Cooler weather greeted riders at Saturday’s Kansas State Cyclocross Championships. Well over 100 riders took the start line in the various races throughout the day. The weather may have been a little closer to normal for this time of year but course conditions were still dry and fast. Riders had a tough time navigating some of the trickier corners as the dry conditions made some of the dirt sections slick; sliding out was a definite risk.
After pulling off two podium finishes,a first and a second place, at last month’s 2012 UCI Carousel Volkswagen Jingle Cross Rock, Catherine Walberg of Tulsa Tough Racing/Tulsa Wheelmen won the women’s 1/2/3 race. She did not run away with the victory today; Walberg had to race hard in order to fend off second place finisher, Carly Thomson from Omaha. When asked how she felt about the race Catherine stated, “It was a challenge. Carly…really gave me a run for my money.”
The men’s 1/2 race saw three of the area’s most successful riders, both on the road and in the dirt, take the podium. Shadd Smith took the top step of the podium with Steve Tilford and Andrew Coe taking 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Congratulations to all of the riders who earned the right to wear the KS State Championship Jersey for the next 12 months. Assuming of course, the Mayans were wrong and we don’t cease to exist in two more weeks. There are still 4 more ‘cross races on the Kansas racing calendar before the year’s end. 2013 brings a few more races with it before we start looking towards the beginning of the road season.
Photo Credit: Roger Harrison
