2019 Anza Crossing: Good Day for a Murder

The devil, or one of his minions at the very least, exhaled - a hot, breath withering as it rose up the slope. If not for a thick slather of sweat, skin would quickly have dried to the consistence of cracked leather. The city, grudgingly restless with mid-morning activity, spread into the distance. Hills brown and rocky, rose, breaking the plain in the near distance; bony protrusions like the spine of some ancient monster lying in eternal repose. An encircling embrace broken here and there, gaps through which the city seemed to seep. At the foot of the hill, horses and their riders disappeared into a thicket of palms, fronds at their bulbous taps shimmering silver in the sun. Somewhere down there, hidden from view, flowed the river, its sinuous course not a fair match to the maze of yellow and black striped tape wending, with sharp turns, up and down the hillside. Though less lush than the river bottom, from an opposite vantage, this hilltop perch must have appeared as an extension of that green ribbon, a contrast to those other pieces of broken spine. Trains rumbled by, heavy steel stressing rails with squeaks and squeals, a convenient masking of cries of anguish.

All the usual suspects were there, and then some (and including some from outside the SoCal range). Everyone was a suspect, and there was no lack of "everyones." Legs were stretched to the breaking point, nerves were fraying, a giant chicken was ringing a bell in the face of passers-by. If this were a different genre, someone would have certainly commented that it was a good day for a murder.

The reality was something worse. Something known as Anza Crossing, a combination of hillside and grass and loose dirt and heat and wind, I already mentioned the wind, just enough of those to wreck a persons legs and a persons mind. Push 'em over the edge, maybe lead them to do something they wouldn't otherwise do. There was plenty of opportunity, ample incentive. At the end of the day, though, my investigation could find nothing nefarious, no evidence of a crime having been committed and no one to charge. Just a case of good ol' fun.

The seventh weekend of the 2019 SoCal Cross Prestige Series slid onto the hilltop Martha McLean - Anza Narrows Park on the outskirts of Riverside. I don't know about you, but by the time the tour rolls into Costa Mesa next weekend I am looking forward to the possibility of a change - a change in the weather, cooler temperatures, maybe even some rain.

In addition to the few photos here, and the usual selection of others can be found here in the race album. Have at 'em.

gaps in the spine through which the city had seeped

around and around, and around they go

wasn't quite ready for that shot, but he got some good air

racing on a flat, that could push someone over the edge - okay she's a suspect

giant chicken ringing a cowbell in your face - okay he's a suspect

see, I'm smiling, I'm smiling - already pushed over the edge. okay prime suspect

hmm, would that loose stuff drive someone to wit's end?

Happy Birthday to Dorothy

that's what it's all about

does his mom know he's doing stuff like that?

Brody McDonald, Mens A winner

Men 35+ C (CX4-5): 1st Juan Silva (unatt), 2nd Carlos Salazar (OC Armada), 3rd Albert Ocampo (Fireflies)

Men 55+ (CX1-5): 1st Greg Fenton (UC Cyclery / JW Floors), 2nd David Turner (Turner Bikes), 3rd Alex Teno (Stonehaus / Trek)

Men 65+ (CX 1-5): 1st Jon Miller (Stonehaus / Trek), 2nd Howard Miller (Velo Allegro), 3rd Roger Jorgensen (Bikeman.com)

Men 70+ (CX1-5): 1st John Wallace (Ordinary Cyclists Racing), 2nd R. Lee Willmore (Celo Pacific), 3rd John Donaldson (unatt)

Men C (CX4-5): 1st Luk Strawter (unatt), 2nd Leonardo Guttierrez (unatt), 3rd Caleb Angulo (Monster Media)

Women A (CX1-5): 1st Maddy Ward (SDBC), 2nd Adrienne Allegretti (SWAT), 3rd Diana Sjol (SWAT)

Women B (CX3-5): 1st Sofia Schugar (SDBC), 2nd Patricia Murray (SDBC), 3rd Emily Lloyd (SWAT)

Women C (CX4-5): 1st Sandra Pankow (unatt), 2nd Kelley Barsanti (unatt), 3rd Sarah Vargas (The TEAM SoCalCross)

Men B (CX3-5): 1st Roman Semenov (Dons Bikes), 2nd Max Van Loo (Velosport), 3rd Sam Selfridge (Velo Club La Grange

Men 35+ A (CX1-5): 1st Brian McCulloch (Elevate - KHS Pro Cycling), 2nd Ara Movsessian (Backbone Adventure Cycling), 3rd Maison Chen (SCBC)

Men 45+ A (CX1-5): 1st Derric Swinfard (Monster Media), 2nd Carlos Matias Medigochea (Subaru - Giant), 3rd Garnet Vertican (ODI Grips / Giant)

Women 35+ (CX1-5): 1st Lauren Strickland (Scott Rhino Paw Rda), 2nd Katrina Lavender (The TEAM SoCalCross)

Women 55+ (CX1-5): 1st Patricia Murray (SDBC), 2nd Cindy Fenton (Sisterhood of Cycling), 3rd Liesel Leman (Ordinary Cyclists)

Men 35+ B (CX3-5) 1st Sam Selfridge (Velo Club La Grange), 2nd Brett Cowan (Team Snake Pit), 3rd John Pennington (Team Velocity)

Men 45+ B (CX3-5): 1st Rey Deegan (Bicycle Transit Systems / Bike Hub), 2nd Jose Vigil (UC Cyclery / JW Floors), 3rd John Holderness (Ordinary Cyclists)

I didn't catch the Men's A podium, but I can tell you that Brody McDonald won.