MISSOULA WENDESDAY NIGHT CROSS SERIES RACE NUMBE R ONE

Fort Missoula, Montana; Sept 25, 2003) It was a bright, sunny afternoon at Fort Missoula on Wednesday evening for the first cross race of the year. Sunshine, a well-marked course and 40 or so spectators greeted the 35 racers who lined up to challenge this fast course. Everyone was all smiles before the start, ready to suffer a little in the name of fun.

Here's an account of the race from in the race.....sometimes at the front and sometimes in the middle.....and keep in mind that I was a bit dizzy at times.

5,4,3,2,1..... and they were off. Mike Beltz, who worked hard all day in getting the course set up, let out a whoop as the racers took off fighting for that front position. After the gravel stopped flying Jamul Hahn was in front on the way down to the turnaround with Tim Evens right on his wheel. There was an unidentified Vertical Earth rider from Couer d'Alene who took over the front position at the 180 degree turn, followed by Clint Muhlfeld from Whitefish. Coming back on the bumpy section towards the railroad tracks Clint lost his chain and the CdA rider suddenly slowed....and somehow I was in front.

Coming through the sand I had a gap.....around the shed I checked over my shoulder and there was no one. How did that happen? The CdA rider was leading the pack and wasn't closing the gap to me, so I rode the whole first lap in front by myself...but somehow I knew I would pay for that effort. The second lap, Jamul, Sam Schultz and Tim came up to me. There had been a crash at the 180 turn and Mike Beltz went down with Clint piling on top of him. Everyone behind was slowed up. The four of us completed the second lap together, trying to extend out advantage.

Tim led the third lap and opened up a bit of a gap that Jamul and Sam closed.  At the end of the lap 3 Michael Gaertner, another Vertical Earth rider from Couer d'Alene, came up to me along with Tejay Van Garderen, who was wearing his stars and stripes jersey that he earned last winter

Tim flatted in the lead group not long afterwards, leaving Jamul and Sam alone at the front....and Michael about 15 seconds behind them. Tejay and myself were chasing. Clint was not too far behind us, then Alex Gallego, Dave Hartman, Jake Hartsoch, and Mike Beltz.

Tejay crashed on a turn and I went into him. We eventually got back to racing and Tejay was putting in some big efforts on the pavement. However, on the next lap Tejay, who seemed to be having mechanical problems, crashed again and stayed down. I kept checking over my shoulder to see if he would get up, but he never did. I didn't find out until after the race that he had broken his frame at the top and down tubes.

The second half of the race seemed to consist of most of the racers riding solo, trying to survive the first race of the year. During the last 20 minutes Clint, Dave Hartman and then a flying Alex Gallego all came by me. Jake seemed to be coming up as well until a flat took him out.

Sam Schultz, fresh from competing in the Mountain Bike Worlds race in Switzerland, gapped Jamul near the end and took a solo win. He was able to use that World's fitness, along with his bunny-hopping ability, to really keep the pressure on. Oh yeah, this was the first cyclocross race he has ever competed in.

In the B division Scott Anderson held off a very fit Tim Bechtold. Alice Pennington beat local racers Kathleen Jones and Jill Walker (who was learning how to go over barriers right before the race started) to win the women's race. And John Weyhrich took the Masters division over Steve Muller who traveled down from Whitefish.

Thanks to all who participated.

Here is a link to some great photos of Missoula Cross race #1 taken by Joe Scott. http://people.montana.com/~joescott/Sept24Cross/index.html

The first race of the year was a great success and we hope to keep it going. We would like to thank the folks that helped set up the course and take it down....Mike Beltz, Tom Robertson, Tim Bechtold, Seth Hanson, Mike Longmire, and Kelly Irwin. Also, thanks to the volunteers during the race...Mike Longmire, Bill Schultz Cindy Schultz. And as always, a big thank you to Steve Dolberg. Thank these folks when you see them.

Thanks also to our barrier sponsors Missoula Bicycle Works and Open Road Bicycles. As well as to the businesses supplying the prizes for each race.

Bernice's Bakery
Downtown Bakery
Bagels on Broadway
Le Petit Outre
The Big Dipper
Great Harvest Bakery
Clark Fork Coalition

Alliance for the Wild Rockies

Results:
Mens A
1. Sam Schultz Northern Rockies Missoula
2. Jamul Hahn Northern Rockies Missoula
3. Michael Gaertner Vertical Earth Couer d'Alene

Mens B
1. Scott Anderson Five Valley Velo Missoula
2. Tim Bechtold Five Valley Velo Missoula
3. Justin Cloute Five Valley Velo Missoula

Womens A
1. Alice Pennington Team S&M Bend, Oregon
2. Kathleen Jones Five Valley Velo Missoula
3. Jill Walker Five Valley Velo Missoula

2003 Missoula Cross Series			Men A
Rank	Name	#	Club	Place	24-Sep	Place	1-Oct	Place	8-Oct	Place	16-Oct	Place	22-Oct	TT
1	Sam Schultz		Northern Rockies	1	36									36
2	Jamul Hahn		Northern Rockies	2	27									27
3	Michael Gaertner		Vertical Earth	3	22									22
4	Clint Muhlfeld		Flathead Cycling	4	18									18
5	Alex Gallego		Five Valley Velo	5	14									14
6	Dave Hartman		Northern Rockies	6	11									11
7	Tom Robertson		Northern Rockies	7	10									10
8	Tommy Magrath		Vertical Earth	8	9									9
9	Mike Beltz		Northern Rockies	9	8									8
10	Timmy Evans	1	Unattached	10	7									7
11	Seth Hansen		Northern Rockies	11	6									6
12	Jeff Crouch		Five Valley Velo	12	5									5
13	Jason Hobson		Five Valley Velo	13	4									4
14	Shaun Fulmer		Five Valley Velo	14	3									3
15	Jake Hartsoch		Five Valley Velo	DNF	0									0
16	Steve Coen		Montana Velo	DNF	0									0
17	Tejay VanGarderen		Rio Grande	DNF	0									0
18														0
19														0
20														0
21														0
22														0
23														0
24														0
25														0
26														0
27														0
2003 Missoula Cross Series			Men B