Cyclocross Nationals UnderwayThe 2008 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships kick off Thursday, December 11th in Kansas City, MO. Defending Elite Men’s champion Tim Johnson and Women’s Elite champion Katie Compton will be among the nearly 1,800 riders that have registered for the 38 races scheduled to take place between Thursday and Sunday at Kansas City’s Tiffany Springs Park. Johnson is currently ranked 3rd in the men’s point standings, while Compton occupies 7th place in the women’s standings.

Men’s Top 5 Point Standings

  1. Ryan Trebon (Kona, Bend, OR) 500

  2. Jeremy Powers (Cyclocrossworld.Com/Cannondale, Hadley, MA) 479

  3. Tim Johnson (Cyclocrossworld.Com/Cannondale, Middleton, MA) 431

  4. Todd Wells (GT, Durango. CO) 412

  5. Jamey Driscoll (Cyclocrossworld.Com/Cannondale, Jericho, VT) 400

Women’s Top 5 Point Standings

  1. Georgia Gould (Luna Chix, Fort Collins, CO) 229

  2. Laura Van Gilder (C3 Sollay, Cresco, PA) 194

  3. Natasha Elliott (EMD Serono/Stevens, CAN) 175

  4. Maureen Bruno-Roy (MM Racing, Arlington, MA) 168

  5. Rachel Lloyd (California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized, Fairfax, CA) 156

If you are heading to KCMO, be sure to check out the Mud and Blood Ball kick-off party on Thursday, starting at 7:00 p.m. at the Mission Theatre, 5903 Johnson Drive, Mission, KS. The party will feature showings of the cyclocross films Zero Traction and 9 Ball Diaries, great food, awesome beer, the ever-popular swag giveaway, and a few surprises.

The complete Cyclocross National event schedule and more information is available at www.kccrossnationals.com.

Click here for Dirt Rag‘s coverage from the 2007 Cyclocross Nationals, and check out 2007’s muddy action in this Dirt Rag photo gallery.