by David Mable
Friday’s early afternoon sun began to turn the frozen, snowy ruts into a sloppy mess as the Master’s men age 55-59 stormed down the starting straightaway.
The race through the first turn. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 55-59. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
Kevin Hines (Corner Cycle Cycling Club/East Wareham, MA), who has a background in motocross, navigated the changing course cautiously, but with speed, pulling ahead of the 106-rider field on the first climb up the steep embankment.
“It was deceiving, I figured the sunnier and warmer it got, the slipperier it would get,” said Hines after the race. “And it kind of did, you had to ride very cautiously because one fall could cost you the whole event, mechanically or physically.”
Kevin Hines is back on top for his third title. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 45-49. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
Hines rode clean lines for the whole of the 40-minute race, staying ahead of a handful of chasers, including Gunnar Shogren (Pathfinder of VW Racing/ Morgantown, WV), Thomas Price (Trek Cyclocross Collective/ Overland Park, KS) and Michael Wilson (Corvallis, OR).
Michael Wilson, who came from the last row on the starting grid, made his way into the top-ten by the top of the embankment, and continued to pick off riders for the duration of the race.
Michael Wilson climbing his way through the field in pursuit of Kevin Hines. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 55-59. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
“Starting in the last row was tricky,” said Wilson. “It was a good course for me, good start and got lucky navigating traffic. I got pretty close before the big run up.”
Wilson, who resides in Oregon, is familiar with the slippery conditions.
Gunnar Shogren, the legend, racing his tubeless tires to fourth after struggling on the off-camber after the run-up. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 55-59. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
“Maybe not so much the snow, but we have very slippery, wet conditions all the time,” said Wilson. “Perfect conditions for me, being from Oregon. The trees, for me, were wonderful. Fast. Good lines. I think I made a lot of time in there.”
Michael Wilson on his way to second from a last row start. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Men 55-59. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine
Hines maintained his lead into the finish, taking his third national cycling title, his first two in cyclocross and mountain biking. Wilson picked his way through the crowd, passing all but Hines, to take second and Price finished third, less than ten seconds ahead of Shogren.
2017 CX National Championships Hartford Day 4 Results Masters Men 55-59
| Place | Bib | Last | First | Team | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 815 | HINES | Kevin | Corner Cycle Cycling Club | 41:38:00 | |
| 2 | 878 | WILSON | Michael | Corvallis OR | 41:52:00 | 14 |
| 3 | 843 | PRICE | Thomas | Trek Cyclocross Collective | 42:18:00 | 40 |
| 4 | 856 | SHOGREN | Gunnar | PATHFINDER of WV Race Team | 42:27:00 | 49 |
| 5 | 834 | MEIGHAN | Robert | California Giant Berry Farms/Sp | 43:31:00 | 1:53 |
