More Races Lined Up During The "Peak Season" For Cross In Nor-Cal- B.A.R. Rankings Updated

B.A.R. Rankings have been updated & the Rock Lobster Bicycles Men's Elite riders have positioned themselves as the dominate force during the 2009-10 Nor-Cal Cross season with four weekends of racing still to come on the schedule. It is the time of the season where the Northern California dirt gets soft and mud comes into play, which creates fun challenges for all. It is the "Peak Season" for Cross racing in Nor-Cal. There are competitions lined up in January that will most likely feature muddy sections and soft terrain riding that the Nor-Cal races have lacked this year. Surely the difficult riding and technical aspect of winter racing will give way for the opportunity of "Mudders" and "Foul Weather Riders" to impact the racing antics. B.A.R. Rankings have been tallied to date, and a special note must be made of Paul Sadoff's Rock Lobster Cyclocross Team which has placed 7 of its riders in the top 15 of the Men's Elite Division. The Lobster bunch holds down the top 4 placings overall in the super competitive Men's Elite Division. B.A.R. Rankings reflect the entire season of Cross racing. Paul Sadoff deserves praise for putting together such a strong group of Men's Elite racers who have attacked from the gun and battled for race wins on all fronts around Northern California. Karen Brems(Webcor) leads the Elite Women's rankings, and this is well earned. Brems has had a break-out year of Cyclocross racing and has placed herself on the sharp end of the Elite Women's races at seemingly every event she has entered. A complete report on the final B.A.R. Rankings will be logged after the last race of the 2009-10 Cross season. Here are the updated totals thanks to the great spreadsheet work from Taleo Racings Joe Miller- http://sites.google.com/site/barncnca2009/current-results. The Surf City Series, The Sacramento Series, The CCCX Series, and The Santa Rosa Series, all host their final races to finish out the season over the next few weeks. I hope many of the Nor-Cal racers make at least a few showings to support these great events and take part in the Peak Season for Cyclocross in Northern California...

Christmas Cyclocross In Sonora- Saturday & Sunday- Velo Promo Style

Northern California racers will be celebrating Christmas Cyclocross in Sonora on both Sat. & Sun.- Dec. 26-27, as Velo Promo and Bob Leibold will host the holiday weekend events. Saturday's race will take place at the challenging Cover's Apple Ranch course in Tuolumne. This venue was the location of the 1993 USA National Cyclocross Championships. I have raced at Cover's Apple Ranch on many occasions, and I can say with out any doubt that this is a truly epic course. This hard and demanding route will test physical power and technical skills to the fullest. This is a race not to be missed, and the race route is maybe the most taxing course of the year. Sunday's event will go off at Calaveras County Fairgrounds in Angels Camp. I have raced at this location in past years and the race route is a much more modern style circuit. The racing will be contested at a faster average speed then the Cover's course. Naturally the Velo Promo crew will seek out many obstacles in this venue to make things interesting on the competitors. There will be pavement, stairs, and grassy slopes used, thus making a circuit that is sure to produce challenges for all. I highly recommend Nor-Cal Cyclocross racers make the trip up into the foothills near Sonora to take part in these fantastic Cross events on this upcoming holiday weekend. Some of my fondest and most vivid Cyclocross memories are from battling the challenges and circuits that the Velo Promo races deliver. Bob Liebold has a special touch in putting together courses that bring out the best in the riders. This year's version of the Sonora Cross races are sure to create more epic history for anyone who races. The racing will be hard, and the racing will be fun. Merry Christmas to all!...

Sacramento & Surf City Photos Of The Week

Both the Sacramento Series and the Surf City Series used outstanding race routes this past Sunday. Great courses can bring out the best in the racers as well as the photographers shooting the competition. The racers in Nor-Cal are tremendously fortunate to be filmed each weekend by super talented image seeking photographers who are as dedicated to their trade as the racers are to theirs. Please read on to see the Photos Of The Week from Lange Twins Winery & Harbor High School. All Photos from these great events can be seen at http://wordpress.ncncaracing.com/...

Sacramento-

Jeff Namba- http://www.flickr.com/photos/7170718@N07/collections/72157623041263994/

MagPie-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/magpie_drain/sets/72157623041179672/

Surf City-

Steve Anderson- http://www.flickr.com/photos/youngsloat/sets/72157623040219258/

Kieran Sherlock- http://thamlock.smugmug.com/Cycling/Cyclocross2009/Surf-City-4/10709110_RAufG#746006901_8FB9b

Surf City Series & Sacramento Series On Tap Sunday

The Surf City Series will host their 4th race at Harbor High School in Santa Cruz this Sunday. Mike Evans, Jeff Clark, and crew are sure to produce an outstanding course at Harbor High. Having tested this venue last season, I can personally say that Harbor High is one of the better facilities for fun racing and includes all aspects that lead to a awesome race route. Team Santa Cruz will always add their special touches that make racing Cyclocorss at the Surf City Series so great. If you are near Santa Cruz this weekend be sure and make the trip to race the Surf City Series. The people who put on the race are awesome and Harbor High School is a super fun place to race. Sacramento's event on Sunday will be at Lange Twins Winery near Lodi. This event is sure to be a classic. I have witnessed first hand the growth of Cross racing in and around the State Capitol. The course designs just keep getting better, and the level of thought put into the race routes has been raised considerably over the past few years. This is evident from the outstanding results some of their best riders just produced at the U.S. Cyclocorss Nationals. Elgart, Maile, Maile, Kaiser, Ferguson, all made podium appearances in Bend Oregon. The report I recieved about this course at Lange Twins Winery is that it is sure to be a challenging route with pleasing turns and testy sections to highlight this solid venue. Another special touch the Lange Twins Winery venue will provide is Wine tasting on site. The only thing that beats Wine tasting at Cross events in Nor-Cal is Beer tasting. And I am sure there will be plenty of both going on this weekend as the Cyclocross racing in Northern California rolls on. Info on the Surf City Series can be found here- http://www.cyclo-x.com/. While info on Cross In The Capitol can be found here- http://sacramentocx.com/. Good luck to all who race this weekend, and be sure that besides racing hard and being serious about your Cross, never forget to be a good sport and have fun!...

