Successful Cyclo-Cross Season Sets Stage for 2007

By Paul Baldwin

There were plenty of notable moments at the Storm the Greens Kentucky State Championship cyclo-cross race in December: Local media covering a cycling event; a strong showing of racers from Cincinnati and Indianapolis; a record number of cyclo-cross racers. But perhaps the scene that was most emblematic of the success of the 2006 cycling season was the procession of cyclists — snaking clear back to the portable toilets — lining up before the registration table. “I don't think I've seen a line at one of these before,” quipped long-time cyclo-cross advocate and captain of Papa John's Racing Team Bob Bobrow, 46, as racers stood 20 deep at the River Road Country Club to fill out their entry forms.

The scene was similar at most area cyclo-cross races this year. Dozens of participants, many in their first year racing cyclo-cross, showed up to give the sport a try. Although the sport has flourished on the East and West coasts for years, it didn't arrive in Louisville until roughly 10 years ago. When it did show up, few people were interested. In the late 1990s, for example, Bobrow raced his first, poorly attended cyclo-cross race in Southern Indiana. “I think they had 20 people the whole day,” he said. It was much improved in 2006. In October, Mike Hewitt, a longtime bike racing promoter, held the Tour de Louisville in Shawnee Park. To his surprise, the race attracted 130 cyclists. “I was just amazed,” said Hewitt, whose first cyclo-cross race in 2003 drew just 11 people. “Here a sport that, three years ago hardly had anyone, was now averaging 100 plus riders a race.”

This year, three factors helped cyclo-cross thrive in Louisville: Growing participation from local cycling teams; the strength of the 15-race Ohio Valley Cyclocross Series, which featured events in Louisville, Lexington, Columbus, Ohio, and Indianapolis; and the availability of the city-owned River Road Country Club, at River Road and Zorn Avenue, as a practice and race site.

Like a winner taking a victory lap, the end of the local cyclo-cross season saw a record number of riders — 160, 30 more than the previous mark — attending Storm the Greens on Dec. 3.

That kind of turnout was typical of races across the region, said Doug Dobrozsi, one of the organizers of the Cincinnati-based Ohio Valley Cyclocross Series. Of the 15 OVCX races, four had more than 100 cyclists. Also encouraging was the fact that the “C,” or beginner category, had good participation the entire series. For most enthusiasts, cyclo-cross is another way to stay fit between the March-to-August road-racing season, said Louisville Bicycle Club's Team Louisville racing director, Mark Luking, 56. “It's great for off-season racing,” he said.

Cyclo-cross, which has its origins in France in the early 1900s, involves pedaling over grassy fields, through wooded areas, and across pavement. One of the most signature features of cyclo-cross requires competitors to dismount, hop over barriers while carrying their bikes and leap back onto the saddle. As ubiquitous as the Lycra on the competitors is the mud that comes to coat bikes and racers.

Compared to road racing, cyclists compete on a shorter course, usually 1 mile or less. The variety of terrain also demands greater technical skill whereas road racing depends more on team tactics to win. Although cyclo-cross bikes, with “drop” handlebars and skinny rims, resemble road bikes, design differences, such as a wider wheelbase and higher clearance, allow riders to maneuver over obstacles that would topple someone on a road bike. Other features, like knobby tires and cantilever brakes, allow riders to move through mud.

While the sport is by no means inexpensive — entry-level cyclo-cross bikes begin at $300 — bikes cost less than the cost of a comparable road bike. And racers in the beginner categories, for example, often use mountain bikes. Other comparisons between cyclo-cross and road racing are worth noting. Participants say cyclo-cross requires less training time than road racing. “You can be competitive with a weekend warrior's training schedule,” Dobrozsi said.

Races tend to be shorter than road or mountain bike races, clocking in between 30 and 60 minutes. “It's high intensity, but not terribly long,” Luking said. Cyclo-cross also offers ample opportunity for competition, regardless of skill or age. Storm the Greens, for example, had nine race categories, including for men's and women's A and Elite (expert), B (enthusiast), and C (beginner) cyclists, as well as fields for 10- to 14- and 15- to 18-year-olds.

