Snow, Mud, No Match For Determined Cyclo-Cross Racers

Specks and spatters of mud became badges of honor for the nearly 300 Cyclo-cross (CX) racers who competed in the in the finale of the Connecticut series of cyclo-cross races, Elm City CX, held Sunday in New Haven’s Edgewood Park for the benefit of the Parks and Recreation department.

Extra caution was needed by racers who negotiated the snow-blanketed grounds in the early part of the race and later as the snow, slush, mud and mixture of cold and warm temperatures combined for what CX racer Philip LaVoie of New York described as ​“excellent” conditions. ​“This is really what a lot of us look forward to racing in,” said Lavoie, even though he personally experienced a setback with a rear-wheel malfunction during his race.

Kurt D’Aniello of Amity Bicycles and president of the Woodbridge based Laurel Bike Club, co-sponsor of the Elm City CX, described course challenges that included mud, several steep ascents and descents, brake bumps and pot holes, but also mentioned that for all the challenging course conditions, few injuries were reported.

D’Aniello noted New Haven’s emergence as a national cycling destination buoyed by the recent Grand Prix races that have been held the last two years in the city, as well as the growing interest in bike sports generally. This year’s CX race saw an increase of 50 riders over last year’s number despite the weather conditions. Looking to next year, D’Aniello mentioned the upcoming National CX race that will take place Jan. 3 – 7 in Hartford, which like the New Haven race, draws participants from around the country and northeast.

Martin Torresquintero, outdoor adventure coordinator for New Haven parks and rec., said he was particularly pleased with the participation of some New Haven middle schools in the CX Junior races. He cited the Worthington Hooker School team for its first-time participation in an Elm City CX race, a departure from its usual participation in mountain bike racing.

Torresquintero said that many general improvements have been made to Edgewood Park’s trails including new footbridges and anti-erosion efforts. Some of the racing trails have also received upgrades, like tighter turns to make the course more exciting.

“One of this year’s challenges” said Torresquintero, ​“was creating the course itself.” The frozen ground made driving in the wood stakes that define the course and support the special Shimano blue ribbon that snakes through the course, difficult. Torresquintero, park rangers and maintenance staff along many volunteers from Laurel Bike Club and Amity Bikes, worked in the frigid temperatures to set up the race course.

Throughout out the day racers met the formidable course with determination. One racer, rising from a fall, made an audible notation: ​“That’s crash number four,” she said as she quickly remounted and continued the race.

Some impediments are built into the course, challenges which are met with different approaches and techniques. Some racers have little trouble skipping over two parallel planks while in full mount.

Others dismount and carry their bikes, remounting with practiced, fluid movements.

A few straight stretches provided momentary respite from the twists and turns and undulating elevations of much of the course that included passes through the colorfully illustrated pavilion skate park.

At times, with no racers in view, the park took on a surreal quality, a veil of foggy mist rising from the fresh snow into the temporary balm of uncharacteristically warm weather.

At the end of each race, it was hard to tell the victors from the not so victorious. All had their colorful suits and signage made indecipherable by the layers of spattered mud.

Fortunately, one of the new amenities available at the race this year, was a bike wash station which seemed to service both bikes and their riders in equal measure.

For race results of this year’s Elm City CX visit Crossresults at BikeReg.