(*NOTE: We have paid Drew Coleman for these images. If you download these and share them without purchasing them from him, you are stealing his property and that’s not cool.)
The penultimate race of the Cyclocross Crusade series was held at Barton Park in Estacada Sunday. The racing was more intense than usual because the event doubled as the 2019 Oregon State Championships. That means winners of each category would be named State Champion and would earn the right to wear the coveted jersey that goes along with the honor.
From all reports, it appears race organizers created a challenge fitting of champions. Here’s a dispatch from photographer Drew Coleman, who captured the action for us:
Drizzle and foggy conditions greeted racers and the sun never did find its way through. Once again the course remained dry and a muddy race still eludes us. Barton Park was the host of the OBRA State Championships this year and the Cyclocross Crusade crew made some course changes that really added to the technical challenges. Mixed in with long, false flat sections were a few off-camber sections with drops and run-ups. Very challenging. This year there was no pavement at all – just gravel, dirt, some grass and lots of rocks. A lot of tubulars met their demise and more than one racer had to abandon. The racing was fantastic – lots of battles out there for the coveted OBRA Champion jersey and a chance to stand on a podium.
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And here’s more of the action…
Just one more race in the Cyclocross Crusade series remains as the final event takes over Kruger’s Farm on Sauvie Island this coming Sunday.
And don’t forget to add a new race to your calendar: The inaugural Bridge City CX happens November 24th at Oaks Park (a new venue!) thanks to the promotional efforts of Sellwood Cycle Repair and owner Erik Tonkin.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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