US Cyclocross championships - CN

Portland, Oregon, USA, December 10-12, 2004

Photography

Day 1

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Mitch Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com

Steve Tilford took the lead early in the men's 45-49 and never let it go.
Catherine Dudley gets ready for a slippery downhill
Melodie Metzger on her way to winning the collegiate women's race
Paul Curley attacks a small climb early in the masters 50 - 54 race
Gary Thacker was second in the masters 50 - 54 race.
Dag Selander was struck with a flat on the last lap, but managed to hold on to 3rd place in the men's 50 - 54
Kim Lucas rode a strong second place in the women's 45+

Images by Matthew E. Moses/www.moses-images.com

Andrea Mackie (Velo Bella) navigates the mud to a 2nd place finish in the Masters Female 40-44 category.
Suzanne King (Sunnyside Sports) winner of the Masters Females 40-44 category
Steve Tilford plows his way through the mud to a National Championship in the Masters Male 45-49 category.
The mud is already thick for the 1st day of racing.
Geoff Proctor (Montana Velo) chases hard trying to catch Steve Tilford and finishes in 2nd place in the Masters Male 45-49 category.

Images by Rob Karman/

This Missing Link rider slipped in some mud over a root and almost took me out.
Steve Tilford (BikeSource) sailed to yet another National title.
Tilford powers through the mud
Defending champ Karl Kiester was up to his knees in mud
Geoff Proctor rode strongly for 2nd place
A masters racer feels the pain
Rebecca Much (Alan) won the U23 title on her first try
Collegiate Champ Melodie Metzger (UC Berkeley) did a good deal of running today
Collegiate Champ Melodie Metzger (UC Berkeley) rides through the leaves
Melodie Metzger looks relieved after just barely holding on to her lead after a broken derailleur
James Wagner (Ti Cycles) has a near miss with the course tape on his way to winning the Men 60 plus national title
Gary Thacker (Louisville cyclery) and Dag Selander (Alan) battled for most of the race.
Women 40-44 winner Suzanne King (Sunnyside) doesn't look TOO dirty on lap 1
Kathy Sarvary (Mid States Cycling Club) had a great ride to take her 2nd national title

Day 2

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Rob Karman/

Collegiate Champ Matt Shriver (Fort Lewis College) - Collegiate Champ
This guy must have gone over the bars somewhere
Collegiate Champ Matt Shriver (Fort Lewis College)
Troy Heithecker (Washington)
One of many techniques for getting through the mud bog
Jr 15-16 Champ Alex Coelho (Rio Grande Racing)
The Rad Racing Jr Team was out in force
Proof that you're never too small to race 'cross
Daniel Summerhill fought a brilliant battle for the Jr 15-16 crown...
...but was bested by Coelho at the finish
Stephanie White - Jr Women's 15-18 Champion
Danielle Haulman (RMCEF) - 3rd place Jr Women
Hollis Owens - Jr women 10-14 champ
Lauren Trull rode a strong race to finish 2nd in the Jr women 15-18 race
Care for a mud bath?
Justin Robinson (Family Cycling Center) won the 30-34 category
Not even a broken rear derailleur on the lap lap could stop Justin Robinson
Fabulous Frank Mapel plans to retire after tomorrow's elite race
Justin Robinson is all smiles at the finish
Masters 35-39 Champ Richard Feldman
Best pictorial description of what most racers were feeling like today...
Victory is sweet for Masters 35-39 National Champ Richard Feldman
Dale Knapp came out of "retirement" to race the masters 40-44 class
nice mojo...
40-44 Champ Mark Noble (Amgen)
Jesse Anthony ran away with his 6th consecutive National Title
Zak Grabowski and Troy Wells battled for much of the race
Jeremy Powers could only watch as Anthony rode away from him
Six in a row for Jesse Anthony
The unicycle race was a crowd favorite
Margell Abel put together a great ride for her second national title
Women 30-34 champ Sarah Kerlin (Velo Bella) looks at ease in the mud
It wasn't pure pain for everyone
Sometimes it was a feat just to keep things upright
Margell Abel, Masters Women 35-39 National Champ
Maureen Bruno Roy lost a close battle for the Women's 30-34 crown
Sarah Kerlin takes the win