Despite the bike handling skills needed to race, Dobrozsi said cyclo-cross is also seen as safer than riding on the road, especially for younger children. Skills that are crucial on the road, such as being able to ride among large groups of cyclists or riding in the draft of another rider, aren't that essential in cyclo-cross. “The fear factor that sometimes is there on the road just isn't there,” Dobrozsi said.

Team Louisville member Bob Zeman, who has been racing cyclo-cross for five years, speculated that the number of new racers and the consistent participation could eventually make Louisville a national cyclo-cross destination. “It's been a watershed year for cyclo-cross,” said Zeman, 60, who placed 9 th in the 45 and over division at Storm the Greens. In fact, local support for cyclo-cross may already be paying off. Next November, the 2007 Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross stops in Louisville. Two races on the six-race tour, which includes stops in Trenton, N. J. and Portland, Ore., will be held at the River Road Country Club on Nov. 17 and 18.

More than 500 racers are expected to attend in a bid to qualify for the 2008 cyclo-cross world championships in Treviso, Italy. (Louisville notched a similar success in 2003 when the Masters National Road Race Championships came to town.)

Hewitt, who worked with the Greater Louisville Sports Commission to promote Louisville as a destination for the Gran Prix, said Louisville's central location and the River Road Country Club site helped convince tour organizers to choose Louisville.

One plus for the country club property is its location just off Interstate 71. The site also sits next to a Ramada Inn and close to Louisville Water Co. property, which could be used for parking. “This is just the perfect venue,” Hewitt said.

Ed Donovan, a spokesman for the U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross, said his organization and g4 Productions, which is managing the series, met several times with the Greater Louisville Sports Commission before settling on Louisville as a location. Part of the reason for choosing Louisville was the Gran Prix's desire to have new races, instead of rolling the series into more established events in other cities. In 2005 and 2006, for example, the series held races at Gloucester, Mass., one of the premiere areas in the U.S. for cyclo-cross.

Another reason was that the layout of the River Road Country Club property was “championship quality” and could help ensure that it would challenge the world-class caliber racers who participate in the series. Although a press release on the series stop in Louisville was released in December, a more formal announcement is expected in the coming months, Donovan said.

For Bobrow, who has helped plan local cyclo-cross races for years, the leap from local awareness to national attention is almost too good to be true. “We go from Storm the Greens to this,” said Bobrow. “It's the most prestigious series in the country.”

This past fall, Bobrow and others persuaded Louisville Metro Government to allow local cycling teams to use the River Road Country Club property for weekly, practices. In years past, racers had to shoehorn their rides among the runners, walkers and others visiting Seneca Park. “It was a challenge to hold practices,” Bobrow said. “In some ways, it discouraged people from being involved.”

Now, with the success of the 2006 season and in anticipation of the 2007 races next fall, Bobrow, who designed and maintains many of the cyclo-cross features at the country club's former golf course, said the location is crucial to the sport's local success.

“The River Road Country Club site is essential to keep this wave of cyclo-cross moving in this area,” he said. “We've let Metro Government know that we think it's critical.” Although cyclo-cross certainly has the attention of Louisville Metro Parks, its undecided if its permanent home is at the River Road Country Club or another location, said Louisville Metro Parks spokesman, Jason Cissell.

Currently, cyclo-cross is just one of the sports allowed as part of interim plans for the property. Cross country practices and a grade school football team have also used the space, Cissell said. A review of all park space along River Road, from Waterfront Park to Indian Hills Trail, and how each property is used is currently underway. “We're convinced that there is a home for cyclo-cross in our parks system,” Cissell said.

Perhaps the most significant benefit for the future of the sport and cycling in Louisville has been the emergence of several local “junior” riders who are proving that they can compete nationally. Kentucky State champion Clayton Omer and Andrew Llewellyn, both of the Papa Johns Racing Team, and Rob Bush of Texas Roadhouse Cycling competed in the U.S. Cyclocross National Championships at Providence, R.I. on Dec. 15–17. In the Junior Men 17–18 race, Clayton, 16, a former BMX rider, took 9th while Andrew placed 11 th . Rob, in his first season of cyclo-cross, finished 27 th .

“Those kids have an incredible amount of potential,” said Bobrow, who also praised Clayton and Andrew's bike handling skills. “I don't think those guys have any fear.”

Paul Baldwin, who enjoys running, swimming and cycling, is a freelance writer and editor who lives in Louisville.