Cyclocross = awesome winter racing
Posted September 27, 2010
It’s approaching the end of the road cycling season, the Vuelta’s done, Paris-Tours and the World Champs are fast approaching. One final push for the pros before some well earned rest and the build up to next season begins. Far from slowing down, racing at this time of year gets, if anything, more competitive. Some riders without contracts for next year are desperately pushing for all the results they can get, and if you happen to be from a certain milk-company-sponsored German team, this might just be your last gasp.
Enter Cyclocross. The cycling world’s answer to winter cross countries in the same way that track cycling is the answer to indoor athletics. Cyclocross races are held on closed, off-road circuits consisting of steps, steep sharp climbs and all the mud and sandpits you could wish for
. In Europe the ‘cross scene is fiercely competitive, and races are held every weekend, normally on both Saturday and Sunday; the season runs from mid September and builds to the World Champs at the end of January.
Cyclocross is practically a religion in Belgium and its popularity is akin to football in this country, with thousands turning out to watch and many more going down to their local pub to drink, watch Cyclocross and generally have a good time. Of course this may have something to do with the fact that Belgium beer is considered to be some of the best in the world; just ask Bradley Wiggins, whose notorious beer collection kept him sane after a hugely successful 2004 Olympic Games. The Belgium’s have well and truly presided over the Cyclocross empire for a number of years, with Sven Nys and Neils Albert trading blows at the top of the sport; but the current rise of Cyclocross has brought in new talent which has really invigorated the racing and made it even more exciting!
If you’ve never watched a Cyclocross race, I urge you to! The courses are demanding and incite exciting racing which can last anything from half an hour to an hour. The action is so intense and there’s never a dull moment. As a predominantly road cyclist who occasionally dabbles in the odd bit of cross country mountain biking, I’d never really had much to do with Cyclocross until last winter. A fierce, and somewhat unhealthy, addiction to cyclingnews.com required fuelling, and Cyclocross drew me in. I was amazed by the sheer number of races and popularity of the sport, which is essentially it’s own entity, very separate from the road community.
Some high level road racers use ‘cross as a way of keeping fit over the winter. Riders like Lars Boom have been multiple world champions at Cyclocross and then moved on to have highly successful careers on the road; this year his victories have ranged from National Cyclocross Champion in his native Holland, to the prologue TT of Paris-Nice and 5th at E3 Prijis-Vlaanderen, not bad for a 24 year old! I’m no Lars Boom, but I’m considering giving ‘cross a go this year, the racing is so gripping from the outside, it’s got to be worth a go!
So if you take anything away from this article, remember that cycling is far from just a summer sport, we’ve got winter series’, Cyclocross and a whole plethora of track events. The 6 day scene is also huge in Belgium and comprises of late night and afternoon track racing events in velodromes with bars and clubs situated around the perimeter. What better way to spend a bleak winter evening than at a track, cold beer in hand and some of the most knowledgably cycling fans in the world; or sitting in a pub with a pint of Amstel, cheering on your favourite ‘cross stars. Here’s to hopefully being able to afford a winter holiday in Belgium!
