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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.
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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 |
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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. |
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-Prize winners from
the advance ticket purchases
-
all advance ticket purchases went into - Ms J Stapleton from
Leicester
-
week adult ticket advance purchases - Martyn Long from Acomb,
York
-
all advance programme purchases - Maxine Brammer from Poynton,
Cheshire |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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The
following new records were established at the 2005 Championships
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
70plus Luigi Fabbri (Uruguay) 13.146 for the 200 metres beating last years
figure of 13.275 of Americas Keith Harrison
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
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 |
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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.
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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 |
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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. |
 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.
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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. |
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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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. |
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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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
 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. |
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. |
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 |
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 |
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