This weekend, the US Gran Prix of Cyclocross was in Louisville, my hometown. Cyclocross is a nutty mix of cycling and running on grass, dirt and sand. The USGP is a national race series that offers races in a number of different categories, based on experience level, gender and age. Here in Louisville there were some 300? 400? riders. The “big” races are the Men’s and Women’s PRO races… but the rest of them are comprised of folks like me.
Why is this man so happy?
The USGP is a well-organized, well-sponsored event. The USGP is a circus, and when the circus lands in your back yard, you show up and you have fun. Beer is a common currency, costumes are encouraged, muddy, pain-wracked smiles are the norm. This isn’t road racing, for sure.
I raced in the Category 4 (the lowest level) race at 8:30 AM on Saturday and spectated on Sunday. I shot a lot of photos (and some video) of the non-PRO races, and I’ve been attempting to find the one photo that tells the story, like this one:
My muddy legs after my race on Saturday
But I think the story is best told in a string of photos. I took a bunch (Day One, Day Two), and after the jump you can enjoy a little tale…
The USGP of Cyclocross Comes to Town
by Ben Wilson
Kids
Ladies
and full-growed men…
…paid good, hard-earned money to ride their bikes…
…out in the cold on a wet, muddy, ex-golf-course…
(replete with sand traps)
Not only that, but somebody put hurdles in the middle of the course…
and there was this big “Green Monster” thing someone thought was a good idea…
…it had stairs on one side, mocking you with beer ads…
…and a big BMX-style slide on the other…
They all suffered…
…even the children.
And yet some still smiled…
…some danced like no-one was looking (note the tongue)…
…and some even dressed up like they enjoyed it!
Because at the end of the day, it’s all about the glory of suffering…
…and, of course, the beer:
~ fin! ~
A huge thanks to all the people in town who made this thing possible. All the organizers, volunteers, racers and fans who came out. It’s great that my hometown can put great events like this. It was a riot!
PS – Much love to all the fine Rogue Racing Project folks. That’s a good group of people, and I support good groups of people. (Especially those with a keg of BBC Belgian-style steps from the course)
More photos here:
USGP of Cyclocross Louisville Derby City Cup, Day One
USGP of Cyclocross Louisville Derby City Cup, Day Two
All photos copyleft by me, except for the first photo of me shot by Marcia Seiler.
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great shots & post Ben. Thanks for all the cheering!
There’s a saying: Those who can’t, cheer. :)
Longfellow said “know how sublime a thing it is to suffer and be strong”, but f him, he coould never stick a remount without a stutter step.
Great getting to hang with you post race and share a beer and laugh and scream at our friends from the tent.
Are you coming to Gun Club? Its a greast racecourse and a real blast.(pun not intended, but left there anyway)
Excellent post – nice multimedia presentation with good commentary. It helps that it’s about something as cool as Cx!
Your hosted blog is so organized; it is refreshing! Thanks for the comment! If you’re ever in WV let me know and we could ride together or something. :)