Thomas Price hasn’t raced Cyclocross Nationals in four years, but made his return a successful one with the 2015 Masters 55-59 National Championship. © Cyclocross Magazine
Al Blanchard (Finkraft Cycling) took the hole shot, leading the eighty starters in the 55-59 men’s race onto the course. By the time the first half lap was through, however, Thomas Price (Trek Cyclocross Collective) had broken away from the race. On the chase were teammates Henry Kramer and Norman Kreiss (California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized), followed by Robert Downs (Planet Bike).
Blanchard fell back with a mechanical issue as Price’s lead grew to ten, twenty, and up to forty seconds over Kreiss and Kramer. A crash caused Kramer to suffer a flat, and the chasing Downs moved from fourth to third with Tyler Munroe (Riverside Racing) behind him.
Price rolled through the line with thirty seconds over Kreiss. Kreiss maintained second, Downs third, and Munroe fourth.
“I was waiting to see what happened, got a gap, and just went with it,” said Price of his first-ever championship win, a fantastic coup for a racer just returning to racing from a broken leg and ankle.
Price talks about his thrilling win after recovering from an injury:
