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Nebraska State Cyclocross Championships
Pioneers Park, Lincoln, November 28, 2004
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Tilford Wins Nebraska Cx Series Finale
Steve Tilford (HRRC/Maclaren Racing/BikeSource) rode to an impressive win on a cold and snowy Sunday afternoon at the Nebraska Cyclo-cross State Championship (Mid-America Cross #5), held at Pioneers Park in Lincoln. From the start, Tilford, a mountain-bike world champion, powered to the front and exited on to the grass in first position; putting the entire field on notice. As riders picked their way through the muddy, slick turns, Tilford maintained a brisk pace, gaining over two and a half minutes on the field in just three laps. "You learn something new every time you race cross," commented Tilford. "Each lap rode different due to the conditions today, but I figured it out each time around."
While Tilford would eventually lap the field, the race behind saw his BikeSource teammate, Shadd Smith, enjoying a fantastic outing of his own as he rode solo to a second place finish. As a result he rises to second in the Cross Cup standings. Nebraska State "Men's A" Champion and Cross Cup series leader, Tony Wilhelm (LBC/Highgear), battled the course at the beginning of the 60-minute contest, going down twice and finding himself in last place after just two laps. After an amazing comeback, which saw Wilhelm claw his way back through the field, he and Team X Cycling rider, Brad Cole exchanged attacks until the finale where Cole edged Wilhelm in the sprint for third. Despite missing the podium, Wilhelm grabbed top honors in the state.
In the Women's event, Catherine Walberg (Team Kenda) motored her way to her first victory of the Cross Cup Series over Team Kaos standout, Marie Neville. Neville took top honours as Nebraska State Champion with her second place finish overall, beating Kristi Newcomb (Mountain Magnolias), who crossed the line in third place continuing to show impressive cross form. The Mid-America Cross Cup concludes next Saturday, December 4, 2004 in Kansas City. For complete information on this event, please visit: http://www.cowtowncycling.com.
Photography
Images by Mitch Kline/mitchkline.com
- Masters State Champion Kevin Burke (LBC/Highgear) on the snowy runup
- Tom Price (All Ireland Racing) descends the tree tunnel
- Snow-covered wheel pit inhabitants
- Steve Tilford (HRRC/Maclaren/Bikesource) brushes fresh snow
- Matt Gersib (Monkey Wrench Cycles/KONA) on the muddy runup
- Tony Wilhelm (LBC/Highgear) approaches the barriers
- Matt Tillinghast (LBC/Highgear)
- Jesse Petersen (Cycle Works/Moose's Tooth) powers through the mud
- Sam Rosenau (LBC/Highgear) on the runup
- Jay Thomas (LBC/Highgear) pulls away from Doug Wilmes (Team X Cycling)
Images by Michael Madcharo/nebraskacycling.org
- Heavy snow welcomes the Category B men and Masters 35+ racers to the start line at the first race of the Nebraska State Cyclocross Championships.
- Category B men at the top of a snowy downhill which ended in a series of off-camber turns.
- Tom Price (All Ireland Racing) leads the Masters 35+ riders off the pavement into the snow. Price would go on to take second in the event.
- David Pitt (Cowtown Cycling) slides out in one of the slick corners. Course conditions got the best of Pitt as he took a DNF for the day.
- Asheville, North Carolina resident Kris Bedsaul (Visenka) took advantage of the holiday visit to local relatives to get in some cross action.
- Jeff Hansen (Cycle Works/Mooses Tooth) tackles the barrier section. Hansen would finish fourth in the Masters 35+ race.
- You can tell Kevin Burke is a Nebraska native as he skips the leg warmers for day's race.
- Todd Davis (KCOI) rode strongly all day to take second in the Men's Category B race.
- Kris Bedsaul (Visenka) makes his holiday visit to Lincoln pay off by crossing the finish line first in the Men's Category B race.
- Topeka, Kansas resident Catherine Walberg (team Kenda) immediately jumped into the lead in the Women's Open race.
- Men's Category C riders ease their way through one of the many slippery corners.
- Kristi Newcombe (Mountain Magnolias) made a strong showing in her first season of cross racing. Newcombe took third place in the Women's Open.
- Matt Farnam (Team Kaos) shows good form through the barricades.
- Catherine Wahlberg (Team Kenda) never looked back after her strong start. Here she keeps the pressure on as she hurdles the barricades.
- Father Christmas or rather Tim Carmichael (Lincoln Bicycle Company/Highgear), in the barricades.
- Marie Neville (Team Kaos) rode a strong race to take second in the Women's Open event.
- Master's 45+ racer David Rowe (unattached) finished fifth on the day and leads his category in the state cyclocross standings.
- Dean Parker (Team X Cycling) was the winner of the day's Masters 45+ race.
- Matt Farnam (Team Kaos) takes first at the line for the Category C race. Farnham also took first in the Juniors category earlier in the day.
- Catherin Wahlberg (Team Kenda) waves as she crosses the finish line first in the Women's Open race.
- Top three finishers in the Masters 35+ race - Mark Studnicki (1st), Tom Price (2nd) and Kevin Burke (3rd)
- Category B winner Kris Bedsaul (Visenka) shakes hands with second place finisher Todd Davis (KCOI Racing).
- Men's Category A race gets under way with Midwest Cross Cup points leader Tony Wilmelm (Lincoln Bicycle Company/Highgear) in front.
- At the end of a half-kilometer paved section the road takes a sharp upward climb before the Category A riders turn off to the grass.
- With Tilford and Smith (both HRCC/McLaren Racing/Bikesource) establishing a commanding early lead, a chase group forms on lap 2.
- Matt Tillinghast (Lincoln/Highgear) Matt Gersib (Monkey Wrench Cycles/Kona Factory Racing), and Sam Rosenau (Lincoln/Highgear).
- Steve Tilford (HRCC/McLaren Racing/Bikesource) - used the conditioning he developed at the Tour of the Southland to devastating effect.
- Tony Wilhelm (Lincoln Bicycle Company/Highgear) and Brad Cole (Team X Cycling) cheered on by spectators on the Hooligan Hill runup.
- Jay Thomas (Lincoln Bicycle Company/Highgear) in the barricades.
- Shadd Smith (HRCC/McLaren Racing/Bikesource) shouldering his bike on the runup.
- Mark Savery (Scheels/Specialized) leads the way through an off-camber corner at the bottom of a long hill.
- Tony Wilhelm (Lincoln Bicycle Company/Highgear) on the short runup.
- Brad Cole (Team X Cycling) leads Tony Wilhelm (Lincoln Bicycle Company/Highgear) through the course.
- Mud and snow and ice were no problems for Steve Tilford (HRCC/McLaren Racing/Bikesource).
- Steve Tilford (HRCC/McLaren Racing/Bikesource) after crossing the finish line as the winner of the Category A race.
- Shadd Smith's (HRCC/McLaren Racing/Bikesource) strong solo effprt paid off in a second place finish in Cat. A
- Men's Category A podium: Steve Tilford (1st), Shadd Smith (2nd), Brad Cole (3rd), Tony Wilhelm (4th), Jay Thomas (5th).
Local results 2004
