In Episode 12 of season 9, Neil, Matt and Xan report back from being on site at the 2026 Cyclocross World Championships from Hulst, both from working inside the media trucks and shouting from the other side of the side.  Bringing the fresh memories of all experiences of the World Champs, they discuss a full-on septet of superb races.  

Of course, they also unpack this year's podium picker competition in which they did a lot better than 2025!  

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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!

You can watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@TheCrosscastCyclocross

Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield @crosscastneil is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne @mattfixerpayne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees @xancrees races for OGT USE.

In Episode 11 of Season 9 Neil, Xan and Matt give their predictions for the 2026 #cyclocross World Champs and you can too at https://tinyurl.com/hulstcx26 😊

They look back on the finale of the 25-26 World Cup with races from #maasmechelen and #hoogerheide , both of which Xan was racing.  She gives her views from being on the ground... well, on the bike... and - yay - didn't have any mechanicals!  

In a season where there were a lot of rounds compressed into just a few weeks, and the furthest distance between venues was about 1500km, they talk about what could be a wider spread to make it a true 'World' Cup.

The focus of the show is on the World Cup that will come from Hulst.  They make their predictions for each race - a great way to talk through who they think are the ones to watch!  For this year's World Champs Matt will be on the UCI mic, Neil will be on the tape courseside, and Xan will be on the sofa glued to the telly.

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!

You can watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@TheCrosscastCyclocross

Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield @crosscastneil is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne @mattfixerpayne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees @xancrees races for OGT USE.

In Episode 10 of Season 9, Neil, Xan and Matt look back on the National Championships from South Shields.  Xan looks back on her race and her second place finish, after doing the jersey proud for the past 12 months.  Neil also revisits the weekend where he was also racing and working with Grity.

They give their views on the planned changes to the National Trophy Series that will be introduced next year.  There is a lot to look forward to and things will be different.  Whilst they welcome a much-needed refresh the devil will be in the detail, and the reduced number of UCI rounds will be missed.

They also look back on the Benidorm World Cup, which Matt was commentating on the UCI World Feed, and in which Xan was racing.  The races turned out to be really entertaining and another opportunity to show how the venue would make a credible World Champs.

In the Laatste Ronde, they look forward to the next two World Cups - Maasmechelen and Hoogerheide.  Both races have given us fantastic action in the past and will be under the spotlight as Xan takes to the start, and Matt puts words to the action.

Support the show

--
To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps!

You can watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@TheCrosscastCyclocross

Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield @crosscastneil is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne @mattfixerpayne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees @xancrees races for OGT USE.

In Episode 9 of Season 9 Neil, Xan and Matt look back on their highly committed many hours of cyclocross watching, racing, working and commentating with a look back on the second half of the Kerste Periode.  They send comiserations to those riders crashing out for the end of the season and hope for quick recoveries.  

They look back on the final round of the National Trophy that came from Irvine.  It was a magnificent event, that proved very popular amongst those who made the trip to Ayrshire.  Neil gives the details of his race and reports back on the overalls.  

In the Laatste Ronde they look forward to the National Championships that are due to come from South Shields in the UK.  They review the course, and the front runners for the elite men and elite women.  They also discuss the live coverage that will be provided on YouTube.

They also touch on other key National Champs including a mini preview of the Ireland course.

Support the show

--
To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps!

You can watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@TheCrosscastCyclocross

Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield @crosscastneil is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne @mattfixerpayne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees @xancrees races for OGT USE.

In Episode 8 of Season 9 Neil, Xan and Matt extract themselves for 'cross duties to chat through the Kerste Periode with some stunning racing.  After giving birthday greetings to Xan and Neil, they look back on the A to Z of Antwerp to Zolder, the sand of Koksijde and Hofstade and the missing mud from Gavere.

With new stars starting to shine for mid season from Del Grosso and Fouquenet we have a new crop of riders ripening nicely.  Despite this we still have the literal case of Brand and Vanderpoel winning everything that they enter... can they keep it up?

Looking forwards there is a ton of racing to keep up with, from Dendermonde to Baal and the classic of Zonhoven just a few days away.  

They also give some preview and insight into the final round of the National Trophy 25-26 which is due to come from Irvine.

Support the show

--
To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps!

You can watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@TheCrosscastCyclocross

Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield @crosscastneil is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne @mattfixerpayne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees @xancrees races for OGT USE.

In Episode 7 of Season 9 Neil, Xan and Matt jump into a mega few weeks of  cyclocross goodness. Neil reports back on Hunsworth National Trophy with its December mud, cracking course, and great atmosphere. They mention the parking nightmare that unfolded - oof. Neil also reports back on his local racing at a very old classic venue, and compares notes with Xan who was bringing in a top 6 at Kortrijk and getting a solid amount of TV-time for her stripy jersey and shiny new Van Rysel bikes.

They review Namur with what was some frankly goose bumpy racing that has to go down as one of the most impressive men's and women's races for some time. With the return of Neff being a treat, Pieterse a treat², and Van der Poel a treat³ we had skills, personality, battles, and power galore. Xan gives the insight into how it was on the ground, especially those bits where Nys and Van der Poel were... on the ground.

They give a bit of a PSA regarding bar width ready for rule changes and then preview the upcoming bunch of races coming from Antwerp, Koksijde, Gavere, Zolder. SO MUCH to look forward to.

