The bowl-shaped heart of Roger Williams park in downtown Providence, Rhode Island, turned into something of a one-ringed circus of ’cross Friday, as 692 masters, competing in 15 age-grouped races, kicked off the 2006 cyclo-cross national championships.

Indeed, the master’s men 30-34, 40-45 and 45-49 age-group races bore the appearance of real circus processions, as all three boasted swollen 100-plus fields that could stretch halfway around the course if uninterrupted.

Still, while gripes about field-size limits highlighted the pre-race chatter, complaints about crowding were few at the race itself. As it turned out, the 20-foot-wide track on the mile-long course at Roger Williams offered ample passing opportunities.

The biggest passer of the day was 51-year old mountain-bike legend Ned Overend (Specialized), who rode his first ’cross national championships in 25 years. The world’s first cross-country mountain-bike world champ, Overend started in the sixth row of the master’s 50-54 age group. But midway through the second lap, Overend had overcome 60 racers and rode at the front with Henry Kramer (Cal-Giant/Specialized) of Watsonville, California. Though he later admitted to being unsure of his dismounting and re-mouting skills, Overend eventually pulled away to claim his first national title as a masters racer.

“Nah, I’m done, it’s time to drink some beer,” said Overend, who plans to take a pass on competing in the elite men’s race on Saturday.

Overend started mid-pack due to the call-up protocol for age-group athletes. According to the race bible, riders who finished in the top-10 at the 2005 national championships received first-row positioning, as did medal-winning age-group athletes who had graduated up to their current age group. Former recent national champions also received good positioning. After that, riders start positions were determined by the date at which they registered for the event.

“I like the big fields so long as I don’t have to start in the back,” said veteran ’crosser Gunnar Shogren, who finished fifth in the men’s 45-49 race. “I think if they can come up with and institute some way that the faster people don’t have to start in the back, then that would be good. And they have to keep the courses long. We didn’t get into much lapped traffic. But you want to encourage everybody who can to race. It would be very sad if they took away the slower people who just want to race. It is a participant-driven entity here.”

USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson watched the masters races, and said that USA Cycling is considering changing the start-position protocol for next year.

“The reality is that this sport is growing, and we’ve tried to make it easy for athletes to get here and easy for athletes to participate, which has worked,” Johnson said. “We’re looking at solutions that will probably involve starting races in heats. Everybody still gets a chance to participate, but they can move up through qualifying races into heats.”

Johnson balked at the idea of limiting the number of amateur athletes competing at the national championships, adding that the last thing USA Cycling want to do is to “contain” the growing interest in cyclo-cross racing.

“It’s an every person’s sport, and as a result of that we’re seeing continued growth in interest,” Johnson said. “We want to open the sport up to local promoters. The national calendar is open to any promoter who wants to step up to the requirements. Now we have one of the most vibrant national cyclo-cross calendars in the world.”

Race NotesA nasty blizzard blew in on the opening day of the 2005 event, and nearlyforced organizers to scrap the championships. Mother Nature openedthe 2006 national championships with slight winds, temperature in the upper40’s and no moisture.Cyclo-cross newcomer Diedre Winfield (Velo Bella-Kona) scored an impressivevictory in the women’s 30-34 field, crossing the line a full 1:30 up onthe chasers. Winfield is in her first season of ’cross racing and is adark-horse favorite to take the women’s elite race on Sunday, December17.

The women’s 30-34 race marked a comeback for Cal Giant-Specialized riderJosie Beggs who finished sixth. Beggs missed more than a month of racing aftera freak crash at the USGP No. 4 in Boulder, Colorado on November 4. Beggsstruck a stray pedestrian during the elite women’s race and landed on herface, fracturing her right cheekbone in five places.

Mark Noble (California Raisins) won the a three-up sprint with Will Black (Lone Star) and Todd Hoefer (Cal Giant-Specialized) to take the men 40-44 race. Dale Knapp (Kona), who led the front group for most of the race, had to settle for fourth.

