'05 MadCross Video Debut

MadCross.org has been traveling around the Midwest checking out as many cross races as possible.  Travel has taken us to eight races in five weeks, to races in four states, over more than 100 barriers, 15 times though sand pits and up 47 run ups. 

However, MadCross.org is happy to finally release its first video for 2005 featuring short but exciting video from Lapham Peak.  Watch for more releases in the near future including Yellowstone Lake, Cincinnati UCI race, and Cam-Rock.

Cam-Rock Cross

Overcast skies greeted riders on a true cyclocross day.  Threats of rain and early morning mist brought the riders out in huge numbers to race at the always popular Cam-Rock Cyclocross race.

A  Men and 30+ Photos
A Women and 40+ and 50+ Photos
B Men and B Women Photos
Junior Photos
C Men and C Women Photos

Chicago Cross Cup

Illinois and Wisconsin riders gathered at Jackson Park in Chicago for Race 2 of the Chicago Cross Cup series.  Riders charged around the flat park hurtling themselves over 6 barriers: one at the base of a hill, one set of three on the flats and one last set of two on the flats.  Towards the end of a lap riders crossed over a drainage culvert, then rode across an off camber slope and back up.  The race had a truly urban feel and if you saw beer bottles on the trail you knew you had gone off course.

Clarification on Women's Prizes

A Men Photos

Cyclocross Wisconsin Style - Badger Cross

The Wisconsin Cycling Association Cyclocross Series race number three sponsored by Madison’s women’s cycling team, Capitol Velo Club, set record attendance and served as the introduction to the sport for many area cyclists.  Thanks to a growing interest in cyclocross roadies and mountain bikers alike came out to try their hand at Badger Prairie County Park. 

With temperatures in the mid-60s it couldn’t have been a better day to try out the sport.  With a race course featuring corner after corner, both sides of a sand volleyball court, a hill run-up with log “steps” and one set of barriers the course offered a little something for everyone.  The mixture of asphalt, dirt track, and gravel made this a true cyclocross course with plenty of transitions from one terrain to another to let the riders test their bike handling skills. (more)

UW Whitewater Cross rocks Lake Yellowstone

It was a beautiful fall day at Yellowstone Lake State Park for a cross race.  Temps were around 60 degrees and from the top of the race course you could see all the trees changing colors.

However, this was not a race course for everyone.  Bumpy downhills and lung busting climbs characterized the day.  The two sets of barriers were both hill run-ups (oh those wacky college kids love to make people suffer).  Very little relief was found on the course as you were either hanging on for dear life flying down a fast bumpy section or praying your legs wouldn't give out on one of the many uphills. (more)

Wisconsin Cross gets started!!

It was a scorching day of racing at WCA Cyclocross Series Race #1, Moe’s Burrito Cross brought to us by CZ Velo Club.  Not only were the temperatures scorching but so was the racing!

Moe's Burrito Cross saw record numbers of racers in attendance... (more)

Michigan UCI Races Kick Off Cyclocross Season

Tailwind's 2005 Cyclo-Cross Race Series started off with a BANG at Waterford Hills Race Track.  The UCI 'Cross Weekend sponsored by Kinetic Systems Bicycles drew racers from as far away as California to compete for the season's first UCI points...
(more)

US Gran Prix Set to Come Ashore in Gloucester

Breaking News: Early results show Matt Kelly finishing 5th Overall and 4th for Elite Men at race 1 in Gloucester.  The race had hard driving snow, bitter cold and mud. 

Matt finished 13th in Race 2 and Tristan Schouten finished 19th.   Wisconsin native Megan Monroe was 17th in the Elite Women's race.

Known throughout the Northeast as “New England Worlds,” the October 29-30 double treat of the Michelob ULTRA Grand Prix of Cyclocross races, at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester, Mass., marks the East Coast debut of the 2005 Crank Brothers US Gran Prix of Cyclocross. The traditional seaside venue, long one of the highlights of New England circuit, attracts riders from all over North America with its guarantee of big crowds, fast racing, and a grab bag of autumnal weather conditions. Whether soaked in late-October sun or blasted by ocean driven rain, Gloucester's sweeping sandy race course never fails to foster back-and-forth racing with thrilling sprint finishes.

