Events: Cross Nationals - On Thin Ice

Weather is almost guaranteed to be much more unpleasant than last year's Providence race, just what hard core cross racers desire... Photo - Chris Milliman

Wyandotte County Park, home to this week’s U.S. Cyclocross Championships in Kansas City, may be unfamiliar territory to most racers who will be slipping and sliding around the course, but ’cross fans may recall it as the site of a bizarre incident involving American racing veteran Steve Tilford last year. Photos of Tilford falling through the ice of a pond circulated on the Web last December, adding to the ageless wonder’s legend.

While leading a race at Wyandotte, Tilford hit a rut, shot off course, and went down in a heap on a frozen pond. His first thought was how fortunate he was that it wasn’t worse, but as he tried to get back up, the ice gave way and down he went. Eventually Tilford pulled himself out, heaved his bike ashore and got back in the race. He then caught the leader, passed him, and won the race. A little frostbite and some frozen digits seemed a small price to pay for yet another win in a long, long career.

At age 47, Tilford has seen some strange things at the races, and the ice-pond incident ranks pretty high. The Kansas native will try to defend his age-group national title on home turf. Tilly is one of 2,000-plus registered riders for this week’s national championships, which got underway Thursday with amateur-class racing.

No, that’s not a typo. Two thousand registered racers. In Kansas. In December. It speaks volumes of cyclocross racing’s popularity that this off-season fringe discipline now draws larger fields than NORBA National events. The last time cyclocross nationals were held in Kansas, in 2000, there were only about 600 entrants.

The party is much bigger this year, but Mother Nature is working to replicate the frigid conditions that racers faced in Kansas City back in 2000, when Tim Johnson and Alison Dunlap scored the men’s and women’s titles. The ice storm that’s gripping large sections of the Midwest this week is making for a cold start at the amateur racers. And while temperatures will warm to a balmy upper-30s on Friday, another snowstorm is expected to hit Saturday morning.

Course officials are working to make the most of the conditions on the 1.91-mile course. They’re using a Bobcat four-wheeler to pack things in, but whether it’s snow, mud or ice, it’s pretty certain that the elements will play a role in this year’s competition. Racers will also have to contend with a sandpit, barriers and two stair run-ups.

Ryan Trebon (Kona-YourKey.com) will look to defend his national title in the elite men’s race on Sunday afternoon. Trebon is on a roll after clinching the title in the Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross series in Portland two weeks ago. He won four of six races in that series. Other men’s favorites include Tim Johnson (Cannondale-Leer) and Jonathan Page, the silver medalist at last year’s cyclocross world championships. Page has been racing in Europe this season and, as usual, will be the surprise element among the other favorites who regularly square off on the domestic circuit.

In women’s racing, three-time defending champion Katie Compton (Spike Shooter) will try to hold off the surging Georgia Gould (Luna), who beat the once untouchable Compton several times this season to take the U.S. Gran Prix series title.

As for Tilford, the Topeka resident will certainly be the local fan favorite. He says the colder and nastier, the better. Bike magazine photographer John Gibson will be shooting the action. Check back later for results and a photo gallery.

Will Ryan Trebon repeat his win from last year? Photo - Chris Milliman