Cyclo-cross national championships open with singlespeed titles

Aaron Bradford overcame a late deficit to win the men's singlespeed national title.

The first national championship of the calendar year, the 2012 USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships, opened Wednesday as more than 1,000 of the nation's top cyclo-cross racers began descending on Badger Prairie Park outside Madison, Wisc.

The event's first two national titles were awarded as the nation's premier singlespeed 'cross riders were recognized after traversing laps of the 2.1-mile rolling course.

In the men's singlespeed race, an early attack turned into a two-rider showdown over the final two laps. J.T. Fountain (Moscow, Idaho) and Aaron Bradford (Santa Cruz, Calif./Bay 101-HRS-Rocklobster) attacked the field early in the race and determined the winner would be one of the pair. Fountain started the last of the five-lap race with approximately a three-second edge, but Bradford's 8:50 on the last lap was 18 seconds faster than Fountain, earning Bradford the win. A surging Michael Gaertner (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho/Coeur d'Alene Velo Racers-Vertical Earth) was nearly able to overtake Fountain in the home stretch, but had to settle for bronze. Scott Chapin (Santa Cruz, Calif./Bay 101-HRS-Rock Lobster Cyclocross) and Braden Kappius (Littleton, Colo./Team Clif Bar) rounded out the top five.

"In singlespeed racing the races are all so close, but so far. You just wait for mistakes to happen. We all had our own little mistakes here and there," Bradford explained. "I just went out there and sized the barriers up. It came down to the last lap and I decided to hop them and that's where I got my gap. It was good. It's rewarding. It's a fun time."

Kari Studley on her way to a singlespeed national title.

In the women's singlespeed race, Jennifer Gaertner (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho/Coeur d'Alene Velo Racers) grabbed the hole shot, but Kari Studley (Bothell, Wash./Team Redline) quickly surged to take the lead on lap one and never looked back. After the first of four laps, Meghan Korol (Asheville, N.C.) had a strong hold on second place, less than a half minute behind Studley. The two leaders posted sub-10:30 lap times the final two times around the course to expand their lead over Lauri Webber (Newark, Del.), Nocole Borem (Warsaw, Ind./Men of Steel Racing) and Jennifer Maxwell (Washington, D.C./Van Dessel Factry Team), who rounded out the podium.

Earlier in the day, age-grouped riders competed in non-championship races. The women's race opened the day's racing on a frozen ground. Lori Cooke (Pembroke, Mass./Cycle Lodge) topped the women's field by 30 seconds, finishing in 42:18. Ansel Dickey (Truro, Mass./Woodstock Bicycle Club-Killington Mountain School Cycling Team) won the men's 10-29 'B' race by 51 seconds while Louis Kuhn (Evanston, Ill.) earned the men's 30-39 victory by 35 seconds. Christopher Smith (Minneapolis, Minn./Hup United) finished first in the men's 40-and-over race.

The event continues Thursday with Masters races as men 55-and-over along with women 40-and-over will vie for national championships. The event culminates Sunday, Jan. 8 with the elite men's and women's races, which will be streamed live at www.youtube.com/usacyclingorg.

Visit the official event webpage of the 2012 USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships for more information on the event, including eligibility and call-up details, complete schedule, results, photo gallery and more. Follow the event on Twitter, using hashtag #CXNats.

2012 USA Cycling Cyclo-cross National Championships
January 4-8, 2012
Verona, Wisc.

FULL RESULTS

The event opened Wednesday morning to beautiful blue skies. Competition continues through Sunday.

Singlespeed Men
1. Aaron Bradford (Santa Cruz, Calif./Bay 101-HRS-Rocklobster) 44:47
2. J.T. Fountain (Moscow, Idaho) 45:01
3. Michael Gaertner (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho/Coeur d'Alene Velo Racers-Vertical Earth) 45:03
4. Scott Chapin (Santa Cruz, Calif./Bay 101-HRS-Rock Lobster Cyclocross) 46:10
5. Braden Kappius (Littleton, Colo./Team Clif Bar) 47:52

Singlespeed Women
1. Kari Studley (Bothell, Wash./Team Redline) 41:26
2. Meghan Korol (Asheville, N.C.) 41:54
3. Lauri Webber (Newark, Del.) 42:45
4. Nocole Borem (Warsaw, Ind./Men of Steel Racing) 43:31
5. Jennifer Maxwell (Washington, D.C./Van Dessel Factory Team) 43:33

Women Non-Championship
1. Lori Cooke (Pembroke, Mass./Cycle Lodge) 42:18
2. Erin Donohue (Norwich, Vt./Woodstock Bicycle Club-Killington Mountain School Cycling Team) 42:48
3. Elizabeth Heller (St. Louis, Mo./708 Racing p/b Dressel'S Pub) 43:41
4. Julie Phelps (De Pere, Wisc./Big Ring Flyers) 43:56
5. Karen Brocket (Raytown, Mo./Ethos Racing) 45:14

Men 10-29 Non-Championship
1. Ansel Dickey (Truro, Mass./Woodstock Bicycle Club-Killington Mountain School Cycling Team) 45:45
2. Cooper Willsey (Hinesburg, Vt./Green Mountain Bicycle Club) 46:36
3. Jeremiah Gantzer (Bettendorf, Iowa/Double I Cycling Experience (Dice)) 47:09
4. Zachary Bender (Glen Rock, N.J./Mid-Atlantic Cycling Club-Specialized - Rising Stars p/b Bicycling) 47:29
5. Eric Christ (Bartlett, Ill./Team Bicycle Heaven) 47:35

Men 30-39 Non-Championship
1. Louis Kuhn (Evanston, Ill.) 45:25
2. J.P. Brocket (Raytown, Mo./Ethos Racing) 46:00
3. Christopher Newlin (Viroqua, Wisc.) 47:08
4. Colby Lash (Marquette, Mich.) 47:52
5. Marshall Greene (Madison, Wisc./Brazen Dropouts Cycling) 48:04

Men 40-and-over Non-Championship
1. Christopher Smith (Minneapolis, Minn./Hup United) 47:17
2. Gregory Ferguson (Middleton, Wisc./Trek Midwest Team) 47:56
3. Brian Koeneman (Minneapolis, Minn./Team Wheel & Sprocket) 48:20
4. Jeffrey Appeltans (Philadelphia, Pa./Mid Atl Masters Bicycle Org-Mambo Kings Racing) 48:53
5. Walid Abu Ghazaleh (Chicago, Ill./The Pony Shop) 49:12

Nations top cyclo-cross racers headed to Madison - Dec 28, 2011

This Article Published January 4, 2012 For more information contact:

Cyclo-cross national championships open with singlespeed titles

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