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Conclusions:
Being a part of the CRY or Lazer Series is just as essential to achieving a good turnout, as is a race directors repuation for putting on a quality event.
Tuesday Night Cross (entry data not included) is growing in popularity.

Theories:
Fewer riders appear to be racing both days on the same weekend. This could be due to the costs involved, too many racing opportunites, or the increased length of the cross season.

The MCF Board is meeting to discuss lessons learned from this Cyclocross Season, with the goal of improving the MN Cross scene for 2012.

Newly crowned MN State Cyclocross Champion, CJ Faulkner (Crossniacs), won the final race of the Minnesota Cross Season, the GP Zac Daab. It was a hotly contested battle with Pat Lemieux (Specialized), with the two of them locked together until Faulkner pushed past Lemieux within sight of the line. Jesse Rients (Kuhl/Bicycle Fit Guru) earned 3rd place, in a bikethrow over Matt Peterson (Balance Fitness/Erik's). Matt Allen (Behind Bars/LGR) finished 5th.

MN State Championship runner-up, Bianca Bergman, took the top honors for the Elite Women in a close 3-way fight with Jeanne Fleck (Velo Duluth) - 2nd, and Linda Sone (CycleSmart.com/Flanders) - 3rd. Terra James (Sweet and Salty Cycling) lost touch after crashing, finishing 4th.

Cold temps and calm winds, greeted the racers on a course which was dusted with 1-2 inches of snow the day before. The course was run in the reverse direction from yesterday's MN State Championships. Sunny skies made for a beautiful day at the final event in the Lazer Sport Cyclocross Super Series, albeit a little sloppy for the later day races.

The elite men's series title was to be a showdown between current leader Rients and 2nd position Chris Fisher (Crossniacs). Faulkner marked Rients early in the race to help his teammate, while Lemieux and Allen attacked off the front. Once the front group caught the leading duo, Faulkner went on the attack, taking only Lemieux with him. Lap after lap ticked by as Lemieux continued to stick to CJ's wheel. Lemieux made his move to the front on the far side of the course, only to have Faulkner push past as they approached the sandpit, and take the victory. Rients was able to distance himself from a fading Fisher, to seal his Lazer Series victory, with Peterson finishing well enough to move up to 2nd in the overall.

A huge thanks to title sponsor Lazer Sport for a great cross series, and HUP united and Biketrow Racing for putting on a great weekend of events. Good luck to all the local racers as they push on to Cross Nationals in January in Madison, WI.

Lazer Sport Cyclocross Super Series Elite Men's Podium

Lazer Sport Cyclocross Super Series Elite Women's Podium

Complete Lazer Sport Cyclocross Super Series Results can be viewed here: http://www.mcf.net/index.php/competitions/laser-sport-cx-super-series?view=series&seriesKey=35&layout=details

For the 2nd year in succession, a Wisconsin rider spoiled the party at the MN State Cyclocross Championships. Last year it was Specialized rider Mark LaLonde. This year, it was 16 year-old Jordan Cullen (Clif Bar Development Cross Team) taking the win at Minnesota's biggest cyclocross event of the year. The rider, who hails from just across the border in Hudson, WI, overcame a 20 second deficit, catching CJ Faulkner (Crossniacs) just after the barriers as they approached the finish. Jesse Rients (Kuhl/Bicycle Fit Guru), Matt Peterson (Balance/Eriks), and Matt Allen (Behind Bars/LGR) finished 3rd, 4th, and 5th, respectively. As Cullen is a Wisconsin resident, the 2011 MN State Cyclocross Elite Men's title goes to Faulkner.

Snowy, blustery, and cold conditions were a factor in the races later in the day. Nothing compared to the blizzard conditions of last year, but it certainly wasn't just any day in the Park. The biggest challenge for riders was iced up cleats, making it difficult to clip back into their pedals, which made for a scary ride down the hill after the stair run-up.

Jenna Rinehart (specialized) chose to ride her mountain bike, and it proved to me the right choice. She made quick work of the Elite Women's field, riding away almost immediately, and growing her gap all the way to the finish. The battle for 2nd place was much tighter, with Bianca Bergman (Texas Roadhouse) out-sprinting Linda Sone (CycleSmart.com/Flanders) for the honor. Jeanne Fleck (Velo Duluth), and Terra James (Sweet and Salty Cycling) finished 4th and 5th, respectively.

In the Elite Men's race, Cullen was first off the line, but Jay "Hollywood" Henderson (Silver Cycling) would not be denied the hole shot, overtaking the youngster going around the ball field. A large group of over a dozen riders were still in contention after the first lap, led through by Cullen, Hollywood, Faulkner, and 2009 winner Doug Swanson (GrandStay Hotels). By the end of the 2nd lap, Cullen and Faulkner had separated themselves from the pack, with Swanson the closest chaser. By the halfway point, Swanson faded, and Rients had taken over 3rd position followed by Peterson and Masters 35+ leader, Chris Smith (HUP United). Contender Josh Roeser (Crossniacs/Bicycle Fit Guru) pull his hamstring and was out of the race, and his teammate Chris Fisher struggled with the cold, and pulled out as well. 2008 winner Pat Lemieux (Specialized) was not on a good day, but was still having fun, doing cross-ups off the bumps near the finish line.

With 4 laps to go, Faulkner dropped young Cullen and made his bid for glory. His lead grew to over 20 seconds with 2 laps to go, and Rients was closing in on 2nd place. Then the youngster seemed to find a second wind, and started charging forward towards the leader. As Rients fell back into a solid 3rd place, Cullen halved his gap to the front by the start of the bell lap. Faulkner still held a solid gap at the top of the stairs, but Cullen would not relent. The charge continued, and the catch was made right at the barriers, just a few turns before the finish. Cullen carried his momentum all the way to the line, posting up as the crowd looked on in bewilderment. An amazing comeback that no one, not even the winner himself could have predicted.

A hearty congratulations to all the newly crowned MN State Cyclocross Champions. A big thanks to HUP United and BikeThrow Racing for putting on an amazing event. Hope to see you Sunday at the season finale and final race of the Lazer Sport Cyclocross Super Series, the GP Zac Daab.