World Masters Cyclo Cross Championships 20th January 2007

The World Masters Cyclo Cross took place in Belgium last weekend with 15 countries competing for the 10 Championship races.
The event, which has been run at Zilvermeer near Mol since the first Championships, is growing every year and this year was no exception. New countries of Latvia and Venezuela joined the other regulars that include riders from afar afield as Canada and United States of America.
The races are held in the Zilvermeer park where much of the surface not on surfaced road and grass is on the silver coloured sand that the area is famous for which is used in glass making. The 313 riders split into 2 ten year age categories in the women's races and 8 five year age categories in the Men's races saw mainly fine weather for the racing with the very strong winds that had battered Europe dying down to just bearable strong winds.
The Home country came away at the top of the medals table with 6 of the 10 gold medals but it was the 40 to 49 years women's and the Men's 30 to 34 years races where they failed to gain any medal. The women's race not including any Belgian riders and the medals going to France, USA and Norway. In the men's race however there were 5 Belgian riders in the 41 strong field but they could only manage 10h place with Sven Raeymakers whilst the winner, Wilfred Veldkamp, came from the Netherlands and helped them to take 3rd place in the table of medals.
The largest two groups saw 60 riders compete in the 45 to 49 years and 63 in the 40 to 44 years age group. Belgium saw a clean sweep of the 3 places in the older of these 2 categories with Mark Verloo winning whilst German rider Torsten Wittig managed to gain a bronze in the younger category with Belgians taking the top 2 places. The event continues the spirit of Masters racing with very high quality racing that includes the comradeship and friendships that are made at the event. Most of the riders stay on the park some in the hotel but many in the park chalets that are adjacent to the course.
Full results are available on www.wielerbondvlaanderen.be/antwerpen.

Medals Table
   
Gold
Silver
Bronze
1 Belgium
6
4
3
2 France
2
2
2
3 Netherlands
2
0
2
4 USA
0
2
0
5 Great Britain
0
1
1
6 Czech Republic
0
1
0
7= Norway
0
0
1
7= Germany
0
0
1
The event has been allocated to Zilvermeer, Mol for the next 3 years and the organisers will give you a warm welcome whatever your age whether you ride or spectate at the event.
Details of next years event will be available from the UCI site and our Masters site which will have all aspects of Masters racing added and not just feature the new European Track Masters Championships.
2005  Press Releases
Spectator Prize Draws
Spectator Tickets -Prize winners from the advance ticket purchases
Junghans Watch - all advance ticket purchases went into - Ms J Stapleton from Leicester
DVD - The Brit Pack - week adult ticket advance purchases - Martyn Long from Acomb, York
Masters T shirt - all advance programme purchases - Maxine Brammer from Poynton, Cheshire
2005 Best Rider in Age Categories
sponsored by Junghans Watches
Male
30-34 Mike Beers USA
35-39 Kenny Williams USA
40-44 Shaun Wallace Great Britain
45-49 Larry Nolan USA
50-54 Alfred Lechnitz Austria
55-59 Gerard Louis Robert Canada
60-64 Geoffrey Cooke Great Britain
65-69 James Kloss USA
70+ Keith Harrison USA
Female
30-34 Isabelle Nguyen Van Tu France
35-39 Janet Birkmyre Great Britain
40-44 Annette Hansen USA
45-49 Petra Kluender Germany
50+ Marsha Macro USA
Overall
Best Male Rider of the Championships
Gerard Louis Robert - Canada - 4 Gold
Best Female Rider of the Championships
Annette Hanson - USA - 3 Gold and 1 Silver
New World Best Times
The following new records were established at the 2005 Championships
Men's Time Trial
45 to 49 years Al Whaley (USA) with a time of 49.616 seconds beating Gil Hattons time of 50.649 set in 2003 for the 750 metres
Men's Sprint (in qualifying)
70plus Luigi Fabbri (Uruguay) 13.146 for the 200 metres beating last years figure of 13.275 of Americas Keith Harrison
Men's Sprint (in Competition)
45 to 49 years - Al Whaley (USA) 11.385 for the last 200metres again beating a record of countryman Gil Hatton (11.488)
60 to 64 years - Geoffrey Cooke (Great Britain) 12.378 for the last 200 metres, 3 thousandths of a second faster than Finland's Atte Koskinen figure set in 1999
Men's Pursuit
30 to 34 years - Michael Hutchinson bettered his own world best time of last year by covering the 3000meteres in 3minutes 23.884 seconds (0.012seconds faster)
In addition Dominique Sioul of France broke the old record of 500m time trial for 45 to 49 years which is not now a Championship distance. Dominique, a Masters regular, rode the 500m in 35.864 seconds.
