Riders from the United States took home three world titles this past weekend at the 2014 UCI Masters Cyclo-cross World Championships. Only France could claim more world champions, taking five of the eleven titles up for grabs in Gossau, Switzerland.
Competition began on Saturday, January 4, with the 65-and-older men the first to tackle the 2.5-kilometer course. Robert Ogren (Bloomington, Minn./ The Fix Studio/Power Fix CX) earned the U.S. its first of nine total top ten finishes by placing seventh.
Also on course was the combined women’s 50+ field. After overcoming some pre-race mechanical issues, Lori Cooke (Pembroke, Mass./Cycle Lodge) stormed to victory, earning her first rainbow jersey after stopping the clock nearly a minute ahead of her closest competitor. Joining Cooke on the women’s 50+ podium was bronze medalist Karen Brems (Redwood City, Calif./Team Rambuski Law). Lillian Pfluke (Wilmington, Del./US Metro Transports) was behind her in fourth.
After Jimmy Day (Santa Fe, N.M./Bike n Sport Racing) notched another top ten finish for the U.S., taking tenth in the men’s 60-64 race, Henry Kramer (Menlo Park, Calif./California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized) successfully defended his men’s 55-59 championship won last year in Louisville, Ky. Kramer crossed the line more than 37 seconds ahead of runner-up Benny Andersson of Sweden. Thomas Hayles (Aspen, Colo./ZG7908) finished just off the podium in fourth. Paul Curley (Taunton, Mass./VC Steinmaur-Spin Arts Cycling) came in at 13th and Steven Kinney (Geneva, SUI AE/VC Lancy) finished 20th.
Sunday’s competition began with the 50-54 men, where Kevin Hines (E. Wareham, Mass./Corner Cycle Cycling Club) just missed a podium spot, taking fourth by nearly seven seconds. Fellow Massachusetts riders Geoffrey House (Great Barrington, Mass./Northampton Cycling Club) and Alec Petro (Duxbury, Mass./Corner Cycle Cycling Club) came in at 13th and 24th, respectively.
Sporting the Stars-and-Stripes of a national champion, Donald Myrah (San Jose, Calif./ Ibis/Buy-Cell.com) earned himself another set of rainbow stripes in the men’s 45-49 race, taking the win by more than half a minute over Germany’s Ralph Berner (GER/Berner-Bikes-Mallorca.com). Thomas Simmons (La Tour de Pailz, SUI/VC Vevey) placed ninth. Myrah’s Ibis/Buy-Cell.com teammates Cesar Chavez (San Jose, Calif./ Ibis/Buy-Cell.com) and Tim Cannard (Los Gatos, Calif./ Ibis/Buy-Cell.com) earned 14th and 29th, respectively. Christopher Langer (Berlin, GER/Crossmasters Cyclocross Team) rode through in 36th.
After pitting for several of his fellow Americans throughout the weekend, Geoff Wilcox (Alex, France/Lac Alliance Cycliste) rode to 19th in the men’s 40-44 race. Justin Koppa (Reuschbach, Germany) took 22nd in the men’s 35-39 competition.
2014 UCI Masters Cyclo-cross World Championships
Gossau, Switzerland
January 4-5, 2014
Day 1 – Saturday, January 4, 2014
Women’s 50+
1. Lori Cooke (Pembroke, Mass./Cycle Lodge) 30:51.0
2. Berit Strobl (GER/TV Dorf Erbach) +00:59.7
3. Karen Brems (Redwood City, Calif./Team Rambuski Law) +01:25.0
4. Lillian Pfluke (Wilmington, Del./US Metro Transports) +02:11.6
Men’s 55-59
1. Henry Kramer (Menlo Park, Calif./California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized) 36:06.8
2. Benny Anderson (SWE/ ÅstorpsCK/Trek Sweden) +00:37.5
3. Daniel Perret (FRA/St. Denis Cyclisme) +00:43.6
4. Thomas Hayles (Aspen, Colo./ZG7908) +00:53.8
13. Paul Curley (Taunton, Mass./VC Steinmaur-Spin Arts Cycling) +05:24.3
20. Steven Kinney (Geneva, SUI AE/VC Lancy) +08:14.8
Men’s 60-64
1. David McMullen (GBR/Cotswold Veldrijden) 37:58.7
2. Jean Claude Grange (FRA/Les Bleus de France) +01:03.4
3. Jean Claude Ulbert (FRA/Union Cycliste Sarladaise) +02:38.0
10. Jimmy Day (Santa Fe, N.M./Bike n Sport Racing) +06:38.9
Men’s 65+
1. Jean Bernard Galissaire (FRA/A.V.C. Libourne) 30:27.0
2. Richard Steiner (SUI/Scott Hotel Funivia Bormio) +00:23.9
3. Francois Mertens (Belgium) +00:47.3
7. Robert Ogren (Bloomington, Minn./ The Fix Studio/Power Fix CX) +03:11.2
DNF – Leone Pizzini (Avondale, Pa./First State Velo Sport)
Day 2 – Sunday, January 05, 2014
Men 35-39
1. David Derepas (FRA/Club Prodialog) 49:25.1
2. Beat Morf (SUI/ Team Chälbli Bike Uster/VC-H) +01:55.2
3. Laurent Spiesser (FRA/Batibois Alsace-Haibike) +03:19.4
22. Justin Koppa (Reuschbach, Germany) -1 lap
Men 40-44
1. Lionel Genthon (FRA/BAC01) 50:18.9
2. Gerard Bramoulle (FRA/V.C. Canton Des Pieux) +00:45.5
3. Roland Schätti (SUI/Velo-reichmuth.ch) +01:08.7
19. Geoff Wilcox (Alex, France/Lac Alliance Cycliste) -1 lap
Men 45-49
1. Donald Myrah (San Jose, Calif./ Ibis/Buy-Cell.com) 38:05.3
2. Ralph Berner (GER/Berner-Bikes-Mallorca.com) +00:31.8
3. Pascal Triebel (LUX/U.C. Mondorf) +01:58.4
9. Thomas Simmons (La Tour de Pailz, SUI/VC Vevey) +03:43.6
14. Cesar Chavez (San Jose, Calif./ Ibis/Buy-Cell.com) +05:06.2
29. Tim Cannard (Los Gatos, Calif./ Ibis/Buy-Cell.com) +08:42.9
36. Christopher Langer (Berlin, GER/Crossmasters Cyclocross Team) +13:01.9
Men 50-54
1. Roger Honegger (SUI/RTU Powerteam Felt) 38:37.2
2. Mark Verloo (BEL/De Toekomst Vrienden) +00:00.2
3. Ludwig Gladines (BEL/Belgian Cycling Selection) +00:18.8
4. Kevin Hines (E. Wareham, Mass./Corner Cycle Cycling Club) +00:25.5
13. Geoffrey House (Great Barrington, Mass./Northampton Cycling Club) +03:25.1
24. Alec Petro (Duxbury, Mass./Corner Cycle Cycling Club) +06:36.3