In Episode 7 of Season 8 Neil, Matt and Xan catch up after a memorable few weeks… and Xan tells us how she is after her TV-time and horrible incident on the Namur bank. 

They catch up on what happened and what didn’t at Clanfield National Trophy and Cabras / Namur World Cups.  Neil raced day 1 of Clanfield (25th and fun had 😊) as did the regional champs crews in a very welcome and successful return to regional competitions.  

The main winner of the Clanfield / Cabras UCI weekend seemed to be the weather.  

Namur World Cup was certainly a huge challenge and saw a whole host of riders ejected off the front of the bike.  Do they deserve a special memento like the Martin Baker Ejector Seat club membership?

They also give a full preview of Kerste Part A - the famous five, Hulst Zonhoven Mol Loenhout and Gavere. 

Set your alarms and take a recovery day off CX on the 25th. 

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To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps! Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees races for Team Spectra.

In Episode 6 of Season 8 Neil and Matt are joined by Xan after her adventures at the World Cup that kicked off in Antwerp and then in Dublin.  

Xan gives us all the details of the course from a rider's view with insights on the course, the atmosphere, the (lack of) grip, and we have to say it is awesome to see that Xan has got the top 50 World Ranking that has been a target for a while - ace job!  Meanwhile Matt gives us insights on what they were doing to the sand that he could see while on the mic for the UCI World Coverage.

They reflect on the start of the World Cup and how Nys has not been having a nice time, how Iserbyt has not been looking relaxed and the fantastic form of Brand.  Of course, they talk through the lap 1 incident when Boros' nose wheelie caused chaos behind.

Closer to home, Neil reports back on the Yorkshire league, and the destiny of his wheels that were lent to a newcomer after the sticky mud made gravel tyres a disaster.

In the Laatste Ronde they look forward to the upcoming National Trophy from Clanfield, a new venue for the Trophy and a place with a reputation already, of technical, hilly, and a rewarding race.  

They also look forward to another newcomer, the World Cup from Cabras where there is not a lot of detail currently available; while there could be elements reminiscent of a Mediterranean version of Antwerp... who knows.  Sadly, it seems that many of the front runners are choosing to take a break, but of course this opens up opportunity for others to show their potential.

Also coming up there is Namur - a superb classic.  Just watch it.

Matt gives some early info on the UK National Champs; don't forget to save the date to race or spectate!.... watch this space for news.

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To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps! Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees races for Team Spectra.

In Episode 5 of Season 8 Neil and Matt (and TheGrityKitty) catch up on Round 3 of the National Trophy that came from Torbay and delivered an unexpected fast and dry(ish) course with technical flow. They talk through the tactical racing and even dip into a few stats comparing this year to last year.  Neil corrects an error from last show and educates himself on Pearson Bikes and DAS. 

They reflect on the grim course from Niel, and talk about how individual features like ‘the Hamme bank’ can affect racing. 

After a slight interval to put the cat out, Neil explains how this season is going to be like a classic serial, with 3 volumes. Volume 1 is coming to an end… Volume 2 will be the World Cup starting shortly, and Volume 3… well, listen to find out 😀. 

Questions from listeners are ‘answered’ - did you do better in remembering who won Hamme in 2016?  

Looking ahead there is a superb GB squad heading to Antwerp including Crosscast regular Xan Crees (Spectra p/b DAS).  Good luck all!

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To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps! Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees races for Team Spectra.

In Episode 4 of season 8 Neil Matt and Xan look back on the past few weeks of racing. This included Xan’s ongoing adventures in Sweden as well as her return to the Koppenburg.  Matt is back from the 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships, and whilst the tech remained bug free… he got infected by a virus and so a little croaky today 🦠.

They look back on the south Shields National trophy where both Neil and Xan were racing. The course was fast, but remained a challenge.  It should be a worthy venue for the 2026 National Championships. 

They also talk through the European championships, which gave race after race of action, even if team GB were conspicuous by their absence. But don’t fret - the legend Vic Barnett still brought home a Masters gold medal🥇to Welland Valley. 

They debate the merits of gravel racing and are pretty much in agreement that it’s a good thing for the sport as a whole although riders will struggle to excel in both, if they try to jump straight from gravel into cyclocross without a break. Ask Xan if you need details!