Full updated results can be found on the Records page.
Results from all days from this years championships are available to view here
One of the best Championships yet.
The organisers would like to thank all riders, officials and spectators who attended the 11th Championships and made the event one of the best so far.
In particular we would like to thank all of our sponsors and advertisers who assisted the Championships - take a few moments to visit their sites.
British Cycling
Condor Cycles
Cycling Weekly
Duvel Belgian Beer
Greggs Cycles
Impsport
Junghans Watches
Manchester Evening News
Manchester City Council
Plowman Craven and Associates
PSCio
Rochdale Business Machines
Schwalbe
Trackcycling.co.uk
Weldtite
Yarm Computers
Congratulations!
To Christophe Nicolle of France who had to leave the Masters late on Friday night after winning the Mens 30-34 Points race in order to catch the 5.30am ferry on Saturday morning, then travel to Le Petit Quevilly for his Wedding at 2.30 in the afternoon.
2005 Event
This years Championships sees 307 riders from 21 countries and competition will be fierce to top the medal table as well as the individual honours.
The USA have topped the medals table all but 1 of the 10 years that the Championships have been held - all of which have been in Manchester. Great Britain was the victor then and this year could be their best year yet and support for them is essential. America travels with their smallest squad to the event and has no representation at all in 2 age groups so the strong British contingent will want to take advantage on home ground.
Two European Teams are worthy of a mention, Italy brings a strong squad for the second year and France has their biggest team ever at the Championships.
The Championships are the official Championships for riders over 30 years of age and riders are grouped in 5 year age categories with each age competing over 4 individual disciplines (time trial, sprint, pursuit and points race) with the Men also competing in the Team Sprint.
The Championships ends with the famous Muratti Cup (Saturday 17th evening) which will feature the best riders of the week in the younger age groups over the 10-mile race. Peter Coulson (USA) is the only one of the past winners to ride this year but the competition will be fierce especially from the ex Olympian Brit, Shaun Wallace who returns this year from his home in California and in 2002 finished second to Coulson.

Whilst the last night proves to be exciting there are 2 other highlights to note during the week. The first is the defence of his 30 to 34 age group pursuit crown by time trial superstar Michael Hutchinson. The Londoner won the Pursuit final last year with an unbelievable last lap effort to overhaul American Curtis Gunn. Hutchinson also set New World standards during the qualifying heats. This pursuit final is once again the last event on Thursday evening.
The other highlight could be on Friday when popular local rider Jimmy Rutherford goes up an age category to 50 to 54 years and competes in the Points Race. Last year as one of the oldest in the 45 to 49 points Jimmy rode out of his skin to claim second place in a very hard fought 80-lap race. This year only the second placed from last year in the 50 to 54 race returns, Austrian Alfred Lechnitz. Jim's race is the third final on the programme on Friday evening, which starts at 7pm.

The week is packed with over 50 world Championship events in the 6 days and essentially finals will be 7pm each evening with further final sessions on Monday (12th) afternoon at 2pm and Saturday (17th) when an afternoon session will feature heats and some finals from 1.30pm to 6pm. (Heats are held every day from Tuesday with free admission to these heats on Tuesday to Friday) Admission is £7 per day (£4 under 16's and over 60's).

Other British riders include
Neil Potter defending Champions 35 to 39
Steve Cronshaw and Graham Barclay defending Champions 45 to 49
Geoff Cooke defending Champion 60 to 64
Roland Crayford and Brian Dacey defending Champions 65 to 69
Katrina Hair defending Champion 30 to 39 women
Your support is needed on this 11th year of the Championships with many countries wishing to stage the event the organisers are keen to keep it in Britain and that can only be achieved by good spectator support.
More information from the velodrome reception 0161 2232244 or from this website

Below please find a short resume of each age group and other details. Many of the riders are unknown quantities and therefore we have only picked out previous performers.
Men’s 30 to 34 Years – 33 riders from 7 countries
Time Trial – Monday - Day 1 – 17 riders - 2004 Champion - Marco Librizzi (GBR) - not riding
Sprint - Wednesday – Day 3 – 14 riders – 2004 Champion - Marco Librizzi (GBR) - not riding
Pursuit – Thursday – Day 4 – 20 riders – 2004 Champion - Michael Hutchinson (GBR) - riding
Points – Friday – Day 5 – 16 riders – 2004 Champion - Jayson Austin (AUS) - not riding (up an age group)
Local riders – Paul McAllister, Oldham / David Jackson, Middlewich, Cheshire / Phill Huff, Stockport / Gwyn Carless, Matlock / Benedict Elliott, Middlewich, Cheshire
Only Michael Hutchinson defends his crown in this age category with the Points Champion Jayson Austin going up an age category and Marco Librizzi missing. Hutchinson's gold medal in last years Pursuit was one of the highlights of the week when he fought back brilliantly in a last lap effort to overcome Curtis Gunn (USA) to win after posting a new World's best time in the qualifying round .As usual with this category there are many new names that could cause an upset in all of the races. Of last years riders to compete this year the closest to Hutchinson was Mario Nell from South Africa who was sixth fastest so the main challenge will come from some of the 20 new riders to the Championships.
The Time Trial is the first event to be fought in this category and again Nell was the fastest from last years at 5th but where he could do the best is in the Points race where last year he finished in bronze position behind Austin and Gunn and may be challenged by Britains John Stollery who was 4th last year.
With so many new riders to the Championships this age category promises to be one of the most interesting and difficult to predict.
Men’s 35 to 39 years - 48 riders from 12 countries
Time Trial – Monday - Day 1 – 30 riders - 2004 Champion - Neil Potter (GBR) - riding
Sprint - Wednesday – Day 3 – 26 riders – 2004 Champion - Neil Potter (GBR) - riding
Pursuit – Thursday – Day 4 – 22 riders – 2004 Champion - Kenny Williams (USA) - riding
Points – Friday – Day 5 – 25 riders – 2004 Champion - Kenny Williams (USA) - riding
Local riders – Stephen Cwilinski, Handford, Cheshire / Simon Churton, Stockport / Steve Thomas, Macclesfield / Bernard Corfe, Stockport
Jayson Austin the victor the past two years in the 30-34 category points steps up to this older age group and will be one of the favourites but will have his work cut out with the defending champion Kenny Williams returning to Manchester.
The spoils in this age category were shared between Williams and Milton Keynes rider, Neil Potter and both return.
In the Sprint and Time Trial Potter will be attempting the double and will have silver in time trial, Williams hot on his heels and bronze medallist James Tainter (USA) among the main contenders in the Sprint.
Williams will however be hard to beat in the pursuit as he set a new record time last year as he won the title.
Men’s 40 to 44 years - 40 riders from 12 countries
Time Trial – Monday - Day 1 – 20 riders - 2004 Champion - Al Whaley (USA) - not riding
Sprint - Tuesday – Day 2 – 15 riders – 2004 Champion - Al Whaley (USA) - not riding
Pursuit – Friday – Day 5 – 21 riders – 2004 Champion - Robert Veroba (CAN) - not riding
Points – Wednesday – Day 3 – 24 riders – 2004 Champion - Russell Williams (GBR) - not riding
Local riders –
Charles McCulloch, Knutsford / Robert Dacey, Cheshire / Stephen Light, Liverpool / Adrian Thorp, Hyde Cheshire
With no defending Champion in this age category competition will be fierce however the 2003 Pursuit and Points Champion Shaun Wallace returns after a years absence and will be aiming to wrestle back those crowns. The British rider who now resides in California is always a popular figure at the Velodrome and will have his main opposition coming from last years silver medallist in the Pursuit Italy's Walter Basili and Britains Alastair Taylor who won the bronze medal.
