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Karen Brems (Team Rambuski Law) getting the holeshot. © Brian Nelson

Karen Brems (Team Rambuski Law) getting the holeshot. © Brian Nelson

Austin, TX – Despite the frigid cold weather, the big team winner of the 50-54 Women’s Masters race was California-based Team Rambuski Law, with two of their members, Karen Brems and Katrina Baumsteiger able to land on the podium. Karen Hogan (Team Kappius) was able to take second place in between them.

In the 55-59 race, New Jersey racer Christina Perkins (Team ProPower Coaching) was able to power her way to a great victory, gapping her field even though she was caught up in a crash halfway through the race.

At the start, Brems took an impressive holeshot as she stayed out of her saddle for the full duration of the pavement: an effort that made it look like she would be gassed early in the race. Within a half lap, she was still firing on all cylinders, with only Hogan able to match the intense pace. Even Richard Fries gave a double-take at the start line as he announced the lap times for these women.

Karen Brems (Team Rambuski Law) at the stairs with Karen Hogan (Team Kappius right behind.© Brian Nelson

Karen Brems (Team Rambuski Law) at the stairs with Karen Hogan (Team Kappius) right behind.© Brian Nelson

“I thought I could get her in the technical areas and the stairs,” Hogan told Cyclocross Magazine of Brems. Hogan was the smoother of the two along the ruts, and she was one of the best riders in the race up the limestone steps.

This is hardly Brems’ first look from the top of the podium. When the Masters World Championships came to the United States in 2012 and 2103, Brems was able to both win and defend the rainbow colors. While she did not race last year in Boulder, Colorado for the 2014 National Championship, she did take home the stars and stripes jersey the year prior in the 50-54 age group in Madison.

With so many wins under her belt, we had to ask her for training secrets. “You’ve got to train hard,” she answered. “You don’t have to train long, but you’ve got to train hard.” Her full interview after her win can be found below:

Karen Brems takes the Masters 50-54 Women's Race at the 2015 Nationals. © Cyclocross Magazine

Karen Brems takes the Masters 50-54 Women’s Race at the 2015 Nationals. © Cyclocross Magazine

Brems, however was a master on every straightaway, and used her power where she could. When we asked her what features played to her favor on the day, her answer was simple: “Every flat.” That power carried her to an astonishing win on the day, proving that this course doesn’t play favorites to technical riders as was considered yesterday in the singlespeed races.

Christy Perkins survives a crash to win the Masters 55-59 Women's race at 2015 Cyclocross National. © Cyclocross Magazine

Christy Perkins survives a crash to win the Masters 55-59 Women’s race at 2015 Cyclocross National. © Cyclocross Magazine

In the 55-59 race, Karen Tripp (Bikeman.com) took the holeshot and controlled much of the early race just as Brems was doing in the heat ahead of her. One of the harsher corners in lap two, however, sent her sprawling. Perkins was close enough behind her that the two were both affected by the crash. The New Jersey rider was able to recover faster, however, and Tripp was caught fighting against mechanical trouble.

Kris Walker (Idaho Cycling Enthusiasts, at right) would win the battle for fourth. © Brian Nelson

Kris Walker (Idaho Cycling Enthusiasts, at right) would win the battle for fourth. © Brian Nelson

As Tripp ran her bike, Laura Howat (Ski Utah/Plan7) passed her and Perkins rode well away from both riders.

“I flipped,” Perkins said of the crash, “but I was able to ride away… You can’t attack this course, you have to let the course come to you,” she finished, offering advice to riders for the rest of the week. She was nearly broken up with emotion at the finish line, offering hugs to everyone within the area.

Full results below the photo gallery.

