Not really, because I can’t remember who won most of the races, but I would be seriously remiss if I didn’t immediately give major props to Eric Rasmussen for winning the state championship in the singlespeed category (in his first SS appearance this season), and then immediately turning in an amazing second place finish behind Idaho’s Sam Krieg in the men’s “A” race to take a second state championship on the day.

That’s pretty freakin’ impressive. Good job, Rico. With Bart Gillespie racing in North Carolina this weekend, the state championship for the Men’s “A” group was wide open, and Rico proved he was strongest on the day. I think this is worthy of sainthood in The Church of the Big Ring.

Props to everyone that turned out for a beautiful day in Ogden to race; especially to Reed Wycoff who kept it going after two hard crashes (one with Connor O’Leary on the pavement, the second over the barriers).

And major bummer to Ali Goulet, who broke his frame … I’m humming Taps right now; because I hate to see any bike die.

Props also to Art O’Connor and Matt Ohran for turning in a fine MonaVie 1-2 finish in the Men’s 35+ “A” field.

Darren Cottle took the men’s 45+ open race, while simultaneously his son Tanner was battling it out with Tyler Fought for the Men’s “B” championship, just missing out on the Cottle double-play by finishing second.

I love seeing how many women are coming out to race this year as well. Trish Glenn, who won the Women’s “C” race, Meaghan Cunningham takes the “B” race. The winner of the women’s “A” race is from Idaho, so I’m not sure if second-placed rider #98 (whose name I don’t have), or third-placed Chantal Thackeray takes the state championship.

Perennial fighter Jennie Wade put in a strong start to the Women’s “A” race as well until an ill-timed mechanical took her out of the running.

Missing in action were Marit Fischer, who is currently racing Ironman Arizona; Dayna Deuter, who is nursing a hamstring injury, and Theresa Carr, who is battling the phlegm gremlins. We missed all of you yesterday.

The Last Call Cyclocross Race (and Utah Cyclocross Series Awards Party) were yesterday …

On a morning that looked like it was going to be another epic snow day in the valley, got up and headed down to Wheeler Farm to work the final Utah cyclocross race of the season. It was a day where almost everyone who showed up to race ended up on the podium … small, small fields, but everyone who did show had a blast slipping around in the mud and slush.

I just wish my pictures turned out, but alas, camera settings were wrong, and everything was underexposed and blurry.

Then on to the Williams Building up in Research Park for the Awards Party last night. 80s theme, and a lot of people turned out decked to the nines.

Me? I don’t do costumes, so I just pegged my jeans (also known as the tight-roll or fold-n-roll), like I did for about 20 years. Yep, I carried that look into the 21st century, and took no end of crap for it, until I finally decided that it was time to admit that I was an adult and started dressing semi-normally again. I’m a cyclist, so I don’t think I’ll ever be able to be accused of ever fully dressing “normal” …

Big props to A-Train; who squeaked out a close win in front of Bart “Slash” Gillespie in the men’s category for best 80s costume … that was some “dance” move there, pal.

More props to Jenn Allen, who ran away with the women’s category after breaking out “The Worm” … but in my book Fastgrrrl’s and the Mistress’s costumes were better. In Marit’s case, I’m sure that winning the Bart Gillespie Team Replica Cannondale X4 cyclocross frame in the raffle makes up for it …

Fox even had a beer … okay, okay, it was a Rare Vos (Flemish for “Sly Fox”), and he didn’t actually drink it, but it’s the closest I’ve seen.

Everyone seemed to have a blast except for one incident that caused a lot of stress for one particular individual. MG … I’m sorry I didn’t step-up a little more quickly … I have a tendency to try to avoid conflict, but I really hope you know that when it comes down to it, I’ve got your back … and I think things worked out in the end.

Thanks to Matt, Jon, Ellie, Gardie and Bruce for helping make this yet another fabulous season.

