Kevin Hines Picks a Cautious Line to Victory in the Master’s 55-59 Race

by David Mable

Friday’s early afternoon sun began to turn the frozen, snowy ruts into a sloppy mess as the Master’s men age 55-59 stormed down the starting straightaway.

The race through the first turn. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 55-59. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Kevin Hines (Corner Cycle Cycling Club/East Wareham, MA), who has a background in motocross, navigated the changing course cautiously, but with speed, pulling ahead of the 106-rider field on the first climb up the steep embankment.

“It was deceiving, I figured the sunnier and warmer it got, the slipperier it would get,” said Hines after the race. “And it kind of did, you had to ride very cautiously because one fall could cost you the whole event, mechanically or physically.”

Kevin Hines is back on top for his third title. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 45-49. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Hines rode clean lines for the whole of the 40-minute race, staying ahead of a handful of chasers, including Gunnar Shogren (Pathfinder of VW Racing/ Morgantown, WV), Thomas Price (Trek Cyclocross Collective/ Overland Park, KS) and Michael Wilson (Corvallis, OR).

Michael Wilson, who came from the last row on the starting grid, made his way into the top-ten by the top of the embankment, and continued to pick off riders for the duration of the race.

Michael Wilson climbing his way through the field in pursuit of Kevin Hines. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 55-59. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

“Starting in the last row was tricky,” said Wilson. “It was a good course for me, good start and got lucky navigating traffic. I got pretty close before the big run up.”

Wilson, who resides in Oregon, is familiar with the slippery conditions.

Gunnar Shogren, the legend, racing his tubeless tires to fourth after struggling on the off-camber after the run-up. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 55-59. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

“Maybe not so much the snow, but we have very slippery, wet conditions all the time,” said Wilson. “Perfect conditions for me, being from Oregon. The trees, for me, were wonderful. Fast. Good lines. I think I made a lot of time in there.”

Michael Wilson on his way to second from a last row start. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 55-59. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

Hines maintained his lead into the finish, taking his third national cycling title, his first two in cyclocross and mountain biking. Wilson picked his way through the crowd, passing all but Hines, to take second and Price finished third, less than ten seconds ahead of Shogren.

2017 CX National Championships Hartford Day 4 Results Masters Men 55-59