In the points race he will have to fight hard from German, Mike Zwingenberger (3rd - 2004), Roberto Mattei of Italy and new riders including another fast Italian rider new to the Championships.
With Whaley going up a category and others missing the highest placed from last years sprint and individual time trial is Americas Matthew Diefenbach (8th time trial and 4th in the Sprint). He will have opposition from the two Italians who took 7th and 8th in the sprint last year, Walter Basili and Roberto Mattei.
Men’s 45 to 49 years - 37 riders from 10 countries
Time Trial – Monday - Day 1 – 23 riders - 2004 Champion - Steve Cronshaw (GBR) - riding
Sprint - Tuesday – Day 2 – 18 riders – 2004 Champion - Richard Voss (USA) - riding
Pursuit – Friday – Day 5 – 17 riders – 2004 Champion - Graham Barclay (GBR) - riding
Points – Wednesday – Day 3 – 23 riders – 2004 Champion - Bernardo Figueroa (COL) - riding
Local riders – none
All events in this age category are defended by last years Champions but competition will be very fierce especially in the Time Trial and Sprint where regular visitor and last years double champion in the younger age group Al Whaley steps up a group. In the Time Trail Mark Zaschke (bronze 2004) will be wanting to improve whilst the bronze in the sprint Keith Williams will not be wanting to be out done. Interesting name from the past is Brad Thurrell the very fast Teesider who will challenge in both the time trial and sprint.
The points Champion Bernardo Figuera celebrated Colombia's first Gold medal at the Championships last year and will not let that go easily and will want to improve on his bronze in the Pursuit, Graham Barclay will obviously have something to say about that and will aim to keep that pursuit crown but will also have strong opposition from 2003 Champion Larry Nolan (USA) who also rides the Points and was also Champion in that race in 2003.
Men’s 50 to 54 years - 32 riders from 10 countries
Time Trial – Monday - Day 1 – 22 riders - 2004 Champion - David Willmott (AUS) - riding
Sprint - Thursday – Day 4 – 21 riders – 2004 Champion - David Willmott (AUS) - riding
Pursuit – Wednesday – Day 3 – 17 riders – 2004 Champion - Woody Cox (USA) - not riding
Points – Friday – Day 5 – 22 riders – 2004 Champion - Ludwig Kronfuss (AUT) - not riding
Local riders – Hugh Cameron, Altrincham / Mark Rudy, Bury / Brian Miller, Glossop / Jim Rutherford, Denton Manchester / Graham Gregory, Northwich, Cheshire / Mark Minting, Worksop
David Willmott returns to defend his time trial and sprint titles and will have a strong challenge from the very popular Nottingham rider, Dave Le Grys who comes up from the younger category and from Darlington's Steve Davies who had a bad Championships by his standards last year only gaining 3rd in the Sprint. Davies joins the action in the Points race which promises to be one of the highlights of the Championships especially for local supporters when Popular Manchunian, Jimmy Rutherford (who gained silver in last years younger age group race) will aim to go one better and will have strong opposition from the 2003 Champion and silver medallist last year, Alfred Lechnitz (AUT). Could they have a surprise challenge from a new Colombian rider in Rafael Narvaez, a nation that always produce good points riders and he will want to emulate his younger countryman Figueara
Lechnitz and Davies will head the field in the pursuit.