Images by Mitch Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com

Jesse Anthony gets a little top secret advice at the start of the under 23 race
Jeremy Powers was Very strong in the first part of the race
Jesse Anthony can see his 6th national title up ahead
if at all possible - don't do this!
Mark Noble had a very strong win in the Masters 40-44
Noble's teammate, James Coats finished third in the Masters 40-44
Gunnar Shogren took second in the Masters 40-44
Mark Noble watches his teammate, Coats, finish third
Coats congratulates Noble - a good day for Amgen!
Margell Abel looking very determined in the 35-40 category
Margell Abel speeds to victory in the 35-40 women
A masters women rider attacks one of the many small hills

Images by Matthew E. Moses/www.moses-images.com

The young juniors started the day with a lot of extra water due to overnight rain.
Hollis Owens the Junior Women 10-14 National Champion
Kendall Ryan finishes third in the Junior Women 10-14
A collegiate rider shows the effort needed to get up one of the numerous run-ups.
Troy Heithhecker (Washington) - Collegiate men 2nd place,
Matt Shriver (Fort Lewis College) - The new collegiate men's champion,
Sarah Kerlin (Velo Bella) sprints up the hill to a national championship in the Master Womens 30-34 age group.
Maureen Bruno Roy (Cyclocrossworld.com) has to settle for second in the Master Womens 30-34 age group.
Justin Robinson - 1st place Masters Male 30-34 focuses on the downhill.
Johannes Huseby - chased hard but finished 2nd place in Masters Male 30-34.
Shannon Skerritt leaves the put in route to 3rd place in Masters Male 30-34
Jesse Anthony (Cyclocrossworld.com) wins the Under 23 National Championship and a trip to worlds in Germany.
Jeremy Powers (Jelly Belly) finishes 2nd in the Under 23 category after he lost touch with 1st place Jesse Anthony.

Images by Russ & Nancy Wright/www.AbbiOrca.com

The start of the men's 15-16 race
A junior 10-12 racer splashes through the puddles
A junior rider from the local Rad Racing team gets muddied up
AAAW, Mum! - 10-12 National Champ J.D. Fette gets rinsed off after the race
A moment's reflection
Catherine Maier (Rad Racing) rolls in for 2nd place in the 10-14 age group
As if single-speeds aren't alternative enough...
Another happy unicyclist
Sometimes it really is better to run as this Men 40-44 racer finds
Mark Noble (Amgen) in a hurry to win the 40-44 race
Gunnar Shogren (left) took 2nd place in the men 40-44 behind Mark Noble (right)
Katrina Davis (Richard Sachs) rides in the Women 30-34 race
Lauren Costantini (Sycip) on her way to 5th place in 34-39 race
Sarah Kerlin wins the women 30-34 race
The men 35-39 race gets going on its first lap
Getting muddy in the men's 35-39
The start of the 30-34 men's race - one of the day's biggest fields
Justin Robinson on his way to 30-34 national championship
Justin Robinson wins 30-34
Jesse Anthony looking very focused on winning under-23
Jeremy Powers hammers to 2nd in U23
Troy Wells on the way to 3rd in U23
Jesse Anthony (cyclocrossworld.com) clains the under-23 win
Jeremy Power and Troy Wells are pretty pleased about 2nd and 3rd in Espoirs
Justin Robinson and Johannes Huseby were first and second in men's 30-34

Images by Hyun Lee

Stephanie White on her way to winning the junior women's title
Lauren Trull (Carolina Cycling Association) on her way to getting the silver
Danielle Haulman toughing it out for third
Andrea Fiske represented Rad Racing in the junior womens race
Stephanie White still ploughing ahead in the lead
Lauren Trull chasing up one of many slimy run-ups
Lauren Trull chasing hard
Stephanie White hanging on to her lead
Andrea Fiske fighting for 4th
The collegiate men line up
The collegiate men are off
Troy Heithecker (U of Washington) took an early lead
Troy Heitchecker still in the lead
Matt Shriver (Fort Lewis College ) attacking Heithecker
Morgan Schmitt (University of Washington)
Chasing in third place
Things getting sloppy in the collegiate championship
Working to preserve third place
Troy Heithecker rejoining Shriver
Plenty of mud for all
Shriver and Heithecker still together
Morgan Schmitt making a splash
A sloppy day for all
Galin Erickson dealing with the muddy course
Matt Schriver (Fort Lewis College) on the attack again
Troy Heithecker chasing in second position
Matt Shriver one lap away from a Collegiate National Championship
Matt Shriver (Fort Lewis College) wins the man's collegiate championship race
Matt Shriver explaining his win
Troy Heithecker pleased with a silver medal at nationals
A look of focused effort
Masters 40-45 are off
Team Amgen's James Coats on the early attack
Gunnar Shogren with team Fort GPOA chasing
The masters slugging it out in the slop
Richard McClung working his way through the pack to finish 7th
So many lines to choose from
More fun in the mud
The course seemed to just rise up and eat bikes
The Amgen duo of Coat and Noble in the lead
Gunnar Shogren electing to ride this section
Tom Phillips (Team ragnorok) trudging up the slimy incline
Mark Noble on the attack
James Allen Coats splashing through in second place
Tom Phillips splashing through in 4th
Mark Noble still in the lead with one lap to go
James Allen Coat after bein passed by Gunnar Shogren
Riders battled in small groups for the top 10
Mark Noble takes the win

