Neff Uses Good Advice and Pedaling Hard to Win Masters 30-34

A dusting of snow overnight brought the fourth straight day of different cyclocross conditions to Riverside Park in Hartford. Hailing from Wisconsin and no stranger to the snow, Isaac Neff (Neff Cycle Service) heeded some good advice to stay calm and ride smooth to fend off a tough challenge from Scott Chapin (Santa Cruz Factory Racing) to win the Men’s Master’s 30-34 National Championship on Friday.

Michael Larson (Velo Reno P/B Western Lithium) leading the pack early. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships Masters Men 30-34. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Friday’s riders were greeted by a winter wonderland of white snow when they arrived at Riverside Park. Thursday’s cold froze Wednesday’s ruts and the snow chipped in to make a frozen, rutted, snowy course for the riders to navigate. Race winner Isaac Neff talked about the conditions after the race, “Icy ruts, this reminds me of Nationals in Madison. Very similar conditions, riding in the ice and snow.”

Snowy conditions greeted racers to start today’s racing. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 30-34. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

Third-place finished Michael Larson (Velo Reno p/b Western Lithium) also had an interesting take on the conditions, “The first lap or two it was kind of slick, but not too bad. But after each lap it was getting a sheet of ice. It was like an ice rink with ruts. The lines changed and how you rode the course changed.”

Some riders rode the low line, some ran up to the high line. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 30-34. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

From the opening whistle, the Baby Masters did their part to put on a good show in Hartford. Mark Flis (Squadra Flying Tigers) and Larson jumped out to an early lead through the woods while Neff, Chapin, and Bryan Fosler (801 W. Madison) gave chase.

Michael Larson (Velo Reno P/B Western Lithium) had a solid race and would finish third. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships Masters Men 30-34. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Lead changes were a common theme at the front of the race. Flis held the lead at the end of the first lap, but Larson moved to the front through the embankment and descent off the levee in lap 2. The two flip-flopped again through the gazebo technical section, and after two laps the duo held an eight-second lead over Neff and Chapin.

Jacob Huizenga (Chicago Cuttin Crew) stands out against the snowy backdrop with his rainbow tye-die jersey. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships Masters Men 30-34. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

The third lap was Chapin’s time to move to the front. He opened up a five second gap past the gazebo while Neff used the section to move up from fourth to second to take over the role of chasing Chapin.

Michael Larson runs the ledge. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 30-34. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

With two to go, Chapin was riding strong at the front when disaster struck for the California resident. He suffered a bent chain link that made shifting difficult right after the pits and was forced to ride the next half lap on a poorly-shifting bike. Chapin is a legendary single-speed rider and was forced to go to his single-speed steed to finish the rest of the race after making his way to the pits.

Scott Chapin (Santa Cruz Factory Racing) runs up the snowy climb. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 30-34. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

Chapin told Cyclocross Magazine he was feeling strong after taking the lead and was bummed that the chain issues cost him the chance to go for it at the front.

Evan Huff (BikeReg Elite Racing) riding the ledge that got skinnier and slicker today. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 30-34. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

Neff seized on Chapin’s misfortune and took the lead after descending off the levee. Neff opened up a seven second lead heading into the bell lap and overcame his early troubles with the ruts to ride smoothly through the course to take home his first Stars-and-Stripes jersey.

Isaac Neff (Neff Cycle Service) wins the 2017 Cyclocross National Championships Masters Men 30-34 Title. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Neff said his wife Megan told him to stay calm and ride his race, and it paid off for the Wisconsinite, “It took me a while to get used to the ruts and sort of start to feel confident. Being patient and just trying to keep my head in the game was definitely what made it happen today.”

Scott Chapin (Santa Cruz Factory Racing) finished second in the 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 30-34 race. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine

Chapin and his single-speed held on for second and Larson finished third.

2017 CX National Championships Hartford Day 4 Results Masters Men 30-34