Cyclocross Racing

Cyclocross racing combines the athleticism of the traditional bike race with a whole lot of adventure and challenge. Also called cross-country biking or cyclo-X, a cyclocross race has elements of traditional cycling in addition to obstacles and challenges unlike any other sport.
 
Some cyclocross racers get involved in the sport to stay in shape in their off-cycling season. They often find that they're in better shape than ever when their cyclo-X season ends.
 

Cyclo-X

Cyclocross race courses usually consist of one-and-a-half- to two-mile loops on paved, flat, hilly or muddy terrain with challenging variations. Most races last one hour but some last just 30 minutes.
 
What makes cyclocross different from other bike races is that courses always have obstacles through which riders can't bike. In order to proceed with the race, a cyclocross racer has to jump off his bike and run sections of the course with the bike up on his shoulder. Once past an obstacle, the racer jumps back on the bike and continues pedaling.

Cyclocross Race Obstacles

The difficulty factor in each cyclocross race is compounded by the number of obstacles racers encounter and how equipped they are both mentally and physically to handle those challenges. The cyclocross racer who can best figure out how to pass the obstacle (ride over it, jump over it on the bike, dismount and run with the bike through it, etc.) is often the one who will win. Some inexperienced racers may decide to bike through an obstacle such as a muddy slope and become stuck, slow down or even fall.
 
External conditions such as wind, rain, snow and temperature also play a big role in determining course challenges and difficulty.
 
Cyclocross obstacles include both the natural terrain of a course and manmade varieties. For example, a cyclo-X racer might face steep, muddy areas, cliff drops, steps, sandpits, fences, hay bales or rivers.

History of Cyclocross

Cyclocross became popular in the early 1900s. In 1902, a French soldier named Daniel Gousseau organized the first French championship race, and, in 1924, Paris hosted the first international cyclocross race.
 
Most of the cyclocross racers at that time were road racers who wanted to stay in shape during their off-season. In fact, it wasn't until the 1970s that cyclo-X racers began to specialize in cyclocross alone. The first world cyclo-X championship was held in 1950, and the United States celebrated its first national championship in 1975.

Cyclocross Racers

Cyclocross racers are especially fit because of the unique combination of pedaling, lifting and running. In fact, the rigors of training often attract bikers of other racing styles, as cyclocross keeps them in shape for other bike races.
 
Cyclocross racers are allowed to change out bikes or bike parts during a race. They might even have a pit with a mechanic in the wings to help with repairs. Cyclocross racers enjoy the popularity of the sport in Belgium, France, the United Kingdom and the United States. It is, however, gaining popularity in other parts of the world.

Major Cyclocross Competitions

In addition to the local races for cyclocross, there are major competitions for biking enthusiasts. Here are some of the big cyclocross competitions:
  • Cross Crusade (Portland, Ore.)
  • GVA (Belgium)
  • National CX Championships (usually held the second week in January)
  • Superprestige
  • UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships
  • UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup
  • U.S. Grand Prix of CX.

The following countries hold their own cyclo-X competitions:

  • Belgium
  • Czech Republic
  • France
  • Germany
  • Great Britain
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • Slovakia
  • Spain
  • Switzerland
  • United States.
Resource
 
Big Shark (n.d.). What is Cyclocross? Retrieved April 18, 2008, from the Big Shark Web site.