In the Laatste Ronde they preview the upcoming national trophy coming from Torbay, which is expected to be a contrast to what we saw at the first two rounds.  But there might also be a contrast to what we’ve experienced there in the past considering the weather forecast for the next few weeks. Time will tell whether we get another ‘Paignton’ course that will cut up and result in Ton of Pain.  Will we see a repeat with plenty of bike changes or are we going to get something fast and a new experience for racing down in Devon?

Please remember to support the show and support those that support the sport! Pop over to Buy Me a Coffee to help us with Crosscast costs, make sure that you give Xan and her team Spectra pals a shout, and drop by the Grity shop or website to take a look at some riding kit goodness.

Support the show

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To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps! Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees races for Team Spectra.

In Epidode 3 of Season 8 Neil, Matt and Xan look back on One National Trophy, Two races in Sweden, and Three Peaks.

They remember 2017’s Season 1 Episode 2 of The Crosscast when they mentioned Zoe Roche and Finlay Goodman who were U10s. Class shows… Zoe just won Juniors at the Derby National Trophy and Finlay just won the Junior World X-Terra title. Awesome. 

In Crosstalk, Neil re-lives a memorable 3 Peaks, that certainly went to plan… but maybe the plan wasn’t perfect? They talk through how Jenson Young just didn’t have fortune on his side, and how Giles Drake’s luck flipped from the 2022 edition, this time retaining his title, along with Bryony Halcrow. Neil managed to join Lotta in 2nd place parent-daughter which he will always be delighted with, but of course try to beat next time.

Round 1 of the National Trophy from Derby delivered close racing at the front of the women’s race with Baker, Kay and our Xan Crees taking the podium and Xan tells us what happened in that final half lap. While Mein took a solid win ahead of the Barnes duo, behind there were huge bunches forming and breaking with early (or is it late?) season form being put to the test. 

Xan recounts her second and first place finishes in what sounds like an awesome series coming from Stockholm. Get out there next year, people!

Of course the much-viewed Ryan Kamp / Eli Iserbyt stamping and DQ are discussed. It wasn’t a great look for the sport… unlike Lars Van der Haar taking his first victory in a well controlled race where he waited and went at exactly the right time. 

In the Laatste Ronde they ask whether anyone repairs tubs these days, and highlight the amazing support on offer from leagues, including WMCCL, as well as Ride for Charlie. 

They also preview Round 2 of the National Trophy giving you all the information you need to get the best out of your weekend of North East action in South Shields. 

And just to round out all 4 points of the compass, will the West Wind blow after Neil cursed the Tyneside weather?

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To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps! Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees races for Team Spectra.

In Episode 2 of Season 8 Neil and Matt are joined by Spectra’s Xan Crees fresh from her complete set of Hope Supercross finishes.  They reflect on how the series has quickly become established and has attracted riders from across the world to the joys of Yorkshire Cross. They highlight who is standing out as starting the season on form and who has more to give. 

In the Laatste Ronde they preview the awesomeness that is the Three Peaks coming in a few days.  Xan gives her top tips on what to expect as a rider supporter, and Neil gives his thoughts on his entry.  It’s wide open again but there are some fresh faces racing it for the first time who are serious contenders. 

The National Trophy kicks off in a few days - don’t forget your entries! (and don’t forget to support the new fun race 😃). Round 1 is back to Derby, one of the most popular venues of the season.  Listen in for all the latest and have fun out there!

Support the show

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To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps! Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees races for Team Spectra.

In Episode 1 of Season 8, Neil and Matt look forward to the 2024-25 Cyclocross Season.  It is a very strange one in terms of calendar that will come in a series of distinct chapters  

September is all about Yorkshire.  We kick off with the Hope Supercross series of 4 UCI C2 races in the UK in a short block - a must for anyone chasing the UCI points.  Then there is the diversion westwards for the Three Peaks which Neil is returning to… listen to Episodes 2 and 3 for his plans and whether they worked!

The National Trophy is fairly standard this year, back to it's tried-and-tested weekend race schedule and kicking off in Derby, and running through to January, visiting tried-and-tested venues.  There is the new fun race (sponsored by Grity) which gives opportunity for racing to those who might be otherwise occupied on the Saturday, rather similar to the fun race at the National MTB Series that has been a great success.  Get your entries in and give it a go!

After the European Champs, we get the first World Cup which accelerates into an ultra-packed two months of action that could be awesome, with some FAN-tastic double-header weekends, and an opportunity for global riders to base themselves in Europe and compete for the entire series, although there are no races any more than about 1000 km from Full Speed Events' studio near Limoges - i.e. 100% EU.

