Cycling photography for December The Local East Coast Australian Time is plus 30 minutes Superprestige Cyclocross Round #6, Belgium SuperCup Cyclocross Round #4, Kansas US Cyclocross Nationals, Kansas Carnegie Caulfield Criteriums George Hincapie Supercup Cyclocross Round #3 Chicago Verge New England Cyclocross Tour of Southland New Mexico Cyclocross Cyclocross Fürth Six Days of Zurich Cycle Instead Criterium Series, Perth World Track Championships Superprestige Gieten Six Days of Gent Superprestige Cyclocross Round #6, Belgium Globe-trotting Mark Abramson (Cyclocrossworld.com) took these shots in the European mud of the Superprestige series. Tom Vanoppen - leads Erwin Vervecken down the fast, off camber downhill. Sven Nijs - speeds by the pit entrance. A group of riders - make their way up the hill in front of thousands of fans. Bart Wellens - flies down the muddy, off camber dropoff. Supercup Cyclocross Round #4, Kansas City Following on from the National 'cross titles was the final round of the SuperCup, held in snowy Kansas City. Mark Abramson (Cyclocrossworld.com) did not stop clicking his camera. US National champ - Jesse Anthony (ECV) awaits the start. Alan Obye - (Team Grimace) takes the victory in the Junior race Ann Grande - (Kona/VoiceStream) runs over the top of the Selle Italia hurdles It's KNAPP TIME! National Champion - Tim Johnson (Saturn) focuses before the start The lead group - with Marc Gullickson, Tim Johnson and Dale Knapp The Red Guard - goes ape in the elite race US Cyclocross Nationals, Kansas It just gets colder in the U.S., as the following photos from the National Titles in Kansas City will show. Mark Abramson of Cyclocrossworld.com braved the cold, as did many others. Emily Thorne (Independent Fabrications) - charges over the hurdles in the Masters Women's race. Jan Wiejak (Redline) - heads the lead pack of racers in the Master's Men's 35-39 Jan Wiejak (Redline) - takes victory amid snowy conditions Three riders - make their way over the Selle Italia hurdles in the Men's Collegiate race Jed Schneider (Univ. of Kansas) - gets some encouragement in the Men's Collegiate race George Hincapie David Cowie shot these pics of George Hincapie of US Postal back in April at the 131km 10th Amsterdam RAI DernyRace / Grote Prijs Doeland. The pacemaker that George was riding behind is Peter Bauerlein. Concentrating intently - on keeping close, but not too close Belting along - in the home straight Leaning hard into a turn Before the race Supercup Cyclocross Round #3 Chicago A decidedly frosty Saturday greeted the third round of the US' premier cross series. Tim Johnson (Saturn) and Carmen Richardson (Sobe/Headshok) repeated their winning form of the previous weekend, and as usual Cyclocrossworld.com's Mark Abramson was there to take pics, as were Martin Boehm and Dottie Cullotta. The men's podium - Justin Robinson, Marc Gullickson, Tim Johnson, Bart Bowen, Brandon Dwight The women's podium - Ann Grande, Rachel Loyd, Carmen Richardson, Emily Thorne, Gina Hall Carmen Richardson - leads Rachel Lloyd after the Festina hurdles The junior podium - Jeremy Powers, Alan Obye, Chris Hill, Ang Sheldrake Tim Johnson - runs through the Clif Bar pit hurdles Alan Obye - leads Chris Hill through the mulch pit Mark Gullickson - getting a brake tune-up at the Mongoose tent before the start. The starting line - during the announcement of the riders. Riders - running the first set of barriers. Bart Bowen - in third place chasing Gullickson and Johnson. Riders - navigating a curbjump on the course behind the big top tent. Tim Johnson - just about to overtake Gullickson on the second last lap Tim Johnson - tackles the Festina hurdles. Bart Bowen - mid-dismount, concentrating on the approaching obstacle. Marc Gullickson - framed against large quantities of snow Marc Gullickson - about to remount after the Festina hurdles Verge New England Cyclocross The Verge New England Cyclocross had its series finals on December 2, in Wayland High School, MA. Winners of the elite men's and women's categories were Tim Johnson (Saturn) and Carmen Richardson (Sobe/Headshok). Cyclocrossworld.com's Mark Abramson sent in these shots. Tim Johnson, Johannes Huseby and Adam Hodges-Myerson - up