Snow!  Not much snow, just enough to make things interesting as Utah put the wrap on its 2009 Cyclocross Season.  Saturday's race featured another scenic locale, the Fort Buevnaventura State Park in Ogden Utah.  The race offered up double points for placings, so there was a solid turn out.  The Church Of The Big Ring crew walked off with the team bragging  rights for the series with wins by Art O'Conner and Ali Goulet.  

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Historic Wheeler Farm.  A twisty, scenic romp through a recreated settlement era Utah farmstead.  

The racing featured Air Gillespie (Mona-Vie/Cannondale)....

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Saturday November 21 saw the Utah State Cyclocross Championship races contested.  The venue was the Wasatch County Fairgrounds, Heber City Utah. 

The Men's A Flight Under Deteriorating Conditons

Early racing took place under fair skies.  Later racers got to experience plummeting temperatures and increasingly winter-like conditions.

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Sunday marked the second running of Cutthroat Cross.  The race is sponsored by Uinta Brewing and put on by Cutthroat Racing.  The course was a fast grass surface, with a sharp run up and a nice picnic grove slalom.  The race featured a mass start format, in which anyone who considered themselves an A racer, male or female, all started together, likewise B's and C's. This and the wide open course made for very spectator friendly racing.  Without further delay the  pictures....

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Bart Gillespie (Mona-Vie/Cannondale) leads the men's A flight

More Cyclocross from the Weber County Fairgrounds, Ogden Utah.  The usual suspects showed up and there was a bit of racing.  There are a few words and pictures, to share on the flip.

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This just arrived in my inbox.  It was around twitter earlier in the day.  Sad news out of Salt Lake City.  This is the press release:

Steve Miller, President of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah presented by Zions Bank, announced today the passing of Executive Director, Terry McGinnis, after a prolonged battle with cancer.  “Terry was the heart and soul of the Tour and will be missed.  His passion for the race was a deciding factor in the success of the event,” said Miller.  “All of us on the staff as well as friends of the race will miss him dearly and will do all that we can to continue the event in his honor and make him proud.”   McGinnis was with the Tour of Utah for four years in different capacities.  In 2006 he was a radio commentator, in 2007 he served as a consultant to Chairman Greg Miller, and in 2008-09 he held the executive director position.   As executive director, McGinnis hired key personnel, designed the course, acted as liaison with USA Cycling, secured sponsors and merchandise partners, selected teams to invite, and oversaw marketing and public relations efforts.

  McGinnis raced professionally for more than 20 years, spending 10 of those as an Elite Cat 1 cyclist.  He was forced to retire in 2007 due to cancer.  McGinnis continued to ride recreationally as his health allowed.

Wet cross! muddy cross! Good times had by all.  There were some souvenirs.  Day four of the Utah Cyclocross series saw overcast skies for all classes.  Then the mens's A's lined up.  A mild day turned into classic cross weather.  Chilly, wet and slimy.  The usually suspects turned up.  One individual was heard to comment, "You really have to love racing your bike to show up today."  In response, "You really have to love taking pictures..."   

Bo Pitkin (Church Of The Big Ring)

More on the flip.  Full gallery from the Utah Cyclocross Series

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