While it won’t make for the epic imagery usually associated with cyclo-cross, sunny, warm weather is expected in the San Francisco Bay Area this weekend, the site for the finale of the 2005 Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross series.

Instead of the snowstorm conditions racers faced at race 3 of the series October 29 in Gloucester, Massachusetts, competitors will revel in the sunbathed tradition of West Coast cyclo-cross. Saturday’s Surf City Cyclocross, at the Watsonville Fairgrounds just outside of Santa Cruz, and Sunday’s Clark Natwick Grand Prix, in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. The weekend will close out the second edition of North America’s only coast-to-coast national cyclo-cross series.

The Santa Cruz Surf City Cyclocross Series celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, with the Watsonville Fairgrounds standing as one of the annual sites for the region’s "jungle ‘cross" tradition. But 2005 and the arrival of the U.S. Gran Prix to Watsonville mark the first UCI Cat 1 race in the series’ history.

The dry conditions will be favorable to top U.S. pro road racer Chris Horner (Saunier Duval-Prodir), who is scheduled to make his major ‘cross debut in Santa Cruz in the elite men’s race. Horner will be hitting the challenging course to see if his legs and skills are up to those of U.S. Gran Prix series leaders Tim Johnson (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau), Mark McCormack (Team Clif Bar) and Barry Wicks (Kona).

USGP series co-leader Ryan Trebon (Kona), tied with Johnson atop the standings, will miss the final weekend due to his European racing schedule. Also absent will be Giant’s Adam Craig, currently third in the overall standings, just three points behind Trebon and Johnson. Craig is in Cape Town, South Africa, to participate in the Red Bull Cape Town Man relay adventure race alongside Ironman triathlete Tim DeBoom.

Wicks, an Oregonian who recently moved to Santa Cruz, is interested in seeing just how Horner will hang with the top ‘cross racers in the country.

"Who knows what he’ll be able to do?" Wicks said. "I think a top-five result would be pretty hard to come by. I don’t know if I give him that much credit. It’s a lot harder than most people think to make the transition. ‘Cross skills are what you need for a top-five spot. You can’t just come by on pure speed. I think he’ll be hard-pressed to be in there, but that’s just my take. He could kick my ass, having said that."

Inspired by the energy and trailblazing of NorCal’s own godfather of cyclo-cross, Sunday’s Clark Natwick Grand Prix will close out the 2005 USGP on the Polo Grounds of San Francisco’s legendary Golden Gate Park. The fast, technical course promises racing that remains faithful to the tradition of Natwick’s legacy in the sport. The final day in San Francisco could see any one of several elite men pulling on the overall champion’s white jersey. McCormack, the winner of race 2 in Tacoma, and Johnson, a winner in the snow in Gloucester, lead the list of candidates for the series title.

Wicks, who sits third, 40 points behind Johnson and 16 points behind McCormack, points to the series rule that allows the lowest score to be tossed out. Like his teammate Trebon, Wicks did not earn any points in the snowy race 3 in Gloucester. In determining the overall series winners in each category, each rider’s final points tally will be based on the best five of six race events.

"If you count the drop race, I’m still right there," Wicks said. "If I win one race and beat Tim the second day, I could win the series. That’s my goal this weekend."

On the women’s side, the pink-and-purple armada of Northern California’s own Velo Bella squad, six women strong, will try to use the home-course advantage to unseat the apparently unstoppable Canadian Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau), winner of the opening four rounds of the U.S. Gran Prix. With Bessette so far ahead in the standings, the battle for second place between Barbara Howe and Ann Knapp will prove who is the top American woman in 2005, a boost of confidence heading into next month’s national championships.

Like Bessette, U23 rider Jesse Anthony appears to have a near-lock on the overall series, with a 43-point lead over TIAA-CREF-Clif Bar rider Troy Wells. The tightest of all battles belongs to the juniors, where national junior champion Bjorn Selander (Alan Factory Team) leads Danny Summerhill (TIAA-CREF-Clif Bar) by a mere four points, 174 to 170.

No Santa Cruz ‘cross race would be complete without a theme and this year’s falls into the surf/tiki beach party realm. A Kiddie Kross 12-and-under race will also highlight the day on a purpose built mini-‘cross course for the next generation of ‘cross champions. And with Bay Area adult shop Good Vibrations sponsoring the Surf City event, along with the Velo Bellas’ infamous brand of festivities, Wicks predicts there "might be a little bit of craziness" in Watsonville.

Check back to VeloNews.com Saturday evening for race reports from Watsonville, and again on Sunday for the San Francisco write-up and series overall standings.

Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross
Overall series standings
Elite men
1. Ryan Trebon, Kona, 140 points
1. Tim Johnson, Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau, 140
3. Adam Craig, Giant, 137
4. Mark McCormack, Clif Bar, 116
5. Barry Wicks, Kona, 100

Elite women
1. Lyne Bessette, Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau, 200 points
2. Barbara Howe, Velo Bella, 140
3. Ann Knapp, Kona, 124
4. Wendy Simms, Kona, 103
5. Melissa Thomas, Tokyo Joe’s, 102

U23 men
1. Jesse Anthony, Clif Bar, 190 points
2. Troy Wells, TIAA-CREF-Clif Bar, 147
3. Christian Meier, Symmetrics, 114

Points schedule
Placing/points
1. 50
2. 40
3. 34
4. 30
5. 26
6. 23
7. 20
8. 17
9. 14
10. 12

FOCUS First Lap Competition Standings
Elite men – Ryan Trebon (Kona), 14
Elite women – Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com/Louis Garneau), 22
Junior men – Bjorn Selander (Alan Factory), 22
Masters men – Chris D’Alusio (Morgan Stanley-Specialized) and Chris Peck (Fior di Frutta), 14