Cyclocross seems to be mushrooming in popularity in North America faster than their hero Jeremy Powers canbunny hop a set of hurdles. By the same token Belgium ’sobsessive objectification of cyclocross makes it a mecca for UK fans.
Sitting in our little British bubble buffered by the sea andoceans it seems a race has started between two nations.
Rapha’s Supercross series returned in 2012 using a blueprintfrom US based races and included cowbells, foam and plenty of audienceparticipation while Muddy Hell Halloween Cross from event organisers,Rollapaluza has been drawing the crowds for several years enticing cyclistsfrom all over London to share in a ghoulish pint and cheer on some guy who’sactively been encouraged to ride dressed as Mr Blobby.
In local races organisers are ready to imitate what we thinkis happening across the pond, rather than build the legitimacy of the race as asporting event. Long standing National Trophy races, such as Peel Park,Bradford have tried but can’t quite crack the banks for sponsors to host around of the World Cup and whilst it is a fantastic race, (if you get thechance you should go to spectate). It doesn’t look it is going to truly matchour continental friends.
For the first time in its sixty year history the WorldChampionships are venturing outside of its European home land and going to Louisville in Kentucky inAmerica .In a few short years who would have imagined the US to have risen through the ranksto of cyclocross to pull the big race.
British fans appear to be stuck between two cultures goinghead to head. One with traditionalist races where the language barrier is partof the draw the other has no history but plenty of willing and we canunderstand everything that is going on.
Who should we look to, who is better and what is the betterto waste our time obsessing over.
Speaking with Eurpoean Champion, Helen Wyman before she flewto America she made mentionof the progression Britain andBelgium needs to take equal US counterparts. “The crowds support everyone, and thewomen are prioritised rather than just being a support race. There is equalprize money, great organisers and information about races is easy to find.Europe is behind, in the US they show the women’s race on TV or stream it online and the publicity isdifferent.”
Wyman admits that element of the sport are changing in Europe but it’s slow. She explained that the US and UK have asimilar culture. The US loves sports with audience participation. They love a show, and they loveheros. “Cyclocross is new, they don’t really have a history and they don’t haverace organisers who were racing in the 1950s. So they have created their ownvalues and ideas. Where everyone is equal and everyone deserves to berespected.”
It appears America has the upper hand, not so. Helen is very clear about what America and Europe can do for a rider “if you want a career and a business stick to American. Ifyou want to be World number one, you need points and you need to stay in Europe .”
Rapha’s Supercross organiser and cultural cyclo crosscommentator Ian Cleverly “I tuned in to live coverage of the US championships, intrigued to see if the sceneis as big in the States as it appears from the UK . The jury is still out on thatone. The park in Wisconsin was visually unexciting, the course a dull, straight-line thrash. Outside thetop four or five riders, the drop-off in quality is steep. The threecommentators were unintentionally hilarious and less intelligible than thestandard chap I tune into on Sporza for Belgian races, and he talks Flemish…”
What does that mean for America and opening up theirversion of the sport to the world? The experienced pro Wyman rightly points out“There won’t be the mental 20,000 spectators spitting frites and beer, but thepeople that will be World Championships will be enthusiastic.”
The whole Belgium based ‘cross community travelling lock, stock and barrel to the States is aninteresting prospect. “Will the fans travel?” ask Cleverly “Is this one steptoo far in this globalisation obsession of the UCI’s? Can a compact crowd ofcolourful, cowbell-wielding whoopers create as much atmosphere as tens ofthousands of grey-clad, beered-up, smoking Belgians?”
What is clear is that we’ll have to carry on observing,we’ve known cyclo cross in the UK for more than half a century but we haven’t quite got a handle on our own breed of it. There is nothing wrong with that but we are going to have to side with someone.
Prepare for a culture clash and some answers on the 2ndFebruary 2013.
Thank-you to Helen Wyman – www.helenwyman.com
Ian Cleverly – Rouleur Magazine – Rouleur.cc/blog
http://mensweardog.tumblr.com/
Classic
I have started to find that a good cup of coffee in the morning before a ride, race or day of work is very settling.