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.......

Nor-Cal Women Dominate! Kerry Barnholt, Gina Hall, & Barbara Howe All Claim Gold Medals At USA National Cyclocross Championships

Gold Medals and the Stars & Stripes jersey of the current National Cyclocross Champion were claimed by three of Nor-Cal's finest racers today in Bend, Oregon. Kerry Barnholt(Scott/Ritchey), Gina Hall(Cal Giant Inc.), and Barbara Howe(Vanderkitten) all raced to decisive victories on what could be considered one of the best single day tally's ever for Northern California Cyclocross at the USA National Championships. It was obvious from the beginning of the season that the the Women's division for Nor-Cal Cross was at another level outright. New resident in Nor-Cal Kerry Barnholt had a huge impact on the racing, rising the level of competition for everyone to match. Combine this with the return of Gina Hall & Carmen D'Aluisio to action, the level of talent was at a all time high for Women's racing in the NCNCA region. Today in Bend Oregon the Women or Nor-Cal dominated with Barnholt, Hall, and Howe all standing on the top step of the podium when racing was complete. Karen Brems(Webcor) also posted an outstanding result taking the Bronze Medal in the Masters Women's 45-49 division. Other Nor-Cal Women racers who contributed to the podium grab from our regional racers were Sarah Maile(Ventana) with a 5th place in the Masters Women's 30-34 group. Beverly Chaney(Team Roaring Mouse) with 4th in the Masters Women's 45-49 division. And Allison Baumhefner of San Rafael with a 5th place ride in the 40-44 division. Congratulations to these outstanding athletes on their incredible accomplishments this season! Northern California had a banner day in Bend, besides the three Gold Medlas & one Bronze medal won in the Masters Women's divisions. Past National Masters Champion James Coats battled to the Silver Medal in the Masters Men 45-49 division. Rich Maile(Sacramento Cyclocross) grabbed the Bronze Medal in the Men's Single Speed division. Congratulations goes out to those two amazing Men from Nor-Cal! Other racers to have outstanding top 10 finishes in bend Oregon toady were- Madeleine Myall(Cal Giant Inc.), Julie Bates(Team Roaring Mouse), Katrina Baumsteiger(Team Rambuski Law), Jill Fattor(HRS Rock Lobster), Hollie McGovern(Sert / Sho Air). I would like to personally give a shout out to these riders listed on this report and all the others who raced today, each rider made today possibly the best day ever for Nor-Cal Cross on a National level. I count 3 Gold medals, 1 Silver, 2 bronze, & 8 riders total being called up on the podium, and 13 riders in the top 10 of their races. Congratulations to all!...

Nor-Cal's Rich Maile grabs the hole-shot in the Men's Single Speed race. This group was huge with over 100 riders in the field.....

Madeleine Myall taking on the race and the cold in Bend.....

Rich Maile on his way to the Bronze Medal.....

Justin Morejohn(Davis Bike Club)......

Tim Cannard(Buy Cell.com) had a good ride going but said he needed a IBIS Cross bike on the day......

LARPD Final In Livermore Saturday & Fresno Homegrown Cross Final Sunday. Photos Of The Week- Paul Doran's BASP Final Photos

It is sure to be frigid & cold for the large group of Nor-Cal Cyclocross racers who are contesting the USA National Championships in Bend-Orgeon over the next few days. Meanwhile, for local Northern California Cross racing the competitions will be run under a winter storm warning, with strong chances of precipitation and high winds. This adverse weather forecast could make for some epic racing, and I highly recommend Nor-Cal racers to get out there and have at it in some wet racing conditions. Shane Huntoon is sure to put a solid course together for his LARPD final race in Livermore on Saturday. Shane's courses have really improved over the past few years, and his creativity in the race routes makes for fun and challenging racing for all. This is the final race of the season for the LARPD East Bay Sereis, so last call for anyone wanting to Cyclocross in Livermore. Sunday is the final race of Fresno's Homegrown Cyclocross Series. I have personally raced Cyclocross in Fresno over the past few years, and it is always a pleasure. The courses usually had a great feel to the rider and the terrain used for the routes made for great riding. Even when I cycled there under some strong storms the racing never skipped a beat. The Central California Off-Road Cyclists of Fresno do a outstanding job of putting together quality race routes, excellent organization of the events, and a good vibe for the Cross racing. This weekend features a excellent chance to race Cyclocross in testy winter conditions. So be sure and take advantage of this bad weather forecast and have a good time racing Cyclocross in Livermore & Fresno. LARPD info can be found here- http://www.liveplayride.com/CyclocrossInfo/tabid/59/Default.aspx. And Fresno info can be found here- http://homegrowncross.com/09/. I was impressed with Paul Doran's film work from the past weekends BASP Series final. Doran again delivers photos of the racers that fully display the detail a Cyclocross race draws out of its participants. Energy, focus, concentration, a will to drive harder, are all defined in Doran's race photos. Please read on to see some of Doran's photos that caught my eye for the Photos Of The Week, and here is a link to his full collection-http://www.flickr.com/photos/vicarioussojourn/sets/72157622841052667/. Good luck to everyone who races this weekend and enjoy the adverse conditions!...