2002 US Cyclo-cross Nationals - CN

Domaine Chandon, Yountville, California, USA, December 14-15, 2002

Photos

Elite Men and Women

Images by Rob Karman/roadbikephotos.com

• Ben Jacques-Maynes early in the race
• Ben crossing the barriers
• Ben Jacques-Maynes leading Toby Swanson through the mush
• Travis Brown, Todd Wells and Marc Gullickson ride up a river
• Ann Grande (Kona) with a look of determination
• Grande raced well to take out the title
• Continuous rain kept the racing tight
• Grande leaps over the barriers
• Ann Grande had only one thing on her mind
• Across the line and it's Ann Grande in first place
• Only now can Grande manage a smile
• Marc Gullickson (Mongoose/Hyundai) raced well but could only manage 4th
• Jonathan Page (Richard Sachs) corners
• A wet and muddy Page leads the field
• Over the barriers Page goes
• Rachel Lloyd (Team Spine Santa Cruz) on her way to second place
• Lloyd leading Gina Hall
• Travis Brown (Trek/VW) leaping over the barriers
• Tim Johnson (Saturn) aqua-planes towards sixth place
• Todd Wells running down the river

Images of the Elite Men, Women and B Women by Karl Dittebrandt

• A certain amount of apprehension can be seen on riders' faces at the start
• Regina Hammond (Miya Shoji) takes the transition from pavement to mud a little gingerly
• Regina Hammond (Miya Shoji) decides running is the best option on this particular patch of mud
• Regina Hammond (Miya Shoji) pops a wheelie as she hits the gravel
• A Snow Valley rider… or perhaps a Mud Valley rider would be more apt
• A rider negotiates her way through the vineyards, with a train in the background
• The B women getting very muddy
• The backside of the course. Note the marshalls/fans camouflaged as flora.
• Lindsey Collins in the women's B race
• A competitor comes to grief watched by the four course marshals of the apocalypse
• A Ritchey rider struggles through the mud
• Waiting for Estragon. The pit crew stand ready
• No, this is not a scene from WWI. It's the US Cyclo-cross National Championships
• They don't call this the Lower Pit area for nothing
• Some sodden VIP's in the well protected against the elements VIP tent
• A mechanic calmy goes about his business in the middle of a paddock

Images by Paul Weiss/www.paulweiss.bz/

• It's not easy warming up on a day like this
• Stella Carey (Kelly Bike Company) handles herself well in sloppy conditions, eventually finishing in 15th place
• Rachel Lloyd (Team Spiney/Santa Cruz) leads the way early on, followed closely by Gina Hall (Clif Bar)
• The sun tries to squeeze its way through the dark clouds
• Are we at Paris-Roubaix or the Cyclo-cross Nationals?
• Ann Grande (Kona/Kenwood) went through a batch patch late in the race, but recovered and fought her way back into the lead
• It was on from the gun in the elite men's race
• Andy Jacques-Maynes (Clif Bar) at the head of affairs early on
• Other competitors turned out in their droves to watch the mudfest in the elite men's race
• There's no such thing as taking a nice line with there is no line
• Jonny Sundt (K2) has a tough time of it, finishing in 23rd position
• Andy Jacques-Maynes (Clif Bar) keeps it together on a corner, oblivious to the slide-out that's about to occur behind him
• Tim Johnson (Saturn) has a great ride to finish sixth
• It's never too cold for champagne
• The elite men's podium places are congratulated by the race organisers, with 2002 National Cyclo-cross Champion Jonathan Page making sure his stars and stripes jersey is a good fit

Images by Cheryl J.Willson/www.cheryljwillson.com

• The elite men go hard right from the start
• Barry Wicks (Kona Kenwood)
• Not even a turbo-charged Jonathan Page (Richard Sachs) could avoid the mud today
• Marc Gullickson (Mongoose/Hyundai) digs deep
• Barry Wicks (Kona Kenwood) doing his best to stay upright in the muck
• Jonathan Page (Richard Sachs) and Todd Wells (Mongoose/Hyundai) prepare to round a tree
• Eric Tonkin's (Kona Kenwood) shoes are no longer clean and dry
• Todd Wells (Mongoose/Hyundai)
• Anne Grande (Kona Kenwood) leading Rachel Lloyd (Team Spine) through one of the muddiest sections of the course
• Josie Beggs (Bianchi)
• Stella Carey (Kelly)

