December 17, 2003

Elite Cyclocross National Championships, Dec 14th

Johs Huseby traveled to Portland, Oregon to line up against the nation’s finest cyclocross racers hoping to improve on his 15th place finish from 2002:

I rode over to the course 1 ½ hours before the start of the race. It had rained hard the day before, and on again off again in the morning. The course was a mess. I got to the course met Rob Hult and my pit crew. We found a trainer and I started warming up as the women were slogging along through the mud. I decided not to even pre-ride the course as I had seen it the day before and knew there would be no need - I would get plenty of mud during the race.

I got to the start and got a call up in the third row which was good because there was a big field. There was a marching band pounding away on the drums for the build-up of the start. We also had a long start loop that was not part of the normal course which was good. I had a great start and was in the top 25 or so and was able to continue to move up. Rob was out on the course giving me placings, so I had a good idea where I was. I kept moving up through the slick terrain and got up to 13th and all of a sudden a front flat! It was in a inopportune location as well where my other bike was far off (3/4 of a lap away). I did however make it to Pit #2 where I came in pleading for a wheel. Everyone looked the other way, no one wanted to help me. As I was re-attaching my flat wheel in preparation to proceed with a flat, someone offered up a wheel - phew.

I got it on and the brakes were rubbing but I didn't care, I needed to keep going. I made it to the pit and got my other bike and kept on going. I was able to catch and ride through a bunch of the people that had passed me, but only was able to make it back to 23rd place in the end. It was a great race in which our former Fiordifrutta/Wheelworks teammate Jonathan Page proved once again to be the best Crosser in the US!