Race Thread

[Axel Hangleck]

I watched the first CX Hairs podcast of the season on You Tube.......
Cyclocross Radio Ep 347 | Cyclocross Is Still Here



It has to be said, the top US cyclists are not in CX, but Road, MTB, Gravel/ Lifetime GP........If they want to have a paid career, then CX isn't the sport to go to.

 

[stonerider]

I watched the first CX Hairs podcast of the season on You Tube.......
Cyclocross Radio Ep 347 | Cyclocross Is Still Here



It has to be said, the top US cyclists are not in CX, but Road, MTB, Gravel/ Lifetime GP........If they want to have a paid career, then CX isn't the sport to go to.

CX in the USA is a participation sport. We don't support the pro racers very well financially. It makes financial sense for the best cycling athletes to gravitate towards road, gravel, and XCO racing.

 

[theyoungest]

Van Empel announces she'll return for the cross season, and she's not returning to road racing (except in preparation for the winter). She just doesn't like it.

For a while I actually thought she was going to retire altogether, so this seems like good news for cross fans.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Van Empel announces she'll return for the cross season, and she's not returning to road racing (except in preparation for the winter). She just doesn't like it.

For a while I actually thought she was going to retire altogether, so this seems like good news for cross fans.

I saw this on Twitter, and I wonder where her future lies. Visma surely didn't sign her to concentrate on CX, and use Road for CX prep........I applaud her honesty. I recall Dutch MTB rider, Tom Schellekens, signed for Visma, and left after a season, as he wanted to prioritise XC racing.........

 

[theyoungest]

I saw this on Twitter, and I wonder where her future lies. Visma surely didn't sign her to concentrate on CX, and use Road for CX prep........I applaud her honesty. I recall Dutch MTB rider, Tom Schellekens, signed for Visma, and left after a season, as he wanted to prioritise XC racing.........

Different situations... Van Empel had a general lack of motivation, it sounds like she had some kind of burnout. She said she didn't feel anything when winning that 3d world title. Also, in terms of exposure, even if she doesn't race on the road she'll still be one of the more visible riders on the women's team.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Hope supercross round two womens and men's races on Sunday is live on TNT/Discovery in UK.

 

[jono]

Double win weekends for Andrew Strohmeyer and Maghalie Rochette at Go Cross (Virginia). Manon Bakker is stateside collecting UCI points again this season. No Europeans on the men's side doing the same.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

CX in the USA is a participation sport. We don't support the pro racers very well financially. It makes financial sense for the best cycling athletes to gravitate towards road, gravel, and XCO racing.

Yeah, it is a different feel. I race a little here in N. Cal (just did a CX clinic this past Saturday, actually), and it isn't the same feel as the bigger gravel and MTB races I went to this year. When there are Fireball handups and stuff, the vibe is just more of a party, friends racing friends kind of thing, that doesn't really travel. Everybody has their local thing, but there isn't much intertwining.

 

[jono]

Yeah, it is a different feel. I race a little here in N. Cal (just did a CX clinic this past Saturday, actually), and it isn't the same feel as the bigger gravel and MTB races I went to this year. When there are Fireball handups and stuff, the vibe is just more of a party, friends racing friends kind of thing, that doesn't really travel. Everybody has their local thing, but there isn't much intertwining.

Interesting perspective. Where I live (Canadian prairies) there no big gravel events nearby, so the provincial gravel events and provincial CX series draw mostly upon the same pool of riders in slightly different combinations.

To me the CX events feel like a bigger deal because there are more spectators, even if many of those are other riders waiting around for their own races.

It is lamentable that professional CX in North America does appear to be in a death spiral, but the idea of being a full time CX pro is a bit odd. Even most of the Euro cross peloton are riding lower level races in Belgium and smaller tours much of the spring and summer. It would truly be surprising if a North American cross pro found a way to make 2.5 month season lucrative.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Cat Ferguson putting Track & CX on hold while she concentrates on the Road; I can't say it is a surprise - Movistar have surely been keen for her to 'drop' non Road activities.
Canadian Champ Ian Ackert will also miss the CX season to rest and train for the 2026 MTB season........but US Champ, Vida Lopez de San Roman will base herself in Sittard during the winter......

 

[jono]

Pidcock unlikely to compete in CX this season: https://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/veldritwinter-hoogst-onzeker-voor-tom-pidcock/

Hope to see lots of good Vida-Holmgren battles this CX season.

 

[Davesta]

Pidcock unlikely to compete in CX this season: https://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/veldritwinter-hoogst-onzeker-voor-tom-pidcock/

Hope to see lots of good Vida-Holmgren battles this CX season.