| 6 | 868 | TROJAN | Jay | Arc En Ciel Racing Team | 43:58:00 | 2:20 |
| 7 | 321 | CLEVENGER | Jason | 545 Velo | 44:01:00 | 2:23 |
| 8 | 778 | ANDERSON | Eric | Somerset Wheelmen | 44:20:00 | 2:42 |
| 9 | 792 | CALLAHAN | Kevin | Cycle Lodge | 45:17:00 | 3:39 |
| 10 | 776 | ADOLF | Christopher | Fell Swoop | 45:29:00 | 3:51 |
| 11 | 880 | YOUNG | Brad | No. 22 CX TEAM | 46:04:00 | 4:26 |
| 12 | 845 | REGLAR | Carl | Verge America | 46:46:00 | 5:08 |
| 13 | 873 | WARNER | Danny | Verdigris-Village CX Team | 46:52:00 | 5:14 |
| 14 | 818 | JACOBSON | Tedd | KS Energy Services / MOSH / Tea | 47:10:00 | 5:32 |
| 15 | 823 | LASTAYO | Paul | KUHL Cycling Team | 38:19:00 | @1Lap |
| 16 | 813 | GRIGGS | Derek | Seabrook NH | 38:22:00 | @1Lap |
| 17 | 860 | SOUTHERN | Curtis | NCVC/UnitedHealthcare | 38:24:00 | @1Lap |
| 18 | 828 | LOWE | David | Philadelphia Ciclismo | 38:26:00 | @1Lap |
| 19 | 846 | RICARDI | Thomas | Horst Engineering Cycling Team | 38:26:00 | @1Lap |
| 20 | 798 | CORRIGAN | David | Peak Racing/Valley Bike & Ski W | 38:38:00 | @1Lap |
| 21 | 814 | HAMILTON | Harry | Team Marty's | 38:41:00 | @1Lap |
| 22 | 782 | BELANGER | Michael | Cycle To Fitness Racing Greyhou | 38:46:00 | @1Lap |
| 23 | 835 | MORGAN | David | Saunderstown RI | 38:54:00 | @1Lap |
| 24 | 808 | GEISSERT | Dave | Horst Engineering Cycling Team | 38:55:00 | @1Lap |
| 25 | 783 | BELKNAP | David | Cycle Lodge | 39:02:00 | @1Lap |
| 26 | 822 | KENEALY | Phillip | Gus Cycling | 39:06:00 | @1Lap |
| 27 | 789 | BRADFORD | Michael | State 9 Racing | 39:07:00 | @1Lap |
| 28 | 854 | SCHWAB | Bruce | Portland Velo Club | 39:07:00 | @1Lap |
| 29 | 830 | MARRO | Eiric | Sunapee Racing Team | 39:16:00 | @1Lap |
| 30 | 836 | MOSHER | John | Wheelworks Racing | 39:20:00 | @1Lap |
| 31 | 850 | SAINT CLAIR | Kevin | Team Skyline Masters | 39:21:00 | @1Lap |
| 32 | 862 | STEVENS | William | Spin Arts Cycling | 39:40:00 | @1Lap |
| 33 | 837 | NYBERG | Paul | Horst Engineering Cycling Team | 39:51:00 | @1Lap |
| 34 | 812 | GRENIER | John | Maine Cycling Club | 39:52:00 | @1Lap |
| 35 | 777 | ALLEN | Rich | Expo Wheelmen | 40:09:00 | @1Lap |
| 36 | 802 | DAHLSTROM | Robert | Boulder Cycle Sport/ YogaGlo | 40:12:00 | @1Lap |
| 37 | 882 | DOLAN | Kevin | Race Pace Bicycles | 40:18:00 | @1Lap |
| 38 | 810 | GRAY | Douglass | First State Velo Sport | 40:22:00 | @1Lap |
| 39 | 838 | O'CONNOR | Colman | Mass Bay Road Club | 40:33:00 | @1Lap |
| 40 | 817 | HURLEY | Thomas | Mattapoisett MA | 40:39:00 | @1Lap |
| 41 | 849 | RUSSELL | Daniel | Cycle Lodge | 40:59:00 | @1Lap |
| 42 | 867 | TREMAINE | Robert | Iron Bridge / Tarmac Cycling | 41:00:00 | @1Lap |
| 43 | 855 | SHEA | Timothy | Sunapee Racing Team | 41:30:00 | @1Lap |
| 44 | 870 | WADE | W Scott | Whately MA | 41:39:00 | @1Lap |
| 45 | 841 | PETRELLA | Eugene | Clinton Cycling Club | 41:48:00 | @1Lap |
| 46 | 820 | JONES | Martin | EC Devo | 41:50:00 | @1Lap |
| 47 | 853 | SCHMIDT | Michael | Ridgefield CT | 42:00:00 | @1Lap |
| 48 | 805 | EMRICH | Thomas | Henrietta NY | 42:33:00 | @1Lap |
| 49 | 811 | GREENE | Albert | DCMTB | 42:34:00 | @1Lap |
| 50 | 796 | CATALANO | Thomas | Cannondale Cyclocrossworld | 42:42:00 | @1Lap |
| 51 | 809 | GODBEY | James | 545 Velo | 42:43:00 | @1Lap |
| 52 | 871 | WAHNER | Paul | GOCycling/DrWahner.com/MAMBO CX | 43:01:00 | @1Lap |
