Jonathan Baker suspended for cyclocross nats tussle
Jonathan Baker (Vitamin Cottage) has been suspended from racing for three months for his involvement in a mid-race tussle with Adam Myserson at the cyclocross national championships in Kansas City last month.
Baker, who is in Belgium, will serve the suspension starting Jan. 17, meaning he will miss any remaining 'cross races he had planned for this season.
"It is with some disappointment that I will be ending my 'cross season early, but I will take this as a good opportunity to spend some quality time with my family," Baker told VeloNews.
The incident happened early in the elite mens race at Kansas City, when Baker crashed and Myerson ran into him, and their bikes became tangled.
Witnesses said Myerson was swearing at Baker and tugging his bike out of the tangle. "I took a swing at Adam after being hit in the head by a bike," Baker said last week. "I'm prepared to take whatever judgment USA Cycling reaches."
Baker has had an up and down trip to Europe following nationals. The airline lost his bikes and wheels for ten days and he missed his first two planned races. Although he eventually got the bikes, he is still missing three carbon Rol wheels.
Baker, however, scored his best European result ever at the Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, race on January 2, when he was 13th and the second American, after Ryan Trebon in 12th.
Baker said he's looking forward to a road season with the Vitamin Cottage team, retitled Natural Grocers for 2009.
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