Crossin' over to Hudson, Wisconsin--MinneSNOWta style!

Saturday, November 26, 2005 - Hudson Riverfront Cyclocross Race

Wow! What a way to spend the Saturday after Thanksgiving, huh? The final race in the Burnsville-Subaru Minnesota Cross Series---and true to the climate of this part of the country, it was complete with SNOW, to add a little excitement and flavor to the day! Awesome! And then I got out of the warm car. Whoa! It's cold out there!

The course was completely snowed-over, there were geese flying overhead, performing their "drafting" dance in the sky, and a bunch of guys and gals piling on the layers and getting their bikes, minds and bodies ready to race! Even registration had that Euro-flavor to it! The last time we signed up for a race in the back of a smokey/warm bar, we were in Belgium! (Nice touch Dag!)

The course meandered along the St. Croix Riverfront---then around a bunch of chicane's, twisting and turning through trees, then climbed back around and proceeded through barriers and sand underneath a tented area and then back around. It was made more technical by the snowy conditions and the fact that by the time the A race was underway, the snow started to get slushy. The C and B racers all had clean bikes after the race; this was not to be the case after the A-race.

The staging area was along this really cool walking bridge. You could walk across from Wisconsin to Minnesota (or vice versa, depending where you started!) The Hudson Fire Department and crew had a fire truck right at the start line and was sounding off the horn/sirens at the start of the race(s). And the start was not the finish. The finish line was situated near the bandstand, complete with a podium, and a warm tent, full of cookies, hot chili, hot cider/coffee and warm people! So where was everyone?

The A race had only (about) 15 brave souls (where were all those hearty Minnesotans giving me advice about riding in the cold weather?), but of course, the Junior National Champion, Bjorn Selander was there (his dad was hosting the venue---plus he's Norwegian and so it's in his blood!) The siren sounded---and it was "Game On!" from the get go!

Bjorn quickly took the lead with Taylor not far behind, but on an early off-camber turn, a Birchwood rider slid out and crashed in front of Taylor and they were sprawled across the narrow course giving Bjorn more time away. The course was narrow enough that most of the field couldn't get through...and the two riders were quickly upright and racing.

Taylor soon powered away from the rest of the field and brought back Bjorn's 40 second lead to about 20 seconds....but Bjorn wasn't giving an inch and danced away on his pedals - hammerstyle! Taylor was about 45 seconds ahead of next rider in the field (another youngster from Nature Valley---also like 16-17 years old)...Guys were slipping and sliding on the twisty course---sliding out, sometimes crashing....a real sufferfest.

Bjorn took all three of the early lap $5 primes, with his proud Papa sounding a pretend siren with his voice! (Actually Dag mouthed and screamed the siren for every rider as they slid through!) And I think that all the starters finished this event! As for the podium?

Bjorn Selander (Alan Factory) 1st (not old enough to drink)
Mike Taylor (McGuire-Langdale) 2nd (certainly old enough to drink)
Young Nature Valley Rider 3rd (I should know everyone by now but I don't!) (not old enough to drink)

A big applause to Dag Selander, the Hudson Fire Department and Burnsville-Subaru for a real treat of a race! If you made it out to this event you got more than your money's worth. Good food, good fun, and a real taste of cross racing---euro-style! A nice ending to a great series! Happy Thanksgiving! (And to Terry, Charlie, Rob & Gary and all our California sponsors--Thanks thanks thanks!)