Cyclocross Nationals: Overend Upends Masters 55-59 Field

Ned Overend wins the 55+ category. © Tim Westmore

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BEND, ORE. – Ned Overend added another national title to his impressive palmares, out-powering his Cal Giant-Specialized teammate Norm Kreiss today.

The race was billed as a reunion battle between reigning Masters national champ Paul Curley (Mid State Cycling Club-Gear Works) and Overend, and Curley used his snap to snag the hole shot in front of a powerful peloton. But a crash during the first lap ended Curley’s bid to contend for the win. Kreiss passed the felled Curley and set off in pursuit of a streaking Overend.

Overend and Kreiss rode together for a couple of laps, with Kreiss doing everything he could to hang onto the accomplished rider’s wheel before the separation, which Kreiss characterized as inevitable, occurred.

Curley would keep the pressure on, but Randall Root would catch him in the waning stages of the race. Curley would gain the upper hand through technical twists of the course, but Root had the edge when it came to outright power, and the course did an excellent job of blending the need for both. As the duo came onto the pavement with one lap to go, Root came around to lead onto the dirt. Shortly thereafter, Root would bobble in the mud, and Curley would get tangled up and crash for a second time. Although Curley would recover and regroup, he’d never be able to close down the gap. Root took third with Curley fourth.

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