NorCal Nevada ‘Cross Continues Aplomb

11 November 2015

The season is hurtling full tilt toward the NorCal Nevada District Championships later this month at the Cal Fire Training Facility. After more than 2 months of racing, cyclocross in the region is starting to see the cream rise above the crop, particularly after BASP’s Sierra Point weekend. Even so, racing across all categories has been terrific and is boosted by good numbers for race-entries. The West Sac Cyclocross Grand Prix drew close to 400 riders after nearly 300 racers turned out at The Lobster Cup, this season’s early opener. The Sacramento Cyclocross Series has approached the 400 racer mark for nearly all of their five events and often sees more than 70 racers in the Women’s categories. Of course, BASP’s opener drew over 500 race-entries.

And from the youngest of Juniors, to the most tarnished of Cat C fodder, to the well burnished top category racer, excellent cyclocross and bike handling skills have been quite apparent.

Nate Thalhamer (Rad Racing) Smoothly Remounts

Top Category Women and Men
For the top category Men, Max Judelson (Rock Lobster) has risen to the fore, after ghosting into the district last year and impressing many. Along with his exciting sprint-finish win against Walton Brush (MashSF) at the Sierra Point Night Race, Judelson secured four other wins to add to six top-five finishes across the region. His racing is always close to the limit and he is gaining experience every time out. Judelson is fast becoming a dominant racer in the region adding to its breadth and depth.

Max Judelson (Rock Lobster/Voler) Triumphant at Hidden Valley

Caroline Dezendorf (Rock Lobster) began her season with an excellent second place finish at the Lobster Cup, challenging Rachel Lloyd all the way to the final lap. Paul Sadoff should be well-pleased to see another racer from his team leading the way in NorCal Nevada. Since the season’s first event, Dezendorf now has five wins in the top category Women’s races. The only blemishes to her season were mechanical failures in races with stiff competition, robbing her of more opportunities to race against some of the best in the sport and the region.

So far this year, Dezendorf’s results for Women are equalled by a newcomer to ‘cross but no stranger to bicycle racing. Julie Young (Roseville Cyclery) is learning the discipline and winning often at the Sacramento and Sagebrush Cyclocross Series; six wins from seven races simply begs a race that includes Dezendorf, Young, and many of the other region’s top racers. Young’s entry into the cyclocross community is another that raises the competition and competitiveness.

Young Continues to Improve and Thrive at SacCX

Elsewhere in the community’s top ranks, Karen Brems (Sun Power) is a much accomplished World and National Champion and finishes with many good results against racers a few years her junior. A perennial winner in NorCal Nevada, Brems has logged four wins and five second-place finishes this season and continues to demonstrate her prowess as a bicycle and cyclocross racer.

Having relocated from Southern California, Gareth Feldstein (Real Wheels) leads the Sacramento Cyclocross Series posting all podium finishes including two wins. He was unfortunately unable to challenge for the win at the Sierra Point Night Race, after two dropped chains, but Feldstein is another racer expanding the talent in NorCal Nevada.

Accomplished Competitor Karen Brems (SunPower)

Master Women 35+
Kim Vandersyde (Rene Wheelwomen) is having a terrific season racing Master Women A 35+ and has taken four wins amongst her five finishes on the podium. Adding to this tally are a fifth and third place finish in Category A races. Tammy Wilson (Ibis/Buy-cell.com) is another rider in the Master Women 35+ category doing well having taken three wins and two second place finishes. Wilson also has three top five results racing in Single Speed Women.

Kim Vandersyde (Reno Wheelmen) En Route to a Podium Finish

Juniors
The race for Under-15 Junior Men at the Sierra Point Night Race was a veritable top-notch field of the age group’s racers from the region. Third place finisher Grant Walter (Lulu’s Cyclery) has notched four wins and leads both series at SuperPro CX and Surf City Cyclo-X. Sam Ouzounian ran riot before taking second at Sierra Point as the Dolore Grotta racer has four wins on his bike. The Night Race winner Nate Thalhamer (Rad Racing) also has four wins and leads the category for the Sacramento Cyclocross Series. These three and many others in the region for this category, such as Paul Haley (Rad Racing), Dylan Atkinson, and Sean Strachan (Elevation Bike Co) stand the region’s future in good stead.

U-15 Juniors, L-R: Jasper Dalton, Sam Ouzounian, Paul Haley, Nate Thalhamer

Single Speed Men
Single Speed Men is dominated by two racers this season. Alex Kramer (Quadzilla) rules over the category at the Central Coast races, winning five of five to add to his win at the Lobster Cup. Ryan Rinn (Vive La Tarte) began his season a little later than most because of a broken wrist. However, his record is seven wins from eight races in the category. A likely candidate for any racer-of-the-year award, Rinn is in outstanding racing-form and likely to achieve most of his goals for the season, having already notched up wins at BASP.