CrossGeek

The last time I saw a rider throw his bike down in disgust was in the 1997 Tour de France. It was ’96 winner, Bjarne Riis, who threw his bike into a ditch halfway through his time trial. It did not help his time.

Saturday night, under the stars and just past the beer corral, cyclocross superstar Ryan Trebon at least waited until he crossed the finish line to throw his bike down in total disgust, after claiming second place. It’s tough being one of the fastest riders in the country, especially when you are overtaking slower riders right near the end of your race, and they take you out. I was positioned about fifteen feet from him when he lost his temper, but I didn’t snap the shot. It just didn’t feel right. His ride was much more impressive, and he later apologized (to someone), so all is swell again. I was glad to see him laughing on the podium later.

I came to Starcrossed to see the best cross riders in the country duke it out at the velodrome under the night sky. Muddy legs never looked so fast, as the venue and the riders did not disappoint.

A veritable army of cowbell-wielding spectators were out in full force, often drowning out the announcer. They were so loud, in fact, that race winner Jeremy Powers did not know he had won until he was nearly a quarter mile into his “extra credit” lap. I’m not sure if that was due to the quiet P.A. system, a small lap board, or the mud in his eye, but he pulled away from everyone quite quickly once they stopped pedaling.

I was shooting photos for the first time in twenty years, and being a little rusty, didn’t quite get my settings right. 180 mostly blurry shots was a bit frustrating, but I didn’t throw my camera down. I had a blast watching these guys carving corners, mashing the mud, and powering the long slippery straights.

The women had a tight race at the front, with Portland rider Sue Butler coming out on top over Canadian national champion Wendy Simms.

The men’s race was animated by the worst course conditions of the day, with even the best bike handlers sliding out around the tight corners and braking far more than usual. At least the rain had let up.

What left probably the biggest impression on me was Adam Craig’s surges and last lap bunny hops. After crashing and coming through the start/finish about 200 meters back, he powered his way up to an attacking Trebon and Jeremy Powers in the short span of about half a lap to briefly join the two leaders before another untimely mishap. On the last lap, he bunny hopped two barriers in succession to loud cheers from the happy crowd. National champion Tim Johnson seemed like his usual hard-working, gritty self on his way to third place, while Barry Wicks and Russell Stevenson also had impressive rides to finish fifth and sixth respectively.

Good crowds, a good Seattle drizzle, slick mud, good beer and sausages, old friends, and great riding. What more could I hope for in a night of cyclocross? Well, maybe some clearer photos. Next time.