Thanks to Jennie for securing the facility for party, and dealing with the logistics with the caterer and security. Thanks to Rosie for the decorations.

Major thanks to the Doctor for the clinics at Sugarhouse Park … if any person can take credit for helping to grow the series here in Utah, you definitely deserve it. Enjoy the Ardberg, and if you feel like sharing, I know there are a few of us who’d love a taste.

But most of all, thanks to all the racers for coming out all season … I already can’t wait until next season.

… another Utah cyclocross season in the bag, over and done.

And while I didn’t race much this year; I think I only did two of the ten races, I had a fabulous season (I’ve been using that word way too much lately), primarily because of the people I’ve met and befriended this year, and friendships & acquaintances renewed.

So thanks to Matt, Jon & Ellie, the Reverend, Julie, Dayna, Theresa, Jennie, Bob & Lyna, Chris & Kathy, Sly, Nancy, Bart, Ali, Art, Sager (for those two races he was here), the good Doctor and everyone else who has made the past couple of months such a joy.

And for those of you going to Kansas City for Nationals … show ‘em that Utah produces some skills.

As Train would say, “Wake up, kick ass, repeat!”

Flickr Photo Download: Bart Gillespie

Utah Cyclocross State Championships on Saturday, 11/10/2007 at Wheeler Farm.

My race was not so good … one of my teammates flatted in the first half-lap; so I gave up my rear wheel to him so he could continue; especially considering that he paid to race (my entry fees are comp’ed since I help officiate and tear down the courses post-race).

Walked over to the pit area and grabbed my spare rear wheel, and got back on course; then flatted myself two laps later, and didn’t finish … so much for having DFL wrapped up; DNF is is even worse.

Kathy Sherwin, Women’s “A” State Champion

Jennie Wade, Women’s “B” State Champion

Dave Harward, Men’s 35+ State Champion

Jason Sager, winning the Singlespeed category

Bart Gillespie, Men’s “A” State Champion

Landis to appeal split decision ruling : Bike Biz

The three-man panel appointed by the US Anti Doping Authority to sit on the Floyd Landis hearing handed down a 2 to 1 decision against Landis on September 20th.

Both the majority decision and the dissent are available from the USADA website. Click on 2007. The majority decision is an 84-page PDF. The dissent is 26 pages.

The dissent by attorney Christopher Cambell, who has a long record of finding against athletes in doping hearings, was scathing of the anti-doping hearing procedures and severely critical of the Parisian drug-testing lab at the centre of the Landis case. The other two panel members were also critical of the French lab, throwing out the original screening tests, but deeming other results to be above board.

Regardless of whether or not Landis is actually guilty of doping, the fact remains that the system is fucked up, and the athletes are the ones getting screwed. Unless and until WADA and the IOC start holding their laboratories to the same high standards that a court would (at least, an American court, since I’m not as familiar with the justice systems in other nations), then there will always be questions.

Had this case been tried in a criminal court in the United States, it is very likely that Landis would have been found not guilty because there is certainly a reasonable doubt based on the inconsistencies in the lab reports. In a civil court, where preponderence of the evidence is the standard, the outcome is less clear, but on balance, if I were a juror, I would still find for Landis.

This doesn’t mean I think he is innocent; there is a vast difference between not guilty and innocent, but as Blackstone’s Formulation states, “it is better that ten guilty persons escape, than that one innocent suffer.”

If a guilty Landis ultimately manages to win his case, and forces change so that riders like Jason Sager and Bart Gillespie don’t have to deal with the bullshit they endured within the past couple of years, then it’s worth it.

Unfortunately, USADA and WADA seem to prefer Bismarck’s Complement, which states that “it is better that ten innocent men suffer, than that one guilty man escape.”

The Reverend Steven P. has got his ugly face on …

… while Steve Wasmund continues to rock the single-speed category. Wonder how he’d do if he manned up and rode gears against Bart without doing the single-speed category first?