Men’s 55 to 59 years - 31 riders from 9 countries
Time Trial – Monday - Day 1 – 21 riders - 2004 Champion - Gerard Louis Robert (CAN) - riding
Sprint - Thursday – Day 4 – 15 riders – 2004 Champion - Mark Rodamaker (USA) - riding
Pursuit – Wednesday – Day 3 – 14 riders – 2004 Champion - Christopher Anstey (CAN) - not riding
Points – Friday – Day 5 – 21 riders – 2004 Champion - Carlos Enrique Reybaud (ARG) - riding
Local riders – Geoff Brandt, Merseyside / David Melvin, Ashton U Lyne
Last years pursuit champion is the only one missing from last years medallists so competition will be fierce with riders wanting to improve on their silver and bronze positions whist the 3 Champions wishing to hold on to those coveted rainbow jerseys.
Men’s 60 to 64 years - 16 riders from 6 countries
Time Trial – Monday - Day 1 – 15 riders - 2004 Champion - Earl Henry (Trinidad) - riding
Sprint - Tuesday – Day 2 – 13 riders – 2004 Champion - Geoff Cooke (GBR) - riding
Pursuit – Wednesday – Day 3 – 8 riders – 2004 Champion - Denis Fahey (AUS) - riding
Points – Saturday – Day 6 – 11 riders – 2004 Champion - Geoff Cooke (GBR) - riding

Local riders – Paul Morphet, Knutsford Cheshire
All champions defend their crowns in this age group and the popular Geoff Cooke will try to add the sprint to his tally as well as defend his 2 titles. Henry and Cooke dominated the short distance events last year whilst the main challenge to the points and pursuit titles came from 1967 World Road Champion Graham Webb who will unfortunately be missing this year recuperating after his recent illness. The third placed rider Peter Jenn from London returns in the pursuit to mount a challenge to Americas Denis Fahey.
With no American riders in this age category this is where the British riders could benefit in the overall medals table and gain those vital extra medals over the States.
Men’s 65 to 69 years - 18 riders from 8 countries
Time Trial – Monday - Day 1 – 15 riders - 2004 Champion - Atte Koskinen (FIN) - riding
Sprint - Tuesday – Day 2 – 15 riders – 2004 Champion - Roland Crayford (GBR) - riding
Pursuit – Saturday – Day 6 – 12 riders – 2004 Champion - Brian Dacey (GBR) -
Points – Thursday – Day 4 – 16 riders – 2004 Champion - Brian Dacey (GBR) - riding
Local riders – Neil Orrel, Chadderton Oldham / Laurie Rissbrook, Liverpool / John Wynne, Bolton / John King, Manchester
All Champions defend their titles and the week gets underway with Atte Koskinen from Finland trying to gain his 4th Championship in a row in this event.
Four riders have dominated this category over the past 3 years, the three current champions and returning 2002 points and sprint Champion Otto Altweck from Germany.
Those four riders ride all events except Altweck misses the Time trial and Koskinen the pursuit. It is hard to see the gold medallists coming from any other riders than these four.
Men’s 70 years and over - 15 riders from 4 countries
Time Trial – Monday - Day 1 – 14 riders 2004 Champion - Ron Truman (AUS) - riding
Sprint - Tuesday – Day 2 – 11 riders 2004 Champion - Delroy Walters (USA) - not riding
Pursuit – Saturday – Day 6 – 10 riders 2004 Champion - Keith Harrison (USA) - riding
Points – Thursday – Day 4 – 12 riders 2004 Champion - Keith Harrison (USA) - riding
Local riders – William Bicknell, Middleton, Manchester / Raymond Groves, Wigan
This new category last year sees only the sprint Champion not returning. Interesting to see the father of Brad Thurrell (who rides the 45 to 49 age group), Derek rides the event for the first time and he could cause an upset. The Teesider rides all except the pursuit. Uruguay rider Luigi Fabbri comes up from the younger category and could challenge in 3 of the four races.
This age group gets the Championships underway when their individual time trial is the first final starting at 2pm on Monday 12th September.