The finale of the season will come from the National Champs from Cyclopark and the World Champs from Lievin, France, at which we will be having the annual Crosscast Podium Picker competition!

Stay tuned for what promises to be another cross-tastic season.

Support the show

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To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps! Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees races for Team Spectra.

In Episode 12 of Season 7, Neil Mansfield and Matt Payne are joined by Ian Field to review the 2024 World Championships that came from Tabor, Czechia.  The weekend started with a compelling team relay where strategy was key, and where GB were just pipped to the line by France.  Surely this race needs to be covered in full with dedicated graphics to make it more accessible to the less obsessive CX fans out there?

They talk through how day 1 saw Gery take her second jersey of the weekend and how the race with Ferguson could have unfolded differently in a different universe.  U23 men and Elite women's races went to form, with Van Empel's huge win being the biggest gap for years... this caused Neil's Crosscast podium prediction score to be scuppered - yes he is still gutted.

A badly timed puncture meant Sparfel could not make it 3 golds for France but gifted the win to wobbly-wheel Viezzi.  The predicted but no less impressive dominations from Backstedt and Van Der Poel give Ian, Matt, and Neil plenty to talk about, not least of which was Matt's impromptu invitation to / unintentional gatecrashing of Zdenek Stybar's family party.  

The biggest take-aways from the weekend are that we have worthy winners of the jerseys, France are on the up with a mega strong squad 12 months from a home World Champs, and that each of Ian, Neil and Matt were shown up by their family members in terms of predicting the podiums.

One more show, and then it's season's end.  See you then.

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To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps! Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees races for Team Spectra.

In Episode 11 of Season 7, Neil and Matt are joined by cyclocross talent, coach extraordinaire, and commentator on Discovery+, Ian Field.  They review the 14th round of the World Cup that came from Hoogerheide and query whose form is peaking when... some were at the end of a training block to prepare for the World Championships, and others seem to be coming along just nicely potentially challenging for a jersey next weekend.

They discuss whether Belgian Cyclocross is going through a rough patch with few of the podium places at the race or series going back to the country, with the Netherlands taking home most of the prizes this year in the World Cup.  They talk through whether 14 rounds is too many, or whether reducing it would undermine the concept of a series and allow riders to just dip in for part of the season and still take the series.  They also agree that the points in the U23 competition are plain silly daft, and should be fixed for next year - an easy change that will make it fairer.

In the Laatste Ronde they preview the biggest weekend of 2024, CX WORLDS coming from Tabor, Czechia.  They talk through the course and each category in detail.  This is unmissable listening for anyone wanting to get the most out of the World Champs or just impress your friends with your detailed knowledge straight from those who have raced there multiple times, or at least worked in the pits 😁. 

Neil, Matt and Ian make their predictions... can YOU do better?  Join in at the Annual Crosscast Competition that you can find here.  Please share with your clubs, teams, friends and family to see who can do the best.

https://forms.office.com/e/s5bWfqRaLL

Enjoy the weekend!

Support the show

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To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps! Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees races for Team Spectra.

In Episode 10 of Season 7 Neil and Matt look back on a fabulous Falkirk National Championships with its perfect January weather, superb location, awesome atmosphere and cracking course. They talk through each of the UCI category races, with Mason defending his jersey and Kay taking the title for the first time.  Both were popular wins with the local crowd for Mason and Kay having been a CX pro for a while, and the win coming 5 years after her first time on the National elite podium.  

 They talk through the action from further down the elite field, things that were not shown on the TV coverage.  The juniors saw Ferguson have an impressively dominant ride worthy of someone ready to take on the World's best with her imminent movi to Movistar, and first year Oscar Amey took the Junior Men's title meaning that the jersey will be on show next season.

 They talk through the National Champs from other nations including the Netherlands and Belgian races with a host of winners coming with season back-stories.

 Benidorm World cup is reviewed, a race that saw a huge amount of grit on show for all of the podium finishers, none of whom had an easy ride, with Alvarado repeatedly chasing down the dynamic duo at the front, and even Van der Poel showing that he can have a bad day.  

The big question remains... if the commentator's curse is real, should Matt take some of the blame/credit for Van Aert's tumble on the hurdles that delivered even more action at the race finale?

Support the show

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To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps! Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees races for Team Spectra.