Saturday brought the return of what most Minnesotan cyclocross racers believe to be the best race of the year - the State Championship. With all the classic features of cyclocross, the state championships is also a magnet for those feverish, CX-loving fans. Despite being cold, it became a beautiful day to race and the racing was fantastic.

The Championship was held at Basset Creek Park in Crystal, MN - as it usually is. However, big changes greeted the racers this year. The course had swollen to a length of 2+ miles, and left no corner of the park untouched. The most entertaining new feature of the course was the addition of the sand volleyball court. Many leads were lost in the sand pit, and bottle-necks were plentiful. Genuine mileage was the next most notable change. Where last year's course was fairly technical with a nasty off-camber climb and switchback, this years course was longer, faster and flatter. Advantage went to the roadie this year with a lot more time in the grass.

The cornerstone of the Championship Race has been and remains the stairway run-up in the wooded section. Hated by racers, loved by fans, the hill became the nucleus of this year's hardcore cheering section. A notorious few - and you know who you are- were there with whisky hand-ups for racers (and one photographer!-wink,wink) with a different kind of thirst. Along with the several forms of alcoholic hand-ups, were dollar bill fan-primes. One of the junior racers was particularly excited about this ritual- love those junior racers!

It was a good day to watch another exciting edition of the battle of the Linda's, as Linda Cooper (Great Plains) and Linda Sone (Ridley) took turns trying to be the Women's State Champ. Jenna Zander (Specialized) joined in and grabbed 2nd, but it was Linda Sone who had the legs to win- thus keeping her title as Minnesota's CX Women's champion.

In the men's elite race the usual local fast guys were throwing themselves at this race. Adam Bergman (Texas Roadhouse), Pat Lemieux (Bianchi-GP) Dewey Dickey (Flanders) and Dan Swanson (Grandstay) and a few more were driving the race hard. Wisconsin sent one of the LaLonde brother to represent. James hung with the lead group on his singlespeed, even swapping lead a few times. At the line it was 21 year-old Lemieux who was able to pull away from first the lead group, and then finally Dickey to be come the 2008 MN Cyclocross Champ. Very entertaining race, gentlemen.

Oh, and James LeLonde(Ellis Cycles), who is better known as the little brother of Marko and Jesse LeLond, is making a name for himself with performances like the one he made on Saturday. He finished strong on that singlespeed to capture 4th overall.

Big thanks to Hollywood Cycles, Birchwood Cafe, Kenwood Racing and Silver Cycling for putting on another great race to cap the season.
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Photos by T.C. Worley:
http://generation-outdoors.com/gobeta807/index.php/v/TCworley/statecx09/?q=gallery