2010 Minnesota Cyclocross State Championship

Here is the start of the 2010 Elite Men's Minnesota Cyclocross State Championship race.

I was on the team of promoters that organized the race. I am also seen starting this event. I am just to the left of the lead rider, Hollywood Jay Henderson in the black and white kit, in the blue helmet and black kit. I did not finish this race.

The promoter team arrived at the venue before 6am. The course was clear and dry with green grass in the park fields. Within an hour it started snowing. At the start of this race, the last race of the day, there was nearly 6 inches of snow on the ground. 

There was no way that we were going to be able to clear the snow before the races were set to start. We hoped that the course would get "ridden in" as the day went along but the snow came too fast and nothing more than a 12" single track strip was rideable for much of the circuit. There were a few sections protected from the weather where it was possible to pass. But the most part it was just single file riding along behind the person in front of you until you reached one of those open sections. 

I did not appreciate it at the time but it was one of the most absurd and entertaining days of bike racing that I can remember. You can see more images from this race online here. The image below really captured the day.