Images by Steve McCaw

• Lap one of the 2002 Nationals
• Andy Jacques-Maynes heads into barrier section
• Jonathan Page, USA CX Champ for 2002
• Page in full flight
• Tim Johnson finishes a long 2002 season
• Todd Wells leads Page into first mud section
• Travis Brown chases the Bronze Medal

Images by Dario Fredrick

• Rachel Lloyd (Team Spiney/Santa Cruz) and Gina Hall (Clif Bar) dismounting
• A pile up in one of the many bog holes
• The leaders are on the run

Images by Matthew Wood

• One of the few sections that weren't muddy
• The rain eases off a bit.
• Slip sliding away
• Riders trying to find the best line
• One of the Kelly riders powers through the slush
• But these guys didn't make it
• Within minutes of a new line being found, it turned into a river
• Another lap, another mudbath
• Running was the only option at times
• At least the grapes won't need watering
• Tim Johnson (Saturn) on the road section
• You can almost hear the drivetrain disintergrating
• Andy Jacques-Maynes (Clif Bar) managing to stay upright
• Thousands of people braved the weather to spectate
• Eventual winner, Ann Grande (Kona/Kenwood)
• The pit area saw some frantic cleaning
• Some of those puddles hid some very deep holes
• The leading riders in the Women's race
• Riders concentrate on staying upright

Images by Jeff Tse/cobaltmedia.com

• Yes, it really is as cold as it looks
• The long road home
• Gina Hall at the hop
• Ann Grande punching the air
• The start line of the Men's race
• At least it wasn't snowing
• Pure determination is all that keept them riding
• A Sith Lord cheers on the riders
• Road meets dirt, with a little bit of water

Images by Bret Wade/fischer-wade.com

• Fighting for position on the starting straight just before the first turn.
• The leaders made it through cleanly. The rest at least walked away.
• Jonathan Page jumps out to an early lead from Marc Gullickson, Todd Wells and Travis Brown.
• Page was noticeably faster in the Belgian like mud.
• Travis Brown chasing early.
• Mark Gullickson in a hairpin.
• Jonny Sundt looking for a good line through the slime.
• Mark McCormack off the pace.
• Page pushes his lead out over one minute.
• Andy Jacques-Maynes catches Tim Johnson with a late surge ...
• ... and passes him at the end of the long running section. He went clear of Johnson to take fifth.
• Todd Wells gets a gap from Gullickson and Brown that he just held onto at the line for second.
• Gullickson and Wells after the race. Discussing what went wrong?

Collegiate, Masters and Espoirs

Images by Paul Weiss/www.paulweiss.bz/

• The podium for the junior men U16 and junior 17-18

Images by Rob Karman/roadbikephotos.com

• Its ok, I'm still good
• OK, maybe I'm not
• This will be murder to wash out
• Absolutely bucketing down with rain
• Kate Maher (University of California-Berkeley)
• It might work in moto-cross, but not here
• Jnr. Women's winner, Megan Long
• I'm in the groove baby
• Oh no! I'm bogged
• Lovely weather innit Guv?
• Shari Kain at the moment the water soaked through
• Kain had a massive lead for most of the race
• Horizontal rain is a good reason to stay inside
• Barry Wicks pulled second in Espoirs
• Adam Craig leaping the barriers
• Craig hits the lead, as well as another puddle
• Ryan Trebon (Krystals) running as fast as he can
• Barry Wicks (Kona/Kenwood) led early on
• Wicks still in front, but Craig is closing

Images by Jeff Tse/cobaltmedia.com

• Richard Feldman (Durance) looks happy to have finished
• riders wind their way through the vinyards
• It doesn't get much more serious than this
• Perfect 'cross weather
• Must finish, need a shower, must finish, need a shower.
• Nice, sticky mud
• Todd Hoeffer (Sally Spicer) can now have the shower he deserves
• Shari Kain (RLX Polo Sport) won the Women's 35+ class
• As if it isn't wet enough