Updated: Fan Exclusive: Up Close at the Cyclocross National Championships

This post comes from EuroPeloton reader Jennifer Fairfax in Missouri, relating her experiences at Cross Nationals this past weekend in Kansas City. Thanks for the report Jen, and we all hope you've warmed up!

All week, I was sooo looking forward to the Cyclocross National Championship in Kansas City. They had been forecasting 60 degree temps for Sunday. When I left at 8:30am that morning, it was 60. Even though I was wearing a warm jacket, I threw my parka in the back of my car because a cold front was supposed to move through later on. At the start of men's collegiate race, it was 35 degrees and the course was still muddy, but by the next race it was 20, the with wind chills well below zero, and the ground was frozen solid. I put my parka on over my jacket. Two coats, two pairs of gloves, and I was still cold.

Missouri sprinter Brad Huff (Jelly Belly) was there with no shirt, in short shorts and a rainbow wig. He was out in frigid temperatures for the entire women's and men's elite races. About half way through the men's event he poured beer on himself for some picture takers. I can't even imagine. Huff and Jelly Belly are ToM favorites and he is always there in the bunch sprints, unless he crashes. Last year he missed the ToC, but he is supposed to be there in '09. California is a huge race for him. You would think he'd be taking care of himself. Sprinters are NUTS!

Anyway, Katie Compton and Ryan Trebon showed exactly why they were the favorites to win the national cross titles. Compton has been racing in Europe all season and came over to win her 5th national title in a row. She took the lead right from the start with mountain bike phenom Georgia Gould following in her wake. Gould lost ground to Compton on every lap. They were both amazing. I have video of Towle interviewing Gould post race. She is the cutest thing.

The men's race was more hotly contested. Jonathan Page, like Compton, has been racing in Europe all season and was here for the stars and stripes jersey. Domestic pros Ryan Trebon, Tim Johnson (defending champion), Todd Wells, Jeremy Powers, and Barry Wicks were top favorites too. The first two laps had the strong men at the front keeping a careful watch on each other. But on the third lap, when the leaders were sitting up looking at each other, Jesse Anthony had a different idea and pushed the pace.

When the favorites didn't respond, he made the most of it. Jamey Driscoll, young teammate of Tim Johnson and Jeremy Powers, went with the attack. Eventually Trebon had to chase them down on his own. He caught Anthony and Driscoll. Trebon won his third national title. Page found his legs on the last two laps and closed the gap, caught Anthony, but he was a little too late to do better than third place. Driscoll, in his first season with the pros, won the Silver. Anthony was 4th and TJ 5th.

I was rooting for Jeremy Powers. He rides for Jelly Belly during the road season. You can tell he really loves 'cross though. Powers goes over the obsticles without getting off of his bike which is cool. You could hear the wind howling, too. Thanks for the blog--it's great. I read it everyday.

EuroPeloton would like to thank Ms. Fairfax for her report. These first hand-accounts are what all cycling fans live for! And to see Brad Huff pour beer over himself in sub-freezing weather. Good times, good times.