Cycling photography for December - Part III

The Local East Coast Australian Time is plus 30 minutes

Rocket Parts Xmas Cross
US cyclo-cross nationals
Be Active Cycle Instead Perth Criterium Series
United Youth Sports cyclocross race
Vlaamse Druivenveldrit, Overijse
Sven Nijs
Australian XC MTB national series #6
Skilled Bay Classic launch
SuperCup Round #3 - Cat. 3 Baltimore, USA
Cyclo-cross World Cup #3 - CDM Wortegem-Petegem
Lampre-Daikin team presentation

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Rocket Parts Xmas Cross

These photos by Gary Hanson reveal how Santa gets into shape for the huge task of delivering all those presents.

• A rider passes under the huge rock at Bandit Pass
• Almost vanishing into the tall grass.
• The B men get started with a typical mix of cross bikes and MTBs.
• Weaving through the singletrack.
• Santa versus the stars and stripes.
• Santa chases the stars and stripes out of a stream.
• Rocket Parts man Ed exits the stream.
• Santa with helper and Capt America.
• The wide open Stagecoach Trail - like road racing in the dirt

US cyclo-cross nationals

What better way to showcase the grit of cyclo-cross than in gritty black and white? These monochromes by Master racer Karl Dittebrandt

• After the barriers, two riders race up the hill, pushing their bikes
• Bunnyhopping the barriers in the clear winter sunshine
• Charging across the barriers the more traditional way
• Speed
• Dismounting for an obstacle
• Running up from the barriers

Be Active Cycle Instead Perth Criterium Series

Stewart Stockdale and Steve Lack supplied the following snaps of the popular end of year criterium series held in Perth, Western Australia.

Stage 3 - December 29: Subiaco Classic

• Series winner Hilton Clarke - leads Graham Brown during the Subiaco Classic
• Henk Vogels - finding it tough during the Subiaco Classic
• Graham Brown (Panaria) - wins the Subiaco Classic

Stage 4 - December 30: Cheers Criterium Final, Albany Hwy, Victoria Park

• Graham Brown (Panaria) - wears the green sprinter's jersey which he won overall
• WAIS rider Peter Dawson - negotiates a corner
• Jarrod Poad (Glen Parker) - in action during the final race in Victoria Park
• Eddy Hollands (Glen Parker) - focuses on getting around
• Leon Vogels - during his long, but fruitless solo effort
• Hilton McMurdo (Glen Parker) - was one of only two riders to succeed in escaping the pack
• Henk Vogels - leads Hilton McMurdo in their successful breakaway
• Henk Vogels - triumphs over Hilton McMurdo in the series finale in Victoria Park
• The winning team - Glen Parker Cycles
• The Indonesian team - pictured after the final in Victoria Park

United Youth Sports cyclocross race

Robert Gilbreath/Texasbiketrails.com sent in these pictures of a very muddy cyclo-cross race in Austin, Texas.

• The start - of the "A" race under heavy rain
• Steen Rose - Jr. 'crosser
• A junior racer - hits the barriers
• Collegiate racers - hit the run
• Canada's Chris McNeil - going for another lap
• "A" race winner - Jason Sager (Team Diabetic)
• Jason Sager (Team Diabetic) - and Scott Henry (Polycom) off the front in the mud

Vlaamse Druivenveldrit, Overijse

More images from Patrick Nijs, this time of the rather snowy Vlaamse Druivenveldrit in Overijse, Belgium.

• French champion David Pagnier
• Mario De Clercq (Domo) - leads the way through the snow in Overijse
• Tom Vannoppen - leads Erwin Vervecken and Mario De Clercq
• Tom Vannoppen (Collstrop-Palmans) - sprints to victory.
• Sven Nijs (Rabobank) - rolls across the line for fourth, after a difficult race
• Sven Nijs - towels himself down after the race.
• Winner Tom Vannoppen (Collstrop) - gives a post-race interview
• Tom Vannoppen - salutes the crowd atop the podium

Sven Nijs

Three images of the Belgian cyclo-cross ace, courtesy Patrick Nijs (no relation), president of the Sven Nijs fan club.