Day 3

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Rob Karman/

Ann Knapp took the holeshot up the first run up
By lap two a select group of four had formed on the front. Here Gina Hall and Katie Compton lead.
Gina Hall led aggressively for the first half of lap 2
Katie Compton and Ann Knapp chase Gina Hall on lap 2
By lap 3 Katie Compton had an 8 second gap as the sun came out
Gina Hall in hot pursuit of Katie Compton
New National Champion Katie Compton
Ann Knapp
Katie Compton
Katie Compton
Katie Compton
Ann Knapp
Gina Hall
Mary McConneloug
The effort is evident on Dorothy Wong's face
Katie Compton
Katie Compton salutes the crowd as she becomes National Champion
Gina Hall sprints home ahead of Ann Knapp for 2nd place
Katie Compton is congratulated by a team mate after her upset win
The camaraderie of women's racing is apparent as Katie is congratulated by her opponents.
Jonathan Page leads on the first run up while Trebon takes the outside rideable line
Jonathan Page leads on the first run up
The first run up
Jonathan Page had a good gap after one lap...
but Ryan Trebon was chasing hard
Jonathan Page
Trebon leads Page
McCormack chasing hard
Trebon still leads Page
Toddd Wells rode strongly to finish 3rd
Jonathan Page
Jonathan Page
Marc Gullickson had a great outing for the final race of his career
Jonathan Page powers through the slop and some lapped traffic
Ryan Trebon
Jonathan Page rocks the baby down the homestretch
Jonathan Page's wife Cori embraces him after his 3rd straight win. Their child is under her coat

Images by Russ & Nancy Wright/www.AbbiOrca.com

A TIAA CREF junior helps reconstruct the Clif Bar tent after an extremely windy night
Rich Maile pops one on his single speed
Single speed winner, Matthew Pacocha
A single speeder sliding sideways in a celebratory manner
The scene at the pits on a windy day
Dennis McGovern (Sycip) dwarfed by the trees
Category C racers with what's left of the fall foliage in the background
The single-speeders have their day
Velo Bella's Betty Jordan in the Women B/C's, her second race of the weekend.
A bit of color on a gray day. Not very aero, though
A swarm of B's take to the course
Celebrating his category B win.
Bjorn Selander (Alan) winner of the Juniors, led at the start, also.
Brady Kappius, 3rd in the juniors battled with Bjorn for a good part of the race
Bjorn and a happy Alan team.
The start of the women's elite. Bruno Roy, Knapp, Vardaros and Hall at the front.
Katie Compton rode away with the Women's elite title
Ann Knapp, 3rd Elite Woman, through the forest and past her fans
Gina Hall (Missing Link) 2nd in the Elite Women
Katie Compton in the leaves
Anne Knapp
Christine Vardaros (Vello Bella)
Gina Hall (Missing Link) 2nd in the Elite Women, followed by Knapp
Jonathan Page runs to his 3rd straight National Champion title
Ryan Trebon (Kona) ended up second on the day after a great battle with Page.
Marc Gullickson in his last Cross Nationals still podiums.
Jonathan Page
Page enjoys a bit of a draft from Ryan 'Treefarm' Trebon
In the end Page rocked the cradle, rocked the house and kept his title.

