US Cross Season Wrap-Up

One of the topics that I have touched on briefly in this blog is the difference between cyclocross racing in the United States, particularly in the Western US, and European cyclocross where the sport was born.  I was pretty interested to read Matthew Beaudin’s commentary in VeloNews today (Notes from the Scrum: American cyclocross a brand all its own).  I think others may find it interesting as well. http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/01/commentary/notes-from-the-scrum-american-cyclocross-a-brand-all-its-own_313562  He notes that cyclocross in Belgium is an enormously popular spectator sport with a handful of participants and legions of fans.  In contrast American cyclocross is largely a participant sport with large numbers of amateur racers and usually a very modest number of spectators.      As many of you are aware, the US National Championships were held this past weekend in Boulder Colorado on a course that would not seem out of place in Idaho or Utah.  USA Cycling streamed six hours of coverage of the men’s and women’s championships on Sunday as well as additional coverage of the U-23 race on Saturday.  I have to admit that I have not watched the entire six hours, but I have skimmed some highlights.  Here is the complete coverage.