2019 Santa Cross
Did you hear those times? Of course you didn't, you were too busy gawking at those SWAT legs, weren't you? I believe it was the first race of the season, a long three months ago and a fair distance away, at Corriganville, where I referred to the She Wolf Attack Team as the "rowdiest bunch of all." True to the image, all season long.
As it does every year, the end happened just like that (snap of fingers). After a last few hectic hours, the 2019 SoCalCross Prestige Series came to an end on a hillside perch above the Santa Ana River. People gliding past on the bike trail below may not have been aware of it, but the change was felt, in the legs and mind if not also the heart, by many of those scattered across the grassy slope. The season went out as loudly as it began, with heckling, fiercely-contested hole-shots, outrageous laughter, spectacle, exhaustion, honest congratulations, licorice whip hand-ups, bloody knees, wheelies, ringing bells, spraying beverages, empty champagne bottles (or some similar fizzy non-alcoholic beverage, and dollar bills. The only thing missing was the dust; its obscuring cloud replaced, for the finale, with mist and droplets of rain.
But those times. Throughout the morning and early afternoon hours we kept hearing that the fastest cyclocross racer in America would be on the start line. Hmm, how's that going to play out, I wondered. The question was answered as soon as the Elite men's race came around the turn and into the barriers. Leading the way was Tydeman Newman who, by the way, must be the second fastest cross racer in America since his fastest lap time was less than two seconds slower than that of Curtis White. White, at this early moment, was fast behind Newman's heels, with everyone else arrayed in a hard chase behind, gaps already stretching from front to rear. The two, White and Newman, kept close tabs on one another for about six laps. Edging away, at that point, turned into something of a run away, and White finished with a near two and a half minute gap, his last lap, just as fast as his first. Though Newman is a southern California native, his name is not often seen on the Prestige Series result sheets; as for the Series regulars, the battle brought out some exceptional performances - Scott Lundy (Serious Cycling) set a fastest lap time that was only four-seconds off White's, and Kent Hammond (PAA and, as I would find out later, winner of the club's racer of the year award) finished with an exceptional 1:02.57.556, bested only by White's 0:58.58.767 and Newman's 1:01.22.271.
Maddy Ward (San Diego Bicycle Club), made another trip north and put her stamp across the Elite women's A race, with nearly a minute to spare over number two Adrienne Allegretti (SWAT). After Turkey Trot Cross I wondered how the season would have turned if she had done more of the races. She is one powerful racer, and perhaps next year we will find out. With the series overall win already wrapped up due to her consistently strong riding throughout the season, the number three finisher, Diana Sjol, (and with a trip to Nationals a few days away) perhaps felt little need to destroy her legs. She, and teammate Allegretti, put on quite a one-two punch all season long, both equally capable of stepping up and into the spot light when needed.
As for everyone else - the Bs and Cs, the masters, the juniors, the single-speeders, and the first-timers who get hooked; those races, if you've never seen one, are far from the opening acts before the main event. Watching Amy Leung push all the way to the line rather than cruise in after the final rise, or the weekly battle between Max van Loo and Raulito Gutierrez, provide glimpses into the past, present and future of the sport, that drive to push oneself to succeed. Rather than give up, I have seen racers in these groups run the course, broken bike slung over their shoulders just to finish, I have seen them crash hard, shake their head, maybe laugh, pick themselves up and carry on with barely a moment's hesitation. I have seen them clear the finish line and collapse in exhaustion following a neck and neck sprint, and after having pushed themselves beyond their limits just to keep from being lapped. Don't fool yourself into thinking the competitive spirit is any less enflamed because the category does not have the word "Elite," or the letter "A" in its tile.
SoCalCross season is like a whirlwind, weekend after weekend, almost non-stop, for three months on end. As much as I hate to see it come to an end, I must say I am looking forward to open weekends and the gravel, road and mountain bike rides that come with them. Some of the SoCalCross family I will see now and then, while others will disappear until, after another nine months or so pass and we come together and start it all over once again.
I am as sure as I can be that the folks who came out weekend after weekend appreciate all the time and effort that Dorothy and Jeff and their crew put into securing the venues, designing and setting up the courses, tearing them back down and returning them to their original conditions, working with USA Cycling, and everything else to goes into putting on a race. I know I do.
make a mess, clean it up
The SWAT racers heckle Kent Hammond who would finish 3rd today in the Men's A race, and take 2nd in the Prestige Series overall, behind Brody McDonald
Finally, one more album, the one for Santa Cross, with its selection of photos is here.
Oh, and one more thing - good racing to all the SoCal folks heading up to Nationals!
But those times. Throughout the morning and early afternoon hours we kept hearing that the fastest cyclocross racer in America would be on the start line. Hmm, how's that going to play out, I wondered. The question was answered as soon as the Elite men's race came around the turn and into the barriers. Leading the way was Tydeman Newman who, by the way, must be the second fastest cross racer in America since his fastest lap time was less than two seconds slower than that of Curtis White. White, at this early moment, was fast behind Newman's heels, with everyone else arrayed in a hard chase behind, gaps already stretching from front to rear. The two, White and Newman, kept close tabs on one another for about six laps. Edging away, at that point, turned into something of a run away, and White finished with a near two and a half minute gap, his last lap, just as fast as his first. Though Newman is a southern California native, his name is not often seen on the Prestige Series result sheets; as for the Series regulars, the battle brought out some exceptional performances - Scott Lundy (Serious Cycling) set a fastest lap time that was only four-seconds off White's, and Kent Hammond (PAA and, as I would find out later, winner of the club's racer of the year award) finished with an exceptional 1:02.57.556, bested only by White's 0:58.58.767 and Newman's 1:01.22.271.
Maddy Ward (San Diego Bicycle Club), made another trip north and put her stamp across the Elite women's A race, with nearly a minute to spare over number two Adrienne Allegretti (SWAT). After Turkey Trot Cross I wondered how the season would have turned if she had done more of the races. She is one powerful racer, and perhaps next year we will find out. With the series overall win already wrapped up due to her consistently strong riding throughout the season, the number three finisher, Diana Sjol, (and with a trip to Nationals a few days away) perhaps felt little need to destroy her legs. She, and teammate Allegretti, put on quite a one-two punch all season long, both equally capable of stepping up and into the spot light when needed.
As for everyone else - the Bs and Cs, the masters, the juniors, the single-speeders, and the first-timers who get hooked; those races, if you've never seen one, are far from the opening acts before the main event. Watching Amy Leung push all the way to the line rather than cruise in after the final rise, or the weekly battle between Max van Loo and Raulito Gutierrez, provide glimpses into the past, present and future of the sport, that drive to push oneself to succeed. Rather than give up, I have seen racers in these groups run the course, broken bike slung over their shoulders just to finish, I have seen them crash hard, shake their head, maybe laugh, pick themselves up and carry on with barely a moment's hesitation. I have seen them clear the finish line and collapse in exhaustion following a neck and neck sprint, and after having pushed themselves beyond their limits just to keep from being lapped. Don't fool yourself into thinking the competitive spirit is any less enflamed because the category does not have the word "Elite," or the letter "A" in its tile.
SoCalCross season is like a whirlwind, weekend after weekend, almost non-stop, for three months on end. As much as I hate to see it come to an end, I must say I am looking forward to open weekends and the gravel, road and mountain bike rides that come with them. Some of the SoCalCross family I will see now and then, while others will disappear until, after another nine months or so pass and we come together and start it all over once again.
I am as sure as I can be that the folks who came out weekend after weekend appreciate all the time and effort that Dorothy and Jeff and their crew put into securing the venues, designing and setting up the courses, tearing them back down and returning them to their original conditions, working with USA Cycling, and everything else to goes into putting on a race. I know I do.
they're off
There was a great competition between these two - Sam Selfridge (Velo Club La Grange) and Brett Cowan (Snake Pit) - all season long. Selfridge finished 1st today, with Cowan 2nd. In the overall 35+ B series, they switched spots, with Cowan taking the top podium step, and Selfridge one below.
Sam Selfridge celebrates his win. (this is kind of an appropriate place to say thanks for the offer of a cold beverage; by the time I finished taking photos though, the La Grange camp was packed up and probably heading home - maybe next year).
Derric Swinfard celebrates another Masters 45+ A win in classic style.
(I think it was his 11th win of 16 races)
Maddy Ward (San Diego Bicycle Club) Another trip north, another win.
Tydeman Newman (Cannondale / Team Dream) leads Curtis White (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) - for the time being.
Riders in the mist
Greg Goodwine gets an earful
Newman congratulates White on the win.
Looks like Tamara has picked up a hitch hiker.
That's what it's all about - Leaving it all on the course at the season's final race.
Finally, one more album, the one for Santa Cross, with its selection of photos is here.
Oh, and one more thing - good racing to all the SoCal folks heading up to Nationals!
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