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Cycling Tue Dec 09 2008
Champions of Montrose
The Illinois State Cyclocross Championships went off in the crunchingly-cold bluster of last Sunday at Montrose Harbor, with huge turnouts of both racers and spectators, despite the chill. On the line in every race were bragging rights and the jersey. It's always great to come out, race, and have a good time, but to be state champion? Shoot, that's serious. Official results aren't up just yet, but below is a recap of sorts of some of the various players and their own words:
Photo by Ed White, from Flickr.
Kevin Klug of Team Killjoy in the Men's 1/2/3 race contributed to one of the day's more exciting battles: " Alot of people told me that was the best race they watched all year and if you can think of how a season should end, State Championship and all, this is ideal."
Photo by Velogrrl, from Flickr.
June Upshaw of Verdigris, who came in fourth in the Women's 1/2/3 race, and who won the 2008 points series, had this to say of her race and the pre-race jitters: "It took a while. But once the race started and the nerves disappeared, I started to FLY. I mean FLY. Wen it was open and I could hammer I just let it open up and I felt the speed. I had to run faster to pass some men so as to put them between me and the girls behind me. I just got faster and faster. I felt it."
Photo by Velogrrl, from Flickr.
Henry Loud of Team Pegasus rolled across the line second in the Men's 4B race, but won the State Champ jersey because he was a licensed racer and the winner was not: "Henry borrowed Cale's bike to do his second race of the season. We all know he's a champ, though, and had lofty dreams of a Pegasus victory. He rode very well but was in a solid second place the whole race. Oh well, we thought. Then we heard that Henry had actually won the state jersey because the guy that won had a day-license (instead of a year or season license). We're thinking of changing our motto from "While you were winning, we ate your lunch" to "While you were winning, we were winning on a technicality."
Ken Green
/ December 10, 2008 10:28 AM
Great story and great photos. Those guys are crazy, though! :)