Men’s Team Sprint - Saturday - Day 6
Open - 2004 Champions - Dave LeGrys/Neil Potter / Marco Librizzi - GB
135 years and over - 2004 Champions - Vincent Gee/ Bill Zeigler / Glen Hinshaw - USA
With Team nominations yet to be declared some teams are so keen that they have placed their nominations ahead of the deadline.
This event is always exciting and last years champions in the Open event will be missing one of their British trio (Marco Librizzi) and Dave LeGrys and Neil Potter will need to find a fast third rider to keep off the challengers and already nominated is a new Team from Canada (Juventus).
In the 135years plus event the second placed team, Gregg's Cycles (USA) have already nominated the same team to improve on their position from last year with all the members from the winning team missing.
Strong opposition should come from other American and British teams as well as strong teams from Italy, France and Australia.
Muratti Cup
Last years winner, Curtis Gunn (USA), will be missing from the race so Peter Coulson will be aiming to add 2005 to his win of 2002 in this famous 10-mile race.
The Muratti Cup has a long and famous history at Manchester Wheelers and they have been very kind to allow the Masters to stage the race as the last event of the Championships.
Riders will be selected from the week's performances assuring the very best riders will compete in this prestigious race.
Alan Geldard Trophy
Darlington's Steve Davies will want to get this trophy back after winning the 2003 event for the over 50 year olds after only finishing 7th last year. Last years victor Woody Cox is missing from this year's event.
A strong field is sure to line up in this Greggs Cycles sponsored event. Riders will be selected from the over 50-year-olds to compete in this event held before the Muratti.
Women's Events 37 riders from 10 countries
Thirty-seven women riders compete in 3 age categories.
The youngest category is 30 to 39 years and local rider Jeanette Baxter from Lostock Green Cheshire will ride the sprint and the individual Time Trial. Champions from last year all ride.
In the next age group there are 2 local riders to support, Angela Undrell from Matlock rides the time trial, sprint and Points race while Altrincham's Sophie Wood rides the time trial, pursuit and points. Americas Annette Hanson won 3 of the 4 titles last year - will this year be different?
In the older category 45 plus Evelyn Kenyon from Ashton under Lyne rides all races (she won silver in the points last year) and is joined by newcomer to the Championships Joanne Fenwick from Warrington in the time trial sprint and points races
Best rider awards -
Sponsored by Junghans watches last year with 307 riders
Breakdown of riders by Country
2004 Champion Mens Award - Keith Harrison - USA
2004 Champion Womens Award - Annette Hanson - USA
These awards are for the best rider of the Championships. Junghans watches will make the overall Championship award for the best male and best female rider.
Competition times are as follows
Monday (12th) Finals only 2pm (approx. finish time 10p.m.)
(2 sessions 2pm to 6pm / 7pm to 10p.m.)
Tuesday (13th) Heats 10am (approx. finish time 4p.m.)
Finals 7pm (approx. finish time 9p.m.)
Wednesday (14th) Heats 10am (approx. finish time 3.30pm)
Finals 7pm (approx. finish time 9.30p.m.)
Thursday (15th) Heats 10am (approx. finish time 3.30p.m.)
Finals 7pm (approx. finish time 10 p.m.)
Friday (16th) Heats 2pm (approx. finish time 5p.m.)
Finals 7pm (approx. finish time 10 p.m.)
Saturday (17th) Heats and Finals 1.30pm (approx. finish time 6p.m.)
Finals 7pm (approx. finish time 9.30p.m.)

A total of 21 countries are represented this year.
Uruguay (URU) 1
Argentina (ARG) 2
Australia (AUS) 17
Austria (AUT) 2
Canada (CAN) 6
Colombia (COL) 3
Denmark (DEN) 4
Finland (FIN) 3
France (FRA) 14
Great Britain (GBR) 168
Germany (GER) 8
Guyana (GUY) 1
Ireland (IRE) 7
Italy (ITA) 12
Japan (JPN) 5
Malaysia (MAS) 1
Netherlands (NED) 3
New Zealand (NZL) 4
South Africa (RSA) 10
Trinidad (TRI) 1
United States (USA) 35
View 2004 Press Releases