That’s a shame, but not a surprise, after his long road season and with what will surely become an increased focus on the road next year following his Vuelta podium.

 

[jono]

That’s a shame, but not a surprise, after his long road season and with what will surely become an increased focus on the road next year following his Vuelta podium.

I guess I had completely forgotten, but he didn't race cyclocross at all last season either.

I guess I should read past just the headlines of the articles I share!

 

[Axel Hangleck]

To be honest, CX is his weakest discipline - and doesn't play to his strengths......flattish, heavy mud courses aren't really suitable for a lightweight rider.
I don't blame him for giving the Road more of a focus, but he'll still do the odd XCO race to keep his eye in - and probably win.

 

[jono]

Wout planning a bigger cross calendar this winter

Wout van Aert lost grote primeur over crosswinter

De races in Canada brachten niet meteen wat hij ervan had verwacht, komende zondag kan Wout van Aert dit seizoen nog een allerlaatste keer u...

www.wielernieuws.be

 

[jono]

After finishing second to Andrew Strohmeyer in the first two races of the USCX series last weekend, Eric Brunner flipped the script by beating Strohmeyer both days at Rochester.

In the women's event, Manon Bakker won on Saturday, breaking up Maghalie Rochette's perfect record, but Rochette resumed regular service by winning on Sunday.


In very local CX news (ie: my own racing), I had my first proper mud race in nearly 5 years of racing. Very poorly timed as I had just installed Challenge Chicanes (had a worn out rear and they were the only tubeless CX tire available at the shop the day I had time to go). Perfect tire for 95% of my races but not this one!

 

[Barkintheeye]

After finishing second to Andrew Strohmeyer in the first two races of the USCX series last weekend, Eric Brunner flipped the script by beating Strohmeyer both days at Rochester.

In the women's event, Manon Bakker won on Saturday, breaking up Maghalie Rochette's perfect record, but Rochette resumed regular service by winning on Sunday.


In very local CX news (ie: my own racing), I had my first proper mud race in nearly 5 years of racing. Very poorly timed as I had just installed Challenge Chicanes (had a worn out rear and they were the only tubeless CX tire available at the shop the day I had time to go). Perfect tire for 95% of my races but not this one!

Chicanes in a mud race 🫣

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Cross-country running and cyclocross could be added to Winter Olympics by 2030

Cross-country and cyclocross have a good chance of being added to the 2030 Winter Olympics in France, Sebastian Coe has predicted

www.theguardian.com

Coe’s comments carry weight given he sits on the IOC’s new Olympic programme working group, which has been tasked with looking at the size of the Games, ways for sports to be added or removed, and whether traditional summer or winter sports could cross over.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Calendar CX 2025/2026

04/10/2025 Meulebeke Exact Cross
18/10/2025 Essen Exact Cross
19/10/2025 Ruddervoorde Superprestige
25/10/2025 Heerderstrand Exact Cross
26/10/2025 Overijse Superprestige
01/11/2025 Oudenaarde X2O Trofee
02/11/2025 Lokeren X2O Trofee
08-09/11/2025 Middelkerke European
11/11/2025 Niel Superprestige
15/11/2025 Merksplas Superprestige
16/11/2025 Hamme X2O Trofee
23/11/2025 Tabor CDM
30/11/2025 Flamanville CDM
07/12/2025 Terralba CDM
13/12/2025 Kortrijk Exact Cross
14/12/2025 Namur CDM
20/12/2025 Antwerpen CDM
21/12/2025 Koksijde CDM
22/12/2025 Hofstade X2O Trofee
23/12/2025 Heusden-Zolder Superprestige
26/12/2025 Gavere CDM
28/12/2025 Dendermonde CDM
29/12/2025 Loenhout X2O Trofee
30/12/2025 Diegem Superprestige
01/01/2026 Baal X2O Trofee
02/01/2026 Mol Exact Cross
03/01/2026 Gullegem Superprestige
04/01/2026 Zonhoven CDM
10-11/01/2026 National Championships
18/01/2026 Benidorm CDM
24/01/2026 Maasmechelen CDM
25/01/2026 Hoogerheide CDM
30/01-01/02/2026 Hulst Worlds
04/02/2026 Maldegem Exact Cross
07/02/2026 Middelkerke Superprestige
08/02/2026 Lille X2O Trofee
14/02/2026 Sint-Niklaas Exact Cross
15/02/2026 Brussel X2O Trofee

 

[jono]

Chicanes in a mud race 🫣

Actually only a Chicane in the rear, but not ideal! But my mud skills are so poor and rarely practiced that it probably didn't make that much difference.