the steep runup Elite Men's podium: Tim Johnson, Frank McCormack, Mark McCormack Canadian National champ - Shauna Gilles-Smith with US National champ Jodi Groesbeck Elite Women's podium: Carmen Richardson, Emily Thorne, Jodi Groesbeck Juniors podium: Alan Obye, Jeremy Powers and Chris Hill Tour of Southland The Tour of Southland was held in New Zealand in late October, and was won by Glen Mitchell, with World Champion Jeremy Yates finishing second. Shayne Neylon supplied the following photos from the race. Scott Guyton, Jeremy Robinson, Brian Fowler and Hayden Roulston - Invercargill Crierium Glen Mitchell - wins the Invercargill Crierium Greg Henderson, Reid and Yates - lead the bunch towards Bluff Hillclimb on stage 2 Robin Reid - climbing Bluff Hill, stage 2 Jeremy Robinson - climbing Bluff Hill, stage 2 Bunch - led by Robin Reid and Glenn Mitchell on stage 4, Tuatapere-Winton Henderson, Guyton and Mitchell - lead the bunch over the Kawarau River Bridge, stage 5 Sprint Ace Leader Robin Reid and KOM Brian Fowler - climbing The Crown Range Lee Vertongen - rides during the Nugget Point-Arrowtown Time Trial Jeremy Robinson - rides during the Nugget Point-Arrowtown Time Trial The bunch - heading to Lumsden on stage 7 Greg Henderson, Robin Reid and Brian Fowler - battling it out on stage 7 The bunch - led by Jeremy Yates and Hayden Roulston on the Gore Hillclimb, stage 7 The sprint for second place (stage 7) - won by Greg Henderson The final placings (L-R): Jeremy Yates, Glen Mitchell, Hayden Roulston Teams Classification Winners - So Fresh Team New Mexico Cyclocross Series Douglas Sheppard sent some more pics in from the New Mexico cyclocross series (round 5). Alex Andel - and Sangre de Christos Bart Bowen (Saturn) - negotiates a tight turn Bart Bowen - with the Jemez mountains in the background Slop! Tim Erwin - negotiates the barriers Cyclocross Fürth Hans Will, from the German Bayern Radsport site, sent the following images in from the cyclocross race in Fürth, held on November 30. Winner of the elite-race - Tobias Nestle (Schwalben Munich) Ralph Berner (VC Frankfurt) - second place getter in the elite race Benjamin Hill (RG Hamburg) - second place getter in the cadet race Jörg Jaksche (new for ONCE) - was also in attendance. Leo Karstens (VC Kressbronn/Bodensee) - German national espoirs team German national espoirs trainer - Peter Weibel Six Days of Zurich Coming straight after the Six Days of Gent, the 48th Six Days of Zurich saw 6-time winners, Bruno Risi/Kurt Betschart take out another in front of a supportive crowd. Pascal Meisser, who runs the Swiss Tour Magazin took some photos of the final two nights. Marco Villa and Silvio Martinello - winners of the 100 km madison on night 4 Action in the Hallenstadion - during the final night. Bruno Risi and Kurt Betschart - in full flight. Final winners - Kurt Betshcart, Markus Zberg and Bruno Risi Kurt Betschart/Markus Zberg/Bruno Risi - pose for the cameras Journalist and photographer - Pascal Meisser (Vuelta 2000) Cycle Instead Criterium Series, Perth This four race series in Perth, Western Australia was held between December 2-10, culminating in the Australian Criterium Championships on December 10. These pictures from the the third round were taken by Stewart Stockdale. Race 3, Fremantle, December 9, 2000 Hilton McMurdo - blasts delightedly across the line Scott Suckling - his powerful attack was not enough to reach the break Hilton McMurdo - leads the breakaway with one lap to go Stuart O'Grady - the Credit Agricole pro was saving himself for the upcoming crit nationals Eddy Hollands - and Hilton McMurdo share a moment after the race Hilton McMurdo - takes a corner cagily Eddy Hollands - attempts to jump across to the break Dave Trinne - worked hard for his Glen Parker Cycles team-mates On the podium -Tyson Lawrence, Hilton McMurdo & Steve Williams Publicity officer, Renae Woodhams, supplied the following pictures which were taken by Marcelo Palacios. Race 2, Leederville, December 6, 2000 Hilton McMurdo - taking the win The chasing group - in hot pursuit Nic Brown - in solo effort Stage winners - on the podium The chasing group - rounds a bend at speed Race 1, Armadale, December 2, 2000 Stuart O'Grady - interviewed