I always try to have this drink when sitting down. I don't like to stand in the kitchen and just dash it down my neck, but sip and look at it and drink it.
I've not really settled on a coffee though, which was annoying me, as soon as one bag was done I was buying another retaining little loyalty to a roaster.
Monmouth - Espresso blend
JaJu Beans - Honduros Roast
Paniagua - EPO blend
Lavazza - Espresso ground
Algerian Coffee - Espresso Beans
Square Mile - (ergh, the current taste of London, boring!)
I have also suddenly started to freshly grind the coffee from beans. I'm not sure it has an impact on flavour but the continuos almost rhythmical movement helps me wake up and bring myself round.
I've got three grinders. This wooden box thing that looks pretty on a shelf but seems to produce iron fillings.
A little handheld Hairo thing that ended up with me accidentally up punching myself in the mouth when using it - absolutely useless.
Then..
A secret Santa present turned up after Christmas. It was presented in a cute wicker basket and contained, another grinder and another bag of beans, orange and almond biscotti and chocolate coated beans.
The person that gave it to me couldn't really go wrong with that approach but what they didnt realise is that it has turned out to be one of the best presents I've had of late.
Grinder - Tiamo (love it)
Coffee - JaJu Beans, Brighton- House Blend Rich Roast (my taste for winter)
It works in both my Bireletti and in the espresso machine.
*presses save, starts grinding beans.*
I always try to have this drink when sitting down. I don't like to stand in the kitchen and just dash it down my neck, but sip and look at it and drink it.
I've not really settled on a coffee though, which was annoying me, as soon as one bag was done I was buying another retaining little loyalty to a roaster.
Monmouth - Espresso blend
JaJu Beans - Honduros Roast
Paniagua - EPO blend
Lavazza - Espresso ground
Algerian Coffee - Espresso Beans
Square Mile - (ergh, the current taste of London, boring!)
I have also suddenly started to freshly grind the coffee from beans. I'm not sure it has an impact on flavour but the continuos almost rhythmical movement helps me wake up and bring myself round.
I've got three grinders. This wooden box thing that looks pretty on a shelf but seems to produce iron fillings.
A little handheld Hairo thing that ended up with me accidentally up punching myself in the mouth when using it - absolutely useless.
Then..
A secret Santa present turned up after Christmas. It was presented in a cute wicker basket and contained, another grinder and another bag of beans, orange and almond biscotti and chocolate coated beans.
The person that gave it to me couldn't really go wrong with that approach but what they didnt realise is that it has turned out to be one of the best presents I've had of late.
Grinder - Tiamo (love it)
Coffee - JaJu Beans, Brighton- House Blend Rich Roast (my taste for winter)
It works in both my Bireletti and in the espresso machine.
*presses save, starts grinding beans.*
2013 was the year Nikki Harris broke Helen Wymans firm grip on the white/red/blue jersey. The venue is a place I chose to ride my first national champs back in 2009, I always like to return to it.
The course has changed quite significantly since then, the organisers have taken out the stone step run up but added a much more technical off camber. They introduced one of the toughest and best descents I've ever ridden but in 2013 decided to smooth if back out. Resulting in far less crowd pleasing crashes. .
Balint Humvas took this photo. I like it because:
It is raw, he shot it on a compact camera and processed it (probably at Boots)
It is me on my favourite CX course
I always feel secure on the course and achieve my best results (10th Nat Champs 2013, 5th 2012 Nat trophy series, 5th 2011 Nat Trophy).
My kit is a beacon against the dark ever present mud of Bradford
It is the bottom of the wind beaten road section. It is here you say to yourself "I'm going to attack this, this lap, while everyone else is riding I'm attacking." Half way up, "Oh god, why did I put in so much effort at the bottom. Where is the top."
I look alone, pretty much how one is in most CX races in Britain. You are alone within the course tape but there is no silence.
Thank-you to everyone who supported me in the race.
Taken by (Balint) Cyclephotos.co.uk from stone Victorian bridge in Peel Park the location of the British National Championship.
http://cyclephotos.co.uk/2013/01/2013-british-nationals-bradford/