 

[Sciatic]

Calendar CX 2025/2026

04/10/2025 Meulebeke Exact Cross
18/10/2025 Essen Exact Cross
19/10/2025 Ruddervoorde Superprestige
25/10/2025 Heerderstrand Exact Cross
26/10/2025 Overijse Superprestige
01/11/2025 Oudenaarde X2O Trofee
02/11/2025 Lokeren X2O Trofee
08-09/11/2025 Middelkerke European
11/11/2025 Niel Superprestige
15/11/2025 Merksplas Superprestige
16/11/2025 Hamme X2O Trofee
23/11/2025 Tabor CDM
30/11/2025 Flamanville CDM
07/12/2025 Terralba CDM
13/12/2025 Kortrijk Exact Cross
14/12/2025 Namur CDM
20/12/2025 Antwerpen CDM
21/12/2025 Koksijde CDM
22/12/2025 Hofstade X2O Trofee
23/12/2025 Heusden-Zolder Superprestige
26/12/2025 Gavere CDM
28/12/2025 Dendermonde CDM
29/12/2025 Loenhout X2O Trofee
30/12/2025 Diegem Superprestige
01/01/2026 Baal X2O Trofee
02/01/2026 Mol Exact Cross
03/01/2026 Gullegem Superprestige
04/01/2026 Zonhoven CDM
10-11/01/2026 National Championships
18/01/2026 Benidorm CDM
24/01/2026 Maasmechelen CDM
25/01/2026 Hoogerheide CDM
30/01-01/02/2026 Hulst Wolds
04/02/2026 Maldegem Exact Cross
07/02/2026 Middelkerke Superprestige
08/02/2026 Lille X2O Trofee
14/02/2026 Sint-Niklaas Exact Cross
15/02/2026 Brussel X2O Trofee

Thank you!

 

[Barkintheeye]

Actually only a Chicane in the rear, but not ideal! But my mud skills are so poor and rarely practiced that it probably didn't make that much difference.

Here it has been so dry that my Limus rarely come at use. CX is most fun with different conditions. Only dry courses tend to get less entertaining after a while. A proper mud course really wakes you up 😂

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Great to see Joris in the fight.

Not great to see that Mason went to the Jay Vine School of Growing a Moustache.

 

[jono]

With only tomorrow's C2 in Wisconsin remaining, Maghalie Rochette has locked up the USCX points series. Eric Brunner and Andrew Strohmeyer are tied in the men's points table, so whoever finishes ahead tomorrow will be the winner. Three other riders (Werner, Clark and van Kempen) are separated by 4 points for 3rd. Interesting battle ahead.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Calendar CX 2025/2026

04/10/2025 Meulebeke Exact Cross
18/10/2025 Essen Exact Cross
19/10/2025 Ruddervoorde Superprestige
25/10/2025 Heerderstrand Exact Cross
26/10/2025 Overijse Superprestige
01/11/2025 Oudenaarde X2O Trofee
02/11/2025 Lokeren X2O Trofee
08-09/11/2025 Middelkerke European
11/11/2025 Niel Superprestige
15/11/2025 Merksplas Superprestige
16/11/2025 Hamme X2O Trofee
23/11/2025 Tabor CDM
30/11/2025 Flamanville CDM
07/12/2025 Terralba CDM
13/12/2025 Kortrijk Exact Cross
14/12/2025 Namur CDM
20/12/2025 Antwerpen CDM
21/12/2025 Koksijde CDM
22/12/2025 Hofstade X2O Trofee
23/12/2025 Heusden-Zolder Superprestige
26/12/2025 Gavere CDM
28/12/2025 Dendermonde CDM
29/12/2025 Loenhout X2O Trofee
30/12/2025 Diegem Superprestige
01/01/2026 Baal X2O Trofee
02/01/2026 Mol Exact Cross
03/01/2026 Gullegem Superprestige
04/01/2026 Zonhoven CDM
10-11/01/2026 National Championships
18/01/2026 Benidorm CDM
24/01/2026 Maasmechelen CDM
25/01/2026 Hoogerheide CDM
30/01-01/02/2026 Hulst Worlds
04/02/2026 Maldegem Exact Cross
07/02/2026 Middelkerke Superprestige
08/02/2026 Lille X2O Trofee
14/02/2026 Sint-Niklaas Exact Cross
15/02/2026 Brussel X2O Trofee

Looks like a Belgium/ World Cup calendar....not a full CX calendar.......

But it sums up how many people view the sport........