Today Tea Wright (Boulder Junior Cycling) became a National Champion for the second time, adding to her 2012 hometown win in Boulder. In a close race Lizzy Gunsalus (Bay Hill Capital p/b Corner Cycles) and Lauren Zoerner (Alpha Bicycle Co.- Vista Subaru) joined her on the podium.
Magnus Sheffield (Park Ave. Bike Shop) brought home the gold while racing for the first time at nationals to conclude his first full season racing cyclocross. In a strong ride on a damp, technical course he was able to outmaneuver the competition to claim the national champion title
Before the first call up Ben Gomez Villafane’s name was on many spectators’ lips. His sister Sofia won the day prior in the Women’s Collegiate D1 race and word outside the tape was that he typically bests mosts if not all comers in the Elite races in his local scene of NorCal.
On the start grid there were 152 riders vying for the Single Speed title. With various equipment set-ups and gear ratios, they set off in the afternoon sun and spun up the paved start-finsih straight in a whirlwind of high rpms.
Nicole Mertz (ISCorp Cycling p/b SmartChoice MRI) had never raced a single speed bike before, but she didn’t let that little detail stop her from claiming the national title in the Women’s Singlespeed category late Friday afternoon.
Friday’s Women’s Division 1 National Championship race would have been hard for anyone to call ahead of time. With a field jam-packed with talented women, many of whom also have their sights set on Sunday’s Elite U23 race, the event promised to be exciting.
The Women’s Collegiate D2 Champion Clara Honsinger felt the Asheville course was similar to the courses back home in Portland, Oregon. “There’s a lot more elevation here, but otherwise it felt just like home.”
Andrew Dillman (Marian University) earned his second Division 1 national title during Friday’s overcast race. The course had only just begun to dry out by the start, but the slippery terrain didn’t seem to pose much of a challenge for Dillman, who claimed a handy victory.
As day broke it was clear that the course racers faced over the first three days of the 2016 National Championships would be nowhere to be found. A light but steady overnight rain had fallen and greasy mud replaced what was primarily dirt and dust for the first race of the day.
In the biggest field of the day, and perhaps the week, some of the most well-known names in Men’s Masters racing took to the start at a chance to be the 45-49 National Champion.
Coming from a second to last call-up, Melinda McCutcheon (Canyon Bicycles-Shimano) took the race by the horns before the first pass through the barn and climb up Ingles Heckle Hill and never looked back.
The last race of the day saw the combined Master Women’s 60-64, 65-69, 70-74 and 75+ fields take to the course. The women in the field fought good battles, had tumbles and raced their way on to the late afternoon podium.
Karen Tripp (Finkraft Cycling Team) took home the gold in Thursday’s Masters Women 55-59 National Championship race after taking a decisive early lead.
The racing was hot and the temperature warm for the Master Women’s 50-54 Championship race. Short sleeves were in abundance as Karen Brems (SunPower Racing) took the victory ahead of Laura Trace (Team Oregon p/b Laurelwood Brewing Co.).
An exciting solo breakaway in the last laps won Spencer Whittier (Privateer Cyclocross Chattanooga) the Masters 30-34 National Men’s 30-34 “baby masters” title on a clear but chilly morning in Asheville.
Tanya Bettis (Sport Systems 505 Cycling) managed to edge out defending champion Catherine Moore (Trek Cyclocross Collective) to win her first national title in Thursday’s Masters Women 45-49 championship.
In a heated battle for the front of the race, Melissa Barker (Evol Elite Racing) overcame a late-race crash to take the win just ahead of Sally Annis (Pedal Power Team-MA) and Christina Gokey-Smith (Dallas Bike Works CX).
Corey Coogan Cisek (Power Fix CX) won her second Masters 35-39 National Championship, following up on her 2013 win. Seattle’s Tricia Fleischer (Ten Speed Hero) overcame a flat tire to take second place with Kristen Kelsey just eight seconds behind.
In a reversal from last year’s second place finish, Jacob Lasley (SPCX p/b R. K. Black), took the win in the Men’s 35-39 Championship race at the Biltmore Estate earlier this morning ahead of Matt Shriver (Trek Cyclocrosss Collective).
The last race of the day saw 9 riders on the start line. Seven were there to contest the Men’s 70-74 race, while the other two were riding for the honor of wear the National Champion’s jersey in the 75-79 and 80+ fields, respectively.
As the sun continued to warm the course, Jay Trojan (Arc En Ciel Racing Team) basked in the warmth of the cheering crowd as he took the win the Men’s 55-59 National Championship Race.
Up and over Ingles Heckle Hill and Wittwer was on the front and with the effort had strung out the leaders with Pearson and Bannister giving chase but not gaining. Wittwer never let up after that.
In a sprint finish today Randy Root (Evolution Cycling Club p/b Long & Foster) took his first Cyclocross National Championship, narrowly beating George Smith after a race with many lead changes and unexpected developments.
Clawing his way to the front of the pack from a fifth row start, Victor Sheldon passed 2015 National Champion Craig Cozza (UPMC/Pro Bikes) on his way to victory today in Asheville, his first trip to Cyclocross Nationals.
Racers were left battling for the podium’s lower steps as Matthew Timmerman (Cannonade-Cyclocrossworld.com) controlled the Masters 40-44 National Championship race in Asheville today.
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