Julie Lockhart from Dunstable, MA took the stars-and-stripes jersey as the only competitor in the women 65+ event.“I love ’cross because of the variety,” said Lockhart, 65, who is in herfirst season of racing bikes.

“It’s about the challenge, because it’s not going around in a circle, it’s up and down and over and under," she said with a grin.

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2006 California Giant Berry Farms USA Cycling National Cyclo-cross Championships
Providence, Rhode Island
December 15, 2006
Men 30-34
1. Ryan Leech, Meredith Group
2. Christopher Pietrzak, Porcupine-Specialized
3. Grant Berry, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
4. Molly Cameron, Vanilla Bicycles
5. Michael Gallagher, U.S. Armed Forces

Men 35-39
1. Richard Feldman, Durance Cycleoworks
2. Shannon Skerritt, Vanilla Bicycles
3. Brent Prenzlow, Celo Pacific
4. Brandon Dwight, Boulder Cyclesport
5. Curt Davis, FiordifruttaMen 40-44
1. Mark Noble, California Raisins
2. Will Black, Lone Star
3. Todd Hoefer, Cal Giant-Specialized
4. Dale Knapp, Kona
5. Gannon Myall, Cal Giant-SpecializedMen 40-49
1. Steve Tilford, Verge/Shimano
2. Dennis Farrell, Red Rocks Velo
3. Kevin Hines, Gear Works
4. Kari Kiester, Spike
5. Gunnar Shogren, Fort Factory TeamMen 50-54
1. Ned Overend, Specialized
2. Henry Kramer, Cal Giant-Specialized
3. Randy Shields, Carolina Masters
4. Gary Thacker, Chipotle-Titus
5. Paul Curley, GearworksMen 55-59
1. Fred Witters, Charlottesville Racing
2. Dan Norton, Redline
3. Jon Miller, Amgen
4. David Rath, GMBC
5. Joseph Brown, Flying Rhino Cycling ClubMen 60-64
1. John Elgart, Webcor-Alto Velo
2. Bruce McCowan, Arc En Ciel Racing
3. Kent Webster, Putney-West Hill
4. Bob Ludecke, Laurel bike club
5. Jeep Barrett, Magic CyclesMen 65+
1. Rob Lea, Team Fuji
2. Joe Saling, Somerset Van Dessel
3. Robert Llamas, PAA-Merril Lynch
4. Erik Nordenson, Poison Spider Bicycles
5. Herbert Bates, naults.comWomen 30-34
1. Deidre Winfield, Velo Bella-Kona
2. Mandy Lozano, Cheerwine
3. Kristi Berg, Group Health
4. Betsy Shogren, FORT Factory Team
5. Rebecca Wellons, GearworksWomen 35-39
1. Wendy Williams, River City Bicycles
2. Linda Sone, Hollywood Racing
3. Lauren Constantini, Sycip
4. Cris Rothfuss, NEBC
5. Pauline Frascone, Independent FabricationsWomen 40-44
1. Sami Fournier, Organic Athlete
2. Audrey Huffman, Fitwerx
3. Rhonda Morin, Portland Velo
4. Dorothy Wong, Figueroa Farms
5. Beverly Chaney, Roaring Mouse CyclesWomen 45-49
1. Catherine Walberg, Team Kenda
2. Kris Walker, Intermountain Sports
3. Maryann Martinez
4. Brenda Bahnson, Independent Fabrications
5. Susan Maclean, Gear WorksWomen 50-54
1. Kathy Sarvary, Gear Works
2. Linda Elgart, Webcor-Alto Velo
3. Margaret Thompson, Mission in Motion
4. Tracy Lea, Team Fuji
5. Cindy Joiner, CCBWomen 55-59
1. Leslie Ludtke, New Hampshire Cycling
2. Andrea CarveyWomen 65+
1. Julie Lockhart, NEBC-Cycle Loft