Images by Mitch Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com

Katie Compton was a surprise winner of the elite women's race
Katie Compton celebrates as she crosses the line
Gina Hall had to settle for the silver
Jonathan Page turned in another dominating performance
Ryan Trebon chased Page the whole way but could never quite close the gap
Jonathan Page - very muddy and very happy with another US national championship

Images by Matthew E. Moses/www.moses-images.com

Bjorn Selander (Alan Factory Team) looking relaxed before the start.
Tejay Van Garderen put the pressure on Bjorn early before fading to 8th.
Toby Marzot (Corner Cycle) after doing well in the national cross series just missed the podium with a 6th place finish.
Bjorn Selander (Alan Factory Team) looks back to find no one there as he lead the race start to finish.
Bjorn Selander (Alan Factory Team) the new celebrity as the new Junior 17-18 National Cyclocross Champion.
Gina Hall (Missing Link/Bianchi) got off to a fast start on the first lap but had to settle for 2nd overall.
Katie Compton (Code Racing) the surprise everyone coming from the pack to take the lead and then the Elite Women's National Championship
Mary McConneloug (Seven Cycles/Kenda) had to settle for fourth
Sarah Kerlin (Velo Bella) with a smile at the finish and her second time on the podium during the weekend.
Ryan Trebon (Kona) joins Jonathan Page (Cervelo/Hot Tubes) mid-race after he lead from the start of the first lap.
Ryan Trebon (Kona) leads Jonathan Page (Cervelo/Hot Tubes) around the course as the two battle for 1st and 2nd.
Jonathan Page (Cervelo/Hot Tubes) makes the decisive move to shed Trebon from his wheel on his way to his third straight national championship.
Jonathan Page (Cervelo/Hot Tubes) all smiles as he crosses the finish line and slows to meet his waiting wife and daughter.
Barry Wicks (Kona) settles for 4th after losing contact with 3rd place finisher Todd Wells (GT Hyundai)
Mark Gullickson (Redline) on the verge of retirement makes the podium one more time as 5th place

Images by Clark Ritchie/www.nweventphotography.com

Portland got it's freak on early with pre-race festivities
Jonathon Page (Cervelo-Hot Tubes) simply powered away from the field early
Ryan Trebon (Kona) was the only one able to chase
Barry Wicks (Kona) held onto third for most of the race
Barry Wicks (Kona) negotiates a slipperly descent
Marc Gullickson (Redline) trailed Wicks in fifth
Jackson Stewart (Clif Bar) tries to regain Wicks and Gullickson
Thick mud was the name of the game in Portland
Todd Wells (GT-Hyundai) found it faster to run than ride
Trebon (Kona) tried to power past Page (Cervelo-Hot Tubes) late in the race
The field senses they are about to get lapped
Jonathon Page (Cervelo-Hot Tubes) entering the gravel
Ryan Trebon (Kona) tries to hang on
Jonathon Page (Cervelo-Hot Tubes) powers away on the final lap

Images by Hyun Lee

The Elite women prepare to start
And they're off!
The womens' pit crews wait for their racers
Anne Knapp and Gina Hall lead through the first lap
Gina Hall and Anne Knapp about to get caught by Katie Compton
Mary McConneloug chasing
Anna Milkowski working her way through the pack
The lead group of Hall, Knapp, McConneloug and Compton
McConneloug, Knapp and Compton
Riders formed groups of dueling twosomes and threesomes
Conditions were better today - but sloppy mud was still an issue
Katie Compton (Cody racing) on the attack
Gina Hall caught and passed Anne Knapp
One of the longer runups
Having worked her way up from five rows back at the start, Katie Compton fights to stay off the front
Anne Knapp chased in second place
Gina Hall followed closely in third
Anne Knapp not giving up the fight
Knapp and Hall within sight of Compton
Katie Compton (Cody racing) wins the US Womens' Championship
Gina Hall takes Knapp for the silver medal
Katie Compton's Trek SL
Compton used Crank Brothers Egg Beater pedals
Compton used Zipp wheels with Dugast tires
The womens' podium with Katie Compton in Stars & Stripes
The Elite Men line up
The men are off
The Maxxis and Kona pit crews wait for their riders
Jonathan Page on the early attack
Todd Wells flies past the pits
Ryan Trebon, a blur, as he swaps bikes
Barry Wicks trailed by Todd Wells
Defending champion Jonathan Page after a bike swap in the pit
Ryan Trebon chases in second through the pits
Todd Wells comes through after a bike exchange
Jackson Stewart makes a bike swap in the pits
Another successful bike exchange
Crews scramble to get equipment cleaned
Trebon and Page
Mark McCormack (Clif Bar Colavita)
Page chased through the pits by Trebon
Jackson Stewart swaps another bike