Neil wonders... will the Koksijde results compare to 2015 when it was: (daddy) Nys, Van Aert, Van der Poel, Van der Haar, Sweeck, Meeusen, Aerts.

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!

You can watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@TheCrosscastCyclocross

Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield @crosscastneil is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne @mattfixerpayne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees @xancrees races for OGT USE.

It is Crosscast Episode 100.  Thanks to all of you who have been here since the start, and we've loved collecting listeners over the years.

In Episode 6 of Season 9, Neil, Xan, and Matt cast their minds back to a frozen Tabor which turned out to be a classic.  Great racing, incident-packed action and skills and power both on display.  Xan talks us through her race with her cracking start meaning that missed the early melee while the race settled down.  The men's race had so many great performances, marking ingredients that could give us a super season.

They also think back to Flamanville which was a total contrast to Tabor, and tricky in lots of different ways.  They talk through how both Nys and Mason have matured markedly for this year.

In the Laatste Ronde, they preview Round 5 of the National Trophy that will come from Tong / Bradford / Hunsworth (choose your title) as well as Cabras / Sardinia / Terralba (choose your title) World Cup with its microscopic start list, and Namur that will be awesome because it always is.

Neil bumbles through an attempt to explain why he really likes Kortrijk, and Xan nails it in one go!

Support the show

--
To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps!

You can watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@TheCrosscastCyclocross

Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield @crosscastneil is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne @mattfixerpayne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees @xancrees races for OGT USE.

In Episode 5 of Season 9, Neil, Xan and Matt review the European Championships in which Xan brought home a top 20 for GB in the Elite Female category, and had two totally contrasting races for the Elite Men and Elite Women.  Xan gives the inside story of how the race went, and just how tough the course was.  

They also talk through the two bike frames that took some of the limelight from being a chimera Orbea for title-winning Aerts, to a UCI DQ for a frame that was... apparently... approved the day before the racing.

Round 4 of the National Trophy is reviewed, a race in which Neil was competitor, team manager, pit crew and shopkeeper.  It was Hard Work for everyone behind the scenes after a dumping of rain before the race, but the course itself was decent - challenging skills, fitness and pit crews, and it delivered close racing.

They return again to the tricky question of what the future of the National Trophy should look like, as it becomes more of a challenge for organisers.

In the Laatste Ronde they look forward to the opening of the World Cup, with races in Tabor and Flamanville.  Xan will be racing both rounds and so listen in for her throughts, and come back next time to hear how she gets on.

Neil finishes up getting very over-excited about some new Grity kit that has arrived just in time for Christmas shopping!  Pop over to www.grity.co.uk to check out the new kids long sleeve jerseys and their Full-Send sale!

Support the show

--
To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps!

You can watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@TheCrosscastCyclocross

Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield @crosscastneil is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne @mattfixerpayne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees @xancrees races for OGT USE.

In episode 4 of season 9 Neil Xan and Matt kick off with a few memories of how important Lars van der Haar has been to cyclocross racing across the world, now he has announced that this season will be his Laatste Ronde, his final season.

The look back on Clanfied Cross, that finally proved its potential after a tough start last year.  Neil and Xan talk about their own races, and in true CX-tradition, talk tyres.  They also touch on the form of race winners Ffion Drake and Thomas Mein who are looking to take a clean sweep of the series if they can keep it going.  

The quick decisions taken by comms regarding application of the 80% rule is covered, whilst trying to avoid the endless depths of the 'to 80% or not to 80%' generic debate.

They also look back on Koppenbergcross, a race that was 'just right' on the 3-Bears Scale in terms of conditions.  Not too dry, and not too wet.  And just right for Nys and Mason who took a confident and controlled 2nd place.

In the Laatste Ronde they look forward to Round 4 of the National Trophy, coming from a new venue with 'Sand' in its name.  Sandwell Valley is new to all of the Crosscast Trio but they give as much info as possible, and hope that it gives some of the fun that can come from similarly built venues.

They also look forward to the European Championships to come from Middelkerke. Xan Crees is on the start list, alongside a mega-strong and mega-deep British Squad.  Good luck all of you racing, supporting, pitting, and spectating.  Enjoy the beach.

Support the show

--
To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps!

You can watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@TheCrosscastCyclocross

Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield @crosscastneil is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne @mattfixerpayne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees @xancrees races for OGT USE.

In episode 3 of season 9 Neil Xan and Matt review the Falkirk National Trophy with its tough course, and wet conditions.  Neil reflects on his experiences, and how the racing unfolded over the weekend.  Meanwhile Xan returned to Sweden where she had a successful series of 4 races, with a win and two further podiums... a first UCI win in the National Champs jersey.

They return to the topic of race entry field size, and the viability of the National Trophy series in its current form.  

In the Laatste Ronde they look forward to Round 3 of the National Trophy, coming from Clanfield.  The course itself has had minor tweaks, and keeps its character with purpose built features, another wall to keep those studs polished, and places to test out your skills.  With sponsorshop from AVA washers, you don't even need to lug your washer (unless you want to)!

They also look forward to two of the classic contintental courses - Overijse, a full-on 'trail mix' with a bit of everything, and Koppenburg the iconic course on a small piece of land that has become so steeped in cycling history.

Support the show

--
To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps!

You can watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@TheCrosscastCyclocross

Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield @crosscastneil is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne @mattfixerpayne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees @xancrees races for OGT USE.