| 53 | 864 | TATAR | Marc | Bikeworks SVC Swansea Velo Club | 43:03:00 | @1Lap |
| 54 | 839 | OKEEFE | Bill | Joes Bike Shop Racing Team | 43:06:00 | @1Lap |
| 55 | 840 | PATERSON | James | Spin Arts Cycling | 43:07:00 | @1Lap |
| 56 | 800 | CYR | Michael | Storrs Center Cycle Racing | 43:20:00 | @1Lap |
| 57 | 790 | BRANNEN | Barney | Thetford Center VT | 43:24:00 | @1Lap |
| 58 | 848 | ROTILE | Craig | Finkraft Cyling Team | 43:24:00 | @1Lap |
| 59 | 858 | SLOMAN | Eric | Bicycle Outfitters Racing Team | 43:31:00 | @1Lap |
| 60 | 842 | PISCITELLO | Joseph | PA Masters p/b Piscitello Law | 44:35:00 | @1Lap |
| 61 | 779 | BAILEY | David | Iron Bridge / Tarmac Cycling | 44:57:00 | @1Lap |
| 62 | 852 | SCHAUB | Michael | Feedback Sports Racing | 45:03:00 | @1Lap |
| 63 | 829 | LYSTILA | David | Fitchburg MA | 45:27:00 | @1Lap |
| 64 | 785 | BEVINGTON | Steve | HammerCross | 45:40:00 | @1Lap |
| 65 | 872 | WALTZ | David | 545 Velo | 45:47:00 | @1Lap |
| 66 | 881 | ZOELLER | Michael | Crosshairs Cycling | 46:07:00 | @1Lap |
| 67 | 874 | WASSELL | Bob | Springfield PA | 47:07:00 | @1Lap |
| 68 | 787 | BOLICK | Harry Edmund | Kissena Cycling Club | 48:00:00 | @1Lap |
| 69 | 877 | WILLIAMS | Keith | Little Rock AR | 48:10:00 | @1Lap |
| 70 | 749 | CARR | Douglas | Pure Energy Racing | 48:16:00 | @1Lap |
| 71 | 851 | SANCHEZ | Gustavo | Evolution Racing | 49:45:00 | @1Lap |
| 72 | 883 | FULCHER | Thomas | Rock Creek Velo | 37:59:00 | @2Laps |
| 73 | 876 | WEAVER | John | NBX/Narragansett Beer/Apex | 38:37:00 | @2Laps |
| 74 | 799 | CROWELL | Donald | Spin Arts Cycling | 38:48:00 | @2Laps |
| 75 | 804 | DZUBINSKI | John | Amoroso's Racing Team | 39:54:00 | @2Laps |
| 76 | 821 | JOOS | Bob | Norristown PA | 50:27:00 | @2Laps |
| 77 | 795 | CARRIZZO | Robert | Haworth NJ | 50:57:00 | @2Laps |
| DNF | 827 | LOVEJOY | Mark | Worcester MA | ||
| DNS | 786 | BISSON | Robert | Spin Arts Cycling | ||
| DNS | 826 | LONG | Christopher | GS Gotham/TOGA Bikes | ||
| DNS | 847 | ROGERS | John | Takoma Park MD | ||
| DNS | 793 | CAMPBELL | Doug | Raging Bull Racing | ||
| DNS | 833 | MCGRATH | John | Riverside Racing | ||
| DNS | 832 | MCGRATH | Steve | Portsmouth NH | ||
| DNS | 806 | FEEHAN | James | Kissena Cycling Club | ||
| DNS | 791 | BUTTON | Keith | CCB | ||
| DNS | 794 | CARR | Douglas | Pure Energy Racing | ||
| DNS | 879 | WILSON | Scott | Evolution Racing | ||
| DNS | 865 | THOMPSON | John | Shoreview MN | ||
| DNS | 797 | COLLARD | Normand | NEXT-BMB | ||
| DNS | 859 | SOLBERG | Mark | JAMSQUAD Cycling | ||
| DNS | 788 | BOWMASTER | Thomas | Team Town Cycle | ||
| DNS | 824 | LELLMAN | Joseph | Northampton Cycling Club | ||
| DNS | 784 | BENINGTON | George | Portland Velo Club | ||
| DNS | 831 | MCDONALD | James | Northampton Cycling Club | ||
| DNS | 819 | JOHNSON | Jeff | DeathRow Velo | ||
| DNS | 875 | WATKINS | Paul | Bike Lab Racing Team | ||
| DNS | 825 | LITCHFIELD | Jeff | State 9 Racing | ||
| DNS | 863 | STRIKA | Dusan | Kissena Cycling Club | ||
| DNS | 781 | BAYAT | Fafar | Teaneck NJ | ||
| DNS | 780 | BANCROFT | David | Fairhaven MA | ||
| DNS | 861 | SPRING | Roger | Wareham MA | ||
| DNS | 844 | RASSIAS | Athos | Hanover NH | ||
| DNS | 857 | SINGLETON | Kristofer | Ellicott City MD | ||
| DNS | 869 | VAZQUEZ | Jesus | bikebarnracing.com |
