Americans start UCI Masters Cyclo-cross Worlds with strong showing

  
  


Geraldine Schulze won the women's 45-49 heat to cap Tuesday's racing. (Photo by Louisville Metro Parks)
Geraldine Schulze won the women's 45-49 heat to cap Tuesday's racing. (Photo by Louisville Metro Parks)
Colorado Springs, Colo. (January 29, 2013) -- The 2013 UCI Cyclo-cross Masters World Championships began Tuesday at Champions Park in Louisville, Ky., with seeding heats in various age groups. Four Americans won their respective heats and will receive a spot in the front row of the final race for their age groups.

Americans swept the two heats of the men's 50-54 contestants as Jeff Appeltans (Philadelphia, Pa./MAMBO CX-GoCycling-Mid Atl Masters Bicycle Org) and Gunnar Shogren (Morgantown, W.Va./Backyard Bike Club) will each find himself in the front row of the final on Thursday. Charles Townsend (Mendota Heights, Minn./Bianchi-Grand Performance-St. Paul Bicycle Racing Club) topped the men's 60-64 heat. Geraldine Schulze (Cincinnati, Ohio/Bio Wheels Racing) won the lone women's heat on Tuesday as she topped the women's 45-49 field.

The top riders in masters men 50-54, 55-59 and 60-64 and women 45-49 were seeded in heats on Tuesday.

The winners of the seeding heats on Tuesday were:

Masters Men 60-64: Charles Townsend (Mendota Heights, Minn./Bianchi-Grand Performance-St. Paul Bicycle Racing Club)
Masters Men 55-59 Heat 1: Benny Andersson (SWE/Trek Sweden Racing)
Masters Men 55-59 Heat 2: Colin Funk (CAN/First Capital Cycling Kingston)
Masters Men 50-54 Heat 1: Gunnar Shogren (Morgantown, W.Va./Backyard Bike Club)
Masters Men 50-54 Heat 2: Jeff Appeltans (Philadelphia, Pa./MAMBO CX-GoCycling-Mid Atl Masters Bicycle Org)
Masters Women 45-49: Geraldine Schulze (Cincinnati, Ohio/Bio Wheels Racing)

Charles Townsend won the men's 60-64 heat on Tuesday. (Photo by Louisville Metro Parks)
Charles Townsend won the men's 60-64 heat on Tuesday. (Photo by Louisville Metro Parks)
The racing continues Wednesday with heats of the masters men 45-49, 40-44, 30-34 and 35-39. Additionally, the repechage for the masters men 45-49 and 40-44 and consolation races for the masters men 45-49 and 50-54 are slated for Wednesday.

The races on Saturday and Sunday will be streamed live by the UCI and carried live by USA Cycling. Saturday's races feature the under-23 and juniors 17-18 while Sunday's contests will crown the best elite men and women. The first race on Saturday and Sunday will be at 11 a.m. while the second race is slated for 2:30 p.m.

2013 UCI Masters Cyclo-cross World Championships
Champions Park
Louisville, Ky.
Jan. 29-Feb.1, 2013

FULL RESULTS

PHOTO GALLERY



This Article Updated January 29, 2013 @ 07:27 PM For more information contact: