Those who like to ride and/or carry their bicycles up and over muddy hills or along grassy tracks are probably rejoicing to hear that the UCI World Cyclocross Championships are coming to Louisville, Kentucky, in 2013.
Historically popular in Belgium, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, cyclocross has been gaining popularity around the world, especially in the US. The interest will probably grow here, as 2013 will be the first time that the World cyclocross championships have come to the US.
In fact, it's the first time the Worlds have been held outside Europe in 50 years.
Live webcast
If you want to see what World championship cyclocross is all about, check out Universal Sports Cyclocross online this weekend.
The website is offering free live coverage of the elite men's and women's races from Tabor, Czech Republic, beginning at noon (ET) on Sunday, Jan. 31. Other webcasts are on demand.
Louisville
In addition to the Worlds in 2013, Louisville will host the 2012 and 2013 Masters Cyclocross World championships. The masters precede the Elite races.
CyclingNews credits Joan Hanscom and Bruce Fina with bringing the Worlds to Louisville. They have organized the US Gran Prix of Cyclocross in Louisville the past few years.
The course for the championships will be in Eva Bandman park, just a mile from downtown Louisville.
Logical
Fina was quoted in a press release at USA Cycling:
“This is thrilling news. We have worked for six years with the USA Cycling National Team and six years on the USGP to further develop the sport in the U.S. to the point where our riders can be competitive on the global stage. Hosting the Worlds in the U.S. is the next logical step. We hope to see a continued increase in the number of professional cross racers in the states and hope this venue will enhance that goal.”
UCI technical delegate Simon Burney said he was impressed with the vision of developing a cyclocross race venue in the park:
“The area, terrain and surroundings lend themselves perfectly to a major race venue, and with the city of Louisville firmly behind the project the opportunity for world class events certainly looks exciting.”
And just for the record, the League of American Bicyclists has named Louisville as a bronze-level bicycle friendly community.
Masters
This year's masters were held Jan. 23 in Mol, Belgium. Six American scored top-10 finishes in their categories, led by Marilyn Ruseckas of Waitsfield, Vermont, who won the women's pre-1961 category. See the results at USA Cycling.
Here's a short video from the snowy Masters cyclocross race course this year….
Photo above by Roxanne Zuckerman at Santa Cruz County Cyclocross Championships.
Recent Comments