The Montana Cyclocross Championships witnessed some quick and wide-open

action Sunday in Helena with the Five Valley Velo club from Missoula taking

home the three titles up for grabs. Mark Legg won the Men’s A title for the

second year in a row and John Weyhrich and Chad Latino hoisted gold medals in

the Masters and Men’s B respectively.

Raw temps and grey skies greeted riders as they warmed up on the new venue at

Helena High School. One lap into the 12 lap race, Legg, Geoff Proctor

(Montana Velo) and Andy Minier (MSU) found their way to the front with a big

chase group close behind. The field continued to sort out on lap 2 as Proctor

punctured and Minier dropped back to a quartet of Montana Velos Scott Herzig,

Brian Wirak, Brink Kuchenbrod, and Steve Coen. After a bike change, Proctor

was able to get close but eventually Legg pulled away for the well-earned

win. In the battle for third, Minier came around Herzig on the final straight

to grab the bronze.

Many riders voiced approval of this first year venue. While half the parcours

consisted of pavement, the tough staired runs and the power grass sections

offered more than enough contrast to provide for a challenging circuit.

Another future plus is that the course could easily handle a large field due

to its ample width all the way around.

The race went off without a hitch thanks to the many course helpers. Carl

Anderberg, Joel Gerhart, all of the Montana Velo boys, Emmett Purcell, Anne

Blanche Adams (and everyone else who chipped in) are to be thanked. Also,

many thanks to Rob Whitacre for coming up from Bozeman to officiate.

Finally, please remember to email Jeff Crouch (jcrouch@kibogroup.com) with

your feedback for next year’s Montana Super Prestige Cyclocross Series. Also,

feel free to post your account of this final Montana ‘cross race of the

season.

--geoff proctor

Montana Cyclocross Championships

Men’s A

1. Mark Legg (Five Valley Velo) 1:04.22 (12 laps)

2. Geoff Proctor (Montana Velo)

3. Andy Minier (MSU)

4. Scott Herzig (Montana Velo)

5. Brandon Fuller (Five Valley Velo)

6. Brian Wirak (Montana Velo Dynamos)

7. Brink Kuchenbrod (Montana Velo)

8. Jon Behrens (Northern Rockies)

9. Andy Hawkes (Lemond)

10. Steve Coen (Montana Velo Dynamos)

11. Shane Mundt (Montana Velo Dynamos)

12. Dave Hartman (Northern Rockies)

13. Jay Noonan (Flathead Velo)

14. Jake Hartsoch (Five Valley Velo)

15. Tom Robertson (Northern Rockies)

16. Nathan Grovom (Montana Velo Dynamos)

Men’s B

1. Chad Latino (Five Valley Velo) 1:14.22

2. Jeff Cincoski (Unattached)

Masters

1. John Weyhrich (Five Valley Velo) 1:08.57

2. Jon Engen (Rossignol/GVBC)

3. Kim Johnson (Yellowstone Valley CC)

4. Steve Muller (Northern Rockies)

5. Byron DeFord (Great Divide Cyclery)