Kaiser Strikes Gold In Bend, Robinson & Myrah Claim Silver- Plus Photos From The USA National Cyclocross Championships In Bend Oregon

Northern California's best Cyclocross racers again rose to the occasion at the USA National Championships on day #3 of competitions. Cody Kaiser(Cal Giant Inc.) led the way, snatching the coveted Gold Medal and the Stars & Stripes jersey in the Junior Men's 17-18 division. Kaiser stamped his authority on the event with aggressive racing to earn the victory by a large margin of 47 seconds on the line. Kaiser is ranked as the #1 Junior Cross racer in the USA and all of Northern California is proud if his great racing accomplishments. When a Junior wins a National Title it usually is a huge reflection of his family's support of racing, his community's cycling activities, and his regions racing & competition level which raised the riders game to be best in the USA. Kaiser benefited from all of the previously listed items, plus huge team support from Cal Giant Inc. and team director Anthony Gallino, to become one of the the best Cyclocross racers in America. Congratulations to the entire Kaiser family and Cody for living the dream and fighting so hard to be the best! Previous National Masters Champions Justin Robinson(Cal Giant Inc.) and Don Myrah(Ibis/BuyCell.com) both posted stellar rides in the brutal Bend Oregon weather conditions to snatch the Silver Medal in their respected division. Robinson was a mere 4 seconds away from victory after a thrilling dual for the title in the Masters Men's 35-39 division. Myrah had to hold off a hard charging pair of riders by 7 seconds to secure his 2nd place finish in the Masters Men's 40-44 division. Robinson and Myrah are Nor-Cal legends of Cross. They both displayed tenacity and determination on the biggest stage of Cyclocross in Bend Oregon, and they both can add another National Championship Silver Medal to their growing collection. Josh Snead(HRS Rock Lobster) had a amazing ride in the Masters Men's 30-34 division with a 4th place finish. Snead just missed the Bronze Medal in this group by 11 seconds on the line. Jeremey Ferguson(Cal Giant Inc.) proved himself on the highest level in Bend Oregon with a stellar 5th place podium appearance in the U-23 contest. This division always boasts some of the fastest up & coming riders in America, and Ferguson showed us all he is for real as one of the USA's elite racers. Others to ride to top 10 placings on another amazing day of results at the USA National Championships for Northern California were, past National Masters Champion Todd Hoefer(Cal Giant Inc.) who was 6th place in the Masters Men's 40-44 division. Hoefer missed the final podium spot in that age group by only 2 seconds at the finish of the 41:00 minute race. Jim Gentes(Team Rambuski Law) was 6th in the Masters Men's 50-54 division. And Chris McGovern finished 7th place in the Masters Men's 35-39 division. This edition of the USA Nationals could be considered the best ever from Northern California racers. I count 4 Gold, 4 Silver, and 4 Bronze Medals earned by our regions best and most talented riders. This only proves that Cyclocross is King in Nor-Cal and our region is truly one of the most outstanding area's in all of America for talented riders and great races. Full results can be found here- http://www.usacycling.org/results/?permit=2009-2972. Please read on as I found some photos that caught my eye of our best racers doing there thing in Bend...

"Young Gun" kid Cody Kaiser is rad! This guy put Nor-Cal on center stage at the USA Cross Nationals with his Gold Medal ride in the Junior 17-18 division....

Kerry Barnholt(Scott/Ritchey) raised the level of competition for all the Elite Women racers in Nor-Cal this season. In this photo Barnholt shows the entire USA who is the best 35-39 Masters Women racer.....

One lap to go for Barnhlot on her Gold Medal ride in Bend....

Past National Champion Alan Coats(Cal Giant Inc.) showing the focus and form it takes to earn one of the coveted Medals at the USA Championships. Coats earned Silver on the day in a epic battle on course in the Masters Men's 45-49 division. Be sure and click on this picture to enlarge this photo. The dark clouds in the back ground combined with the snow covered ground and frozen mud track, plus Coates determination, make for a stellar "freeze" frame from the Nationals.....

Gina Hall(Cal Giant Inc.) celebrating her Masters Women's 40-44 National Championship win. Three Masters Women from Northern California will be sporting the Stars & Stripes jersey during next years local races....

Barbara Howe(Vanderkitten) has to win the race and also score the thing too. In this photo Howe is letting the officials know, "Hey, I am the winner!"....

Epic conditions led to epic racing.....

Just looking at the course shows how challenging the conditions were. Howe and the rest of the Northern California Masters Women simply owned the Nationals. Gold Medals in the age groups 30-34, 35-39, 40-44. Are you serious?? YES! Simply dominating were the Nor-Cal Master Women. Karen Brems also grabbed the Bronze medal in the 45-49 division in what could be called the greatest ever Masters results by a region at the USA Cyclocross Nationals. The awards announcers must have been freaking out wondering what the heck is in the water the the Nor-Cal Masters Women have been consuming all year.....

Another Masters Women's podium appearance was delivered from Sacramento's Sarah Maile(Ventana MTB) with 5th place in the 30-34 divison. Allison Baumhefner of San Rafael was also another Masters Women racer from Nor-Cal to make podium. Baumhefner was 5th place in the 40-44 division. Carmel's Beverly Chaney(Team Roaring Mouse) also made a podium show with 4th in the 45-49 division. All in all, 7 Female racers stood on the podium representing Nor-Cal in the Mastesr division. Simply amazing.....

Alan Coats was in a dog fight for the Gold Medal in the Masters Men's 45-49 division. At previous National Cyclocross Championships Northern California has been known for their super fast- world class Masters Men racers. With seemingly each year different Masters age racers stepping up to grab Medals from the NCNCA region. This year Nor-Cal did not disappoint for the legend of the Northern California Masters Men with 5 riders making the cherished podium appearance. Coats, Robinson, Elgart, Snead, & Myrah all delivered the goods and climbed onto the Nationals podium in the Master division....

You win, you get to celebrate! Cody Kaiser shows everyone how it is done in the Junior 17-18 division.....

Silver Medalist Don Myrah shows serious class as he congratulates race winner Peter Webber after their on course battle in Bend....

Kerry Barnholt has a reason to smile. She just won the USA National Cyclocross Championship in the Masters Women's 35-39 division, and she is going to Disneyland.....

Past National Champion Todd Hoefer on course. Hoefer was engaged in a thrilling battle for the final podium spot in the Masters Men's 40-44 division.....

Don Myrah showing just how cold and demanding the action was on race day.......