2015 Velocity Cross: Nauman and Gritters Run Away

Well, strictly speaking they didn't run away from their competition, but Amanda Nauman and Brandon Gritters did each run away with wins over their elite rivals on this day.

Truth is, I was one of those "party's over - early leavers," who bugged out in the 8th inning, so I don't know the specifics, at what point Gritters made the move that sealed the fates of everyone behind him. What I did stick around for, and mostly because it was earlier on the schedule, was a women's race in which Nauman took to the front immediately and stayed there from turn one to turn one thousand fifty-six, never looking back over her shoulder. I mean, with all the twists and turns the Velocity Cross course typically throws at you, a look back wasn't exactly necessary. But still... You know what I mean. And not that there was any lack of competition - Nauman's nearest chasers, Nicole Brandt and Holly Breck are both regular podium finishers. On this day, though, neither of those two, nor anyone else could match the pace being set from start to finish by Amanda Nauman, who finished with a nearly three and a half minute gap.

Though close on this first lap, Amanda Nauman never let up and completely dominated her race.

Second at this point (first lap) for Brandon Gritters, but not by the end.

Spotting. The art of going exactly where you want by spotting it beforehand.

The wind whipped the yellow course tape into a frenzy as it wound its way, between stakes, across and around the lower diamonds of Prado Regional Park. The resulting cacophony  which seemed to rise and fall in unison with the passing of riders, sounded an awful lot like applause and, if this had been Spookycross Weekend, I might have described it as eerie. Instead, it was more a curiosity. With only a lone official standing watch, and an occasional photographer passing through, this part of the course was mostly devoid of spectators, so that applause seemed to be the winds contribution to the spectacle, encouraging riders to keep up the speed, chase, or run away from others doing the chasing.

There are one-hundred photos in the Flickr album. Only a a sixth of the six-hundred photos from the day made the album. The photos are not a complete catalog, but are representative of all the others taken during the day, so if you don't see what, or who, you were looking for in the album, let me know and I will see what I can find. If you see a photo you like, feel free to download it (credit where credit due, of course). You can also contact me via email and I will gladly send a full size jpeg file of the image. As usual, I don't charge for photos, but do appreciate it when someone purchases a copy of the annual (link at top of page). Until next time, good riding.