before the race Riders - line up on the start line Steve Williams (Caravello) - led the early chase in the Armadale Criterium. Eddy Hollands (Glen Parker) - leads David McPartland and Scott Suckling Gary Wright - drove the chase Scott Suckling - views the pack The winners podium (L to R): Scott Suckling, Eddy Hollands and David McPartland. Carnegie Caulfield CC Carnegie Caulfield CC correspondent, Mark Chadwick is now sending pics with his reports. An added incentive to break away! Carnegie Caulfield Criterium, January 2, 2001 A group of A graders - try to bridge the gap. Doug Garley - leads Colin McEvoy in A grade. "Long Tom" Leaper - leads James Taylor in the break Carnegie Caulfield Criterium, December 31, 2000 Saeco's Brad Davidson - safely in the wheels in A grade A grade's Anthony di Battista - goes on the attack B grade's Ashley Goewie - goes on the attack. B grade's Simon Morcom - takes a group away Carnegie Caulfield Criterium, December 24, 2000 The A grade break - 14 riders escape. Game over. Drew and Snorrason - lead A grade Jamie Drew - in the lead, he eventually took second Snorrason - kicks to take the lead Anna Milward - drove the B grade race Darryl Annells - takes a look over his shoulder at Daniel Nelmo The D grade break - John Walker, Troy Reddick and Bill Upston Carnegie Caulfield Criterium, December 17, 2000 Six pics from a high-quality local race Carnegie Caulfield Criterium, December 5, 2000 The women - sign on Gilholme, Sturt, Benney, Taylor, Tighello - away in the A grade race Chris Carr - leads the A grade break Guy Green - swings off the front of the A grade chasers Dave Milward - leads the B grade pack Carnegie Caulfield Criterium, December 3, 2000 Action - from the A grade race Action - from the B grade race Action - in the C & D grade races, with an extra pic World Track Championships The World Track Championships ran for five days from October 25-29 in Manchester. Andy Storey sent in some pics. World Madison Champions - Erik Weisspfennig and Stephan Steinweg Silvio Martinello (Ita) - warms up Jens Fiedler (Ger) - prepares for a keirin. Jens Fiedler - expands mightily before one of his races Roberto Chiappa (Ita) - looks grim Rob Hayles (GBr) - during the points race Chris Hoy (GBr) - gets ready for the match sprint Laurent Gane (Fra) - was the fastest qualifier in the sprint Jose Antonio Villanueva (Spa) - prepares for a sprint Superprestige Gieten Bert Geerts from the Netherlands is a regular contributor to cyclingnews, and is well known for his fine portrait shots and other action pictures from Dutch and Belgian races. He was at the Superprestige round 4 race in Gieten, the Netherlands. Daphny Van Den Brand - in the sand. Daphny van den Brand - rides along the lakeside Daphny Van Den Brand - wins the race. Debby Mansveld - rides toward second place. A muddied Debby Mansveld (Farm Frites-Hartol) - after the race. Women's podium: Debby Mansveld, Daphne Van Den Brand, Inge Velthuis Mario de Clercq and Bart Wellens - before the start of the race. Danny de Bie - former rider but now manager of Spaar Select. Erwin Vervecken (RVS Liege) - before the race Erwin Vervecken (RVS Liege) - after the race Men's race winner, Richard Groenendaal - flies down an embankment. Richard Groenendaal - along the lakeside Richard Groenendaal - gives a post race interview Men's podium - Bart Wellens, Richard Groenendaal, and Peter Van Santvliet Reinier Groenendaal - Richard's father Six Days of Gent Nick Rosenthal took his (new) camera along to Gent to capture some of the action from the final three nights of the 60th Zesdaagse Van Vlaanderen. Here's what he came back with. Etienne De Wilde and his pacer, Joop Zijlaard - celebrate a victory The crowds in Gent - follow the action on the 4th night The crowds in Gent - follow the action on the 4th night Bruno Risi - rides with an ailing Etienne de Wilde during night 4 Brett Aitken and Scott McGrory - get ready for action Jan Ven Eijden and Frederic Magne - entertain the crowd with a minute long track stand Silvio Martinello and Matthew Gilmore - celebrate another victory Silvio Martinello and Matthew Gilmore - on the Gent podium Want some more? For more cycling photography, please consult our monthly archives