At the Gran Prix will be a number of regular WCA Cyclocross Series racers including Matt Kelly, Earandale Fingerson, Kurt Refsnider, Jim Holmes, Brian Matter and Tristan Schouten.  Other Wisconsin-based riders (who usually race in Minnesota) will also be in attendance including current Junior National Champion Bjorn Selander as well as Jacob Stechman.

Wisconsin may not be the state most associated with cyclocross but with all the riders headed out east that perception is set to change.

Don't miss the Jingle Cross Rock

Ho! Ho! Ho! Get ready to Rock!...The Jingle Cross Rock is coming to town...and in a BIG way on Sunday, November 27th, 2005, in Iowa City, Iowa

This year, all proceeds from the event go to The Children's Hospital of Iowa. With a single day prize list of $4000 including $800 as the top prize in the A race, this will be the premier cyclocross event in the Midwest this year. On-line registration is available through Bikereg.com.

Check out the website at www.JingleCrossRock.com for details. Pre-registration enters the rider in the drawing for a cool list of swag from local bike shops and area merchants.
 

FI'ZIK Saddle and Team TIAA-CREF/Clif Bar Partner on Saddle

October 8, 2005 - Fi’zi:k and Team TIAA-CREF - Clif Bar have teamed up to launch fi’zi:k’s new Nisene High Performance saddle. The Nisene, named for Nisene Marks State Park in Santa Cruz, California, was one of the first saddles ever produced under the fi’zi:k brand name (1996), which at the time, were distributed and co-designed by Giro. Even today, while the saddle has remained in the production line-up, many Nisene fans are still riding the 10-year old model with the Design by Giro logo firmly attached to the side.

Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks - The Nisene, a worldwide and long time favorite of cross country pro and enthusiast riders, has undergone a dual technical and aesthetic transformation. The changes not only make the new Nisene HP the perfect cross country saddle, but also suit it to the rough courses that define cyclo cross racing.   (More)
 

Cross Nats Registration on Record Pace, B Race split into Age Groups

More than seven weeks before the event promoters of the Liberty Mutual U.S. National Cyclo-cross Championships report registration at a record pace. "We have a happy problem," said Tom Stevens, race director. "We are approaching 1,000 pre-registered riders and we're still more than a month out."

The highest registration, ironically, is for a non-championship event known as the 'B' race. "Apparently everybody wants to ride the roller coaster we're building," said Richard Fries, communications director. "The total number of racers in all categories will easily exceed the 1,200 mark we expected."

The promoters have altered Sunday's schedule to allow them to split the B field into an older and younger category, with the break point at age 35. The split proved nearly even. "We've created a 35-plus group and an under-34 group," noted Stevens. "We're calling it B-plus and B-minus," said Lyle Fulkerson, operations director. "This is a testament to a number of things. The East Coast cyclo-cross scene has grown considerably since the nationals were last held in this time zone in 2001. This is also a testament to the sport's continued growth elsewhere. We're standing atop the shoulders of promoters in Portland, Seattle, Northern California, The Rockies and other growing cyclo-cross hotspots."

The 2005 Liberty Mutual U.S. National Cyclo-cross Championships is a production of the New England Cyclo-cross Association. For more information visit Cyclocross Nationals

Registration Open for Liberty Mutual Cyclo-cross Nationals
Promoters Launch Website Dedicated to Dec

September 25, 2005
Registration for the 2005 Liberty Mutual U.S. National Cyclo-cross Championships is officially open. Electronic registration is being handled at Bike Reg. Complete race information is available at Cyclocross Nationals. “We went live with the presence on BikeReg last weekend. The response impressed us,” said Richard Fries, communications director. “ We simply hoped to let the site run and work out the bugs over the weekend. We had 50 people register in the first hour and more than 200 after one business day.”

Traditional entries may be mailed to the New England Cyclo-cross Association, Suite 304, 1165 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, MA, 02476. The New England Cyclo-cross Association is encouraging all competitors to carefully read the information on the website as it pertains to mechanics, lodging, travel, and rider protocol.

“We’re expecting the largest turnout for any cyclo-cross race ever held in America,” said Tom Stevens, race director. “With so many competitors we want to make sure racers, mechanics, and teams have as few surprises as possible. We worked hard to hammer out these details early.” The 2005 Liberty Mutual U.S. National Cyclo-cross Championships will be held Dec. 9-11 in Roger Williams Park in Providence, R.I.