USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships 2009: Preview

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Ryan Trebon (Kona-FSA) followed by Jeremy Powers (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) and Todd Wells (Specialized).(Image credit: Mitchell Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com)

The USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships take place this weekend in Bend, Oregon's Old Mill District on December 10-13 with more than 1,600 riders slated for over 2,000 starts, highlighted by Sunday's elite men's and women's championships.

Trebon will have his work cut out for him on Sunday, however, with three other former elite national champions on the start grid. Jonathan Page (Planet Bike), winner of three consecutive national titles from 2002 to 2004, returns to the United States with his eyes on a fourth elite championship after spending the bulk of his 'cross season based in Belgium. The 33-year-old arrives in Bend fresh off a top-10 finish in the latest World Cup round in Igorre, Spain and is the highest ranked American, in 14th place, on the UCI 'cross standings. Page won two UCI events in the US early in his season prior to crossing the pond to Europe and will certainly be a factor on Sunday, particularly if the expected inclement weather on Sunday comes to fruition.

Tim Johnson (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) arrives at 'cross nationals after a dominating US season. Johnson won 10 UCI 'cross races and took the overall title in the North American Cyclo-cross Trophy. Like Trebon, Johnson will be seeking his third elite men's title on Sunday and the tough New Englander will not be fazed by the mixture of snow and rain likely to blanket the venue for the title race.

Todd Wells (Specialized) has had a light schedule this 'cross season, but the Durango resident comes into Bend, Oregon on fantastic form. Wells has won four of the last five races he's entered, including a clean sweep of the three Jingle Cross Rock events in Iowa plus a victory at last weekend's penultimate round of the USGP in Portland, Oregon. Wells, too, will seek his third US elite national title to go along with the championships earned in 2001 and 2005.

Accompanying Johnson in Bend are his two teammates, Jeremy Powers and Jamey Driscoll, each of whom are also capable of bringing home the national title for the Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com squad. Powers has won nine UCI 'cross events this season, most recently the final round of the USGP in Portland last weekend, and leads the US Cyclo-cross National Racing Calendar heading into Sunday's championship, the final event on the calendar.

Driscoll, a revelation of last year's elite national championships when he earned a silver medal behind Trebon, has likewise had a stellar season beginning with his victory in CrossVegas as well as a win in November's Cycle-Smart International. While Driscoll hasn't been the prolific winner like his teammates, the former U23 'cross champion has always been in the mix with 14 podium appearances this season and perhaps can claim his first elite championship on Sunday.

While the men's event sports a wide-open field with a bevy of potential winners, the elite women's championship has one clear-cut favourite who is likely to solo away to a record sixth consecutive stars-and-stripes jersey: Katie Compton (Planet Bike). Compton has been the best woman's 'cross racer in the world this season and tops both the UCI rankings and World Cup standings. The 31-year-old has been undefeated on American soil this season and has won two of three UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup events in Europe. Barring a serious crash or mechanical incident Compton should once again sport the stars-and-stripes jersey.

Two of the riders who provided Compton with the stiffest challenge in US races will not be in Bend to contest the women's elite championship. Katerina Nash (Luna) finished runner-up to Compton three times early this season, but is a Czech citizen and not eligible to compete. Nash's teammate Georgia Gould, runner-up to Compton in last year's national championship, has also been a strong competitor with two UCI victories and eight additional podium appearances in her season palmares, but Gould has ended her season and will not be in Bend for Sunday's championship.

Looking to challenge Compton on Sunday will be Maureen Bruno-Roy (MM Racing p/b Seven Cycles) who leads the US Cyclo-cross National Racing Calendar standings and has four UCI victories this season. Olympic mountain biker Mary McConneloug (Kenda-Seven Cycles) is the highest ranked American after Compton on the UCI standings in 17th place. McConneloug has seven victories this season and recently wrapped up the Verge New England Cyclo-Cross Series.

USA Cycling will also offer four free educational seminars in conjunction with the USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships. The sessions are open to anyone, and USA Cycling certified coaches will earn 0.1 CEU for each session attended. Each session will take place next to REI and will last about an hour. Topics include Training and Racing Cyclo-cross, Junior and U23 Cyclo-cross Development, Women in Cyclo-cross and Build on ‘Cross Fitness for the 2010 season.

Based in the southeastern United States, Peter produces race coverage for all disciplines, edits news and writes features. The New Jersey native has 30 years of road racing and cyclo-cross experience, starting in the early 1980s as a Junior in the days of toe clips and leather hairnets. Over the years he's had the good fortune to race throughout the United States and has competed in national championships for both road and 'cross in the Junior and Masters categories. The passion for cycling started young, as before he switched to the road Peter's mission in life was catching big air on his BMX bike.