2015 Cyclocross National Championships, Masters Women 50-54 and 55-59 Photo Gallery:

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2015 National Championships, Masters Women 55-59

PlaceBibLastFirstTeamLicenseCity STTimeGap
1127PERKINSChristinaTeam ProPower Coaching259556South Plainfield NJ42:15
2115COYNELisaSound Velo Cycling Club328328Seattle WA42:172
3119GARVEYDeirdreHigh Peaks Masters68552Boulder CO42:3318
4122HOWATLauraSki Utah|Plan 7147582Salt Lake City UT43:221:07
5133TRIPPKarenBikeman.com210119Sylva NC43:431:28
6111BARBERSarahNew Pioneer Food Co-op312930Cedar Rapids IA44:081:53
7128REICHELEllen318970East Islip NY44:202:05
8131SMITHTerriCROSS PROPZ RACING384756Nederland CO44:222:07
9129SCHLEICHERRochelleWomen's Free State Racing53362Merriam KS44:392:24
10124KAUFMANNPatriciaMilwaukee Bicycle Company Racin18621Whitefish Bay WI44:422:27
11134WILKINSONKarenTeam Group Health236442Seattle WA44:442:29
12112BEARKimNew Mexico Spokette Racing Team82996Santa Fe NM45:022:47
13121HEYMANNNancyVerdigris-Village CX Team283728Highland Park IL45:203:05
14130SIMONSRosanneNOLA Lending Racing91694Mandeville LA46:073:52
15117ELGARTLindaTeam TIBCO II45299Sacramento CA46:314:16
16126MYRLANDKari324156Oregon WI46:354:20
17118FITZGERALDLisa278343Salt Lake City UT47:345:19
18123JOHNSONKathyMatrix/RBM157466Dallas TX47:545:39
19125MORRISSEYSandraTeam Cross Colorado286505Boulder CO@1Lap
20120GLOVERMaripatNew Mexico Spokette Racing Team300071Albuquerque NM@1Lap
21132TIEMANNValerieNorthwest Cycling Club330038Spring TX@2Lap
22113CLEARWATERDenise282839Arnold MD@2Lap
DNF116EGIZIEvelynWestern Howard County Cycling129625Silver Spring MD

2015 National Championships, Masters Women 50-54

PlaceBibLastFirstTeamLicenseCity STTimeGap
174BREMSKarenTeam Rambuski Law20017Redwood City CA37:34
284HOGANKarenTeam Kappius248610Louisville CO37:4612
372BAUMSTEIGERKatrinaTeam Rambuski Law2947San Luis Obispo CA39:362:02
495WALKERKrisIdaho Cycling Enthusiasts (ICE)48743Pocatello ID39:412:07
592SCHULZEGeraldineBio Wheels Racing293521Cincinnati OH39:552:21
683HELM-MURTAGHSusanTri-Cyclists BRC139055Chapel Hill NC40:222:48
791SATROWSKYMicheleRiverside Racing254417Newbury MA40:232:49
890SAMAVictoriaAdventures Edge89361Arcata CA41:193:45
979DONNELLYTamaraTrek Cyclocross Collective236577Seattle WA41:374:03
1073BOTHEElaine337050Portland OR41:434:09
1196WHITEDesireeBike Lab66891Hobart OK41:554:21
1276CHANCEKimberlyMatrix Cycling Club157443Dallas TX42:294:55
1375BROWNKatherineRiverside Racing385846Amesbury MA42:395:05
1489ROBINSONJenniferSport Systems Mountaintop Cycli309984Albuquerque NM42:465:12
1582HARKERMarniMidatlantic Colavita Women15086Washington DC42:555:21
1698WONGDorothyThe TEAM SoCalCross104462Altadena CA42:595:25
1778DALLASMaryLaughing Dog Team456082Bend OR43:255:51
1881GUYCidTri-Cyclists BRC235401Chapel Hill NC45:087:34
1985JANUZZICheryl457726Lake Oswego OR45:107:36
2080EKEYMelissaC3-Twenty20cycling.com411999Baltimore MD46:459:11
2188PORTERKathleenTwisted Spokes Racing Team236465Cedar Falls IA48:4211:08
2294STEVENSDonnaLocalcycling.com266838Merriam KS49:2011:46
2393SIEGELPatricia414510Albuquerque NM@1Lap