The time of year when disappointment sets in when the sun shines and the sky is clear. Cyclocross is synonymous with muddy chains and freezing riders. When men and women attempt to hold onto their fitness for months extending across the Holidays, simply to race their friends across dirt, sand, water, obstacles and yes, snow.
I confess I attended only 1 local criterium race this summer in Colorado. My calendar was filled with pro races in the States and abroad with lots of travel, but when it comes to cyclocross, I plan to be out there many weekends this cold winter. Cyclocross in Colorado is a relaxed entertaining friendly sport, and one that is certainly on the rise for men, women, juniors, and kids.
With perfect timing
Cross Vegas (in Las Vegas, Nevada) sort of kicks off the cyclocross season. Cross Vegas is the #1 reason to go to Las Vegas, Interbike is #2, there is no #3.
Cross Vegas and Interbike are just over a week away and I will be going for two quick days. I have been reading the tech reports from Eurobike and although
Interbike is not as big or well represented as Eurobike, it is the best offered in North America, so all those interested in the latest greatest from bicycle and equipment manufacturers file into Las Vegas to see shiny new cycling related things.
The other day I went to my first local cyclocross race of the year in Colorado Springs. Amy Dombroski was there, she will be racing at Cross Vegas on September 19th in Las Vegas (for her new team Telenet Fidea), she was second in the womens race in 2011 behind Katerina Nash, who will not be racing at Cross Vegas 2012, although Georgia Gould will be there, (see the 2012
USA Cycling Women Open start list for Cross Vegas).
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| Amy Dombroski, last Saturday in Colorado Springs ©Photo by Karen at PedalDancer.com |
We can also expect some big names for the USA Cycling Men Cat. 1-3 including Americans Ryan Trebon (riding for his new team cyclocrossworld.com/Cannondale), Tim Johnson, Todd Wells, Jamie Driscoll, Jeremy Powers, Chris Jones, Zach McDonald, Jonathan Page, and Geoff Kabush. Also Europeans Lars Van der Haar (2011 winner), Rob Peeters, Bart Wellens, Ben Berden, Arnaud Jouffrey, Niels Wubben, Lukas Fluckinger and Lukas Winterberg. Cross Vegas 2012 should be very entertaining.
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| Tim Johnson, 2 weeks ago in Aspen, representing Cannondale ©Photo by Karen at PedalDancer.com |
I will be taking more photos from Interbike and following up on the very popular pieces I did last year about
Specialized Bikes and
BMC Bikes. Sorry Colnago, Pinarello, Trek, and Cannondale bikes will not be on exhibit at Interbike. Giant, BMC, Specialized, Fuji, BH, Scott, and Cervelo will be exhibiting. There will also be lots of pedals, tires, wheels, saddles, and apparel to drool over.
For now check the dates of these cyclocross races in Colorado, mark your Calendar, and get out to see or race a cyclocross race in your local town. To see the best of the best, try to attend the
New Belgium US GranPrix of Cyclocross in Fort Collins on October 13 to 14, 2012. What is cyclocross - this
video should give you the feel of the sport.
Full Schedule of all races at the BRAC website:
Calendar of cycling races in Colorado. Racers for full details view (.pdf):
www.coloradocycling.org Calendar. To view this list of races in
date order go to:
COLORADO CYCLING PAGE. (**silver, ***gold)
Denver/Aurora/Brighton
09/15/12, Saturday -
Kick It CX Festival and TT, Brighton
09/30/12 Sunday -
Adrenalin CX, Highlands Ranch
11/11/12, Sunday - Mile High Urban Cross Chaos, Denver
11/18/12, Sunday - Alpha Cross, Centennial ***
Arvada/Golden/Morrison
09/23/12, Sunday -
Queens of Cross, Arvada/Golden
09/29/12, Saturday -
Primalpalooza, Arvada/Golden
11/04/12, Sunday -
Routine Leg Works Cyclo-Cross, Golden
11/25/12, Sunday - Green Mountain Sports #1, Morrison
12/09/12, Sunday - Green Mountain Sports #2, Morrison
Parker/Castle Rock
11/24/12, Saturday - Parker CX **
12/02/12, Sunday - Castle Cross, Castle Rock ***
Louisville/Lafayette/Westminster/Broomfield
10/20/12, Saturday -
Boulder Racing CX Series #3 - Interlocken, Broomfield **
11/10/12, Saturday -
CycloX- Sienna Lake, Broomfield **
12/01/12, Saturday -
CycloX- Louisville **
12/08/12, Saturday -
Boulder Racing #5, Westminster ***
Boulder
09/16/12, Sunday -
Boulder Racing CX Series #1 - Valmont Park
10/27/12, Saturday -
CO Cross Classic (UCI - C2), Valmont Park **
10/28/12, Sunday -
Victory Circle Graphics Boulder Cup (UCI - C2), Valmont Park ***
11/17/12, Saturday -
Boulder Racing #4 TBA **
Longmont
09/22/12, Saturday -
Boulder Racing CX Series #2 - Xilinx
10/21/12, Sunday - Blue Sky Velo Cup Xilinx **
11/03/12, Saturday - Schoolyard Cross, Longmont **
Fort Collins/Loveland
10/13-14/12, Saturday-Sunday -
New Belgium USGP , Fort Collins
12/15/16/12, Saturday-Sunday - States CX with Cross of the North, Loveland **
*
Colorado Springs
11/04/12, Sunday - Fall Back Cross
Summit County/Buena Vista
10/06/12, Saturday - Frisco **
10/07/12, Sunday - Cross the River, Buena Vista
**
Junior Cyclocross Camp
October 5-6-7, 2012, Fri-Sun -
Junior CX Camp, Loveland (see
BRAC events)
Nationals/World Championships
January 4-8, 2012 -
USAC National Championships, Madison, WI
January 29-February1, 2012 -
UCI Masters World Championships, Louisville, KY
February 2-3, 2012 -
UCI Elite World Championships, Louisville, KY
Photos from the Pikes Peak Velo Campus Cross cyclocross race in Colorado Springs last Saturday:
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| ©Photo by Karen at PedalDancer.com |
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| ©Photo by Karen at PedalDancer.com |
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| ©Photo by Karen at PedalDancer.com |
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| ©Photo by Karen at PedalDancer.com |
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| ©Photo by Karen at PedalDancer.com |
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| ©Photo by Karen at PedalDancer.com |
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| ©Photo by Karen at PedalDancer.com |
