely, former Elite and Masters champion Don Myrah worked his way forward after getting caught behind an early crash. Myrah eventually caught Aspholm and nearly completed his recovery with a second-place finish. Aspholm finished third.

Roger Aspholm chased to third. Masters 50-54. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine

Interviews and results are below.

Men Masters 50-54 Results: 2018 Reno Cyclocross Nationals

For more from Reno, see our continuing coverage of the 2018 Reno Cyclocross Nationals on our dedicated Nationals page.

Photos from the races and reports are available to license here, with more to be added throughout the next week.

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