• Monopoli, World Cup #1 - Sven Nijs features prominently at the front as the bunch hammers away from the line under clear blue skies.
• The podium at Monopoli - (L to R) Bart Wellens, Sven Nijs, Daniele Pontoni
• Sven at home, chatting with fans via the Internet

Australian XC MTB national series #6

Thanks to Rob Faull for these pictures.

• The elite women get underway
• The elite men's presentation

Skilled Bay Classic launch

This series of five criteriums held around Melbourne kicks off the racing season in Australian in January. Karen Forman was at the launch for Cyclingnews.

• Robbie McEwen, Scott McGrory, Stuart O'Grady and David McKenzie - answer questions during the press conference
• Stuart O'Grady - will be one of the biggest stars at the Skilled Bay Classic
• Scott McGrory - looking to fine tune his form for the second half of the European Six Day season

SuperCup Round #3 - Cat. 3 Baltimore, USA

Photos by Michael Rabe and Joe Papp.

• Barrier action - from the Elite Women's SuperCup
• National Champion Alison Dunlap (Clif Bar) - en route to a fine solo win
• UVM rider - and racer-turned-photographer Joe Papp
• Jonathan Page (Richard Sachs) - leads Johnson and Wells up the stairs
• National Champion Todd Wells - leads Dale Knapp (Kona) and Mark McCormack (Saturn)
• Mark McCormack (Saturn) - leads Wells
• Tim Johnson (Saturn) - leads Alex Candelario (Big Shark-Cannondale) in a desperate chase

Photos supplied by Chris Henry

• The Elite men face the media. - Left to right - Wells, Johnson, Gullickson, Page, Candelario and Brown
• Carmen D'Aluisio - on her way to second place behind teammate Alison Dunlap
• Alison Dunlap - leads Lyne Bessette over the barriers
• Ann Grande - turned in another fine performance at the Supercup, securing the top honors for the series overall
• Tim Johnson and Alex Candelario - worked to limit the escape of Jonathan Page and Mark Gullickson, but were ultimately unsuccessful.
• The pace was on - in the men's elite race from the start.
• With a reworked course for the SuperCup - Saturday's "Festina Frenzy" run-up with barriers became a climb ridden out of the saddle

Cyclo-cross World Cup #3

These photos have been very kindly supplied by Patrick Nijs.

• During the first lap - and the group all stay together on the fast course.
• Still early in the race - and the riders stay together
• Sven Nys leads - Mario De Clercq as they pass some other competitors
• Midway into lap 5 - and the pace is starting to tell
• Lap 10 and Sven Nys - attempts to make a break
• Mario De Clercq - hammers on the flat section, establishing the break
• Mario De Clercq and Sven Nys - have left the rest of the field behind
• Sven Nys showing the form - and concentration that has him at the top of the WC standing

Lampre-Daikin team presentation

• Pavel Tonkov - smiles in his new Lampre-Daikin outfit
• Raimondas Rumsas - raring to go with Lampre 2002
• Raimondas Rumsas and Pavel Tonkov - pose in Gardaland
• Alberto Loddo and Manuel Quinzato - two of Lampre's young talent
• The new signings - Alberto Loddo, Manuel Quinzato, Raimondas Rumsas and Pavel Tonkov
• The Lampre-Daikin team for 2002

Want some more?

For more cycling photography, with events such as US Cyclo-cross Nationals Championships, Australian Cyclist of the Year, Lotto Litespeeds, Challenge Serge Pezard Cyclo-cross, Georgia State Cyclo-cross championships, Armstrong carries the torch, Boulder Cross Series Rd 6, California Cyclo Cross Championships, Pan American Masters Championships, Canberra Cycling Club Criterium, Boston Cyclo Cross, Verge #5 please consult our monthly archives