The Crosscast

In Episode 15 of Season 6, Neil and Matt look back on the season as a whole and reflect on the final standings in the X2O and Superprestige series. 

In a season that was affected by injury and incident, but kept fresh by having close racing at the front week in, week out, they decide on their own riders of the year for UK female (with shortlist including Baker, Backstedt, Crees, Strathdee, Weijack, Day), and UK male (with shortlist including Barnes, Akers, Mason, Pidcock)... and then World female (with shortlist including Holmgren(s), Van Anrooij, Pieterse, Van Empel) and World male (with shortlist including Van Aert, Van der Poel, Sweeck, Iserbyt).  They also select their UK race of the year (with shortlist including Clanfield, Ispwich Masters Worlds, Derby, Falkirk, South Shields) and World race of the year (with shortlist including Diegem, Hoogerheide, Zonhoven, Hulst, Benidorm). What do you think?

They look forward to next season's World Cup with its similar calendar to last year but now down to just one non-European date. They also review the recently announced 23-24 UK National Trophy series that is looking like it will be another cracker, despite the only UK UCI race listed (at the moment) being the European Cup race at Clanfield. It has to be said that UK Trophy race organisers are doing an awesome job at the moment 10/10 :-) 

But... they both get a bit argumentative when it comes to the change in race schedule which makes them both a tad baffled of how it will work practically, and whether it will achieve what it sets out to, or end up being counter productive.  Hopefully more clarity will come over the next 6 months.

And finally - thanks all the guests who have made this season a joy to record, and all the buymeacoffee donors who have enabled the Crosscast to exist. You rock.

See you on the other side of the summer.

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 Xan Crees Racing.

In Episode 14 of Season 6, Neil and Matt are joined by Ian Field to review the 2023 World Championships that came from Hoogerheide. Matt, just back from UCI / BBC commentary duties, Ian, just back from GCN / Eurosport commentary duties, and Neil, just back from sofa duties, reflect on a weekend that started with a GB Silver in the relay, and built to what will inevitably become an iconic sprint finish in the elite men's competition, between Van Aert and Van der Poel.

After a Canadian 1-2 in the women's juniors and compared to what we have become accustomed to, a noticable lack of Dutch and Belgian riders in the younger catergories, they discuss how the profile of CX might be changing. They talk how Van Anrooij definitely made the right decision to race U23 lining up the possibility to be the first woman to collect all three world champs jerseys, and Backstedt who could well aim to beat her to it.

And did the Netherlands teams gift Nys the win by poor tyre choice?... and should Van Aert have at least considered a 'plan b' for the final sprint? Word of the day must be - bamboozled.  

Before looking ahead to the final races of the season, they give a run down of how well they did in the Crosscast World Champs Prediction competition.

And stop press... the announcement came in during recording... Van Empel will race to end of the season after all, Lucinda must be gutted.

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 Xan Crees Racing.

In Episode 13 of Season 6, Neil and Matt are joined by cyclocross talent and 5 times British Champion, Ian Field. They look back on the final two races of the World Cup that both delivered the unexpected. Benidorm, a fast race that was reminiscent of the early season dry events, was full of action and, in the end, decided the World Cup series with Sweeck and Van Empel taking the titles.

They also review the rather strange weekend before the World Champs with Besançon no longer being quite the World Cup finale as expected, but giving a fitting French finale to Chainel's career, but others with a whole host of different agendas.

The main focus of the show is previewing the upcoming Hoogerheide World Championships, a venue that Ian has raced 9 times. They look at what to expect from the course and where to expect the action. They also give their predictions, tips and insight into each of the 7 races. Can you do any better with your predictions?

Pop over to https://tinyurl.com/crosscast2023 to give YOUR tips 😎.

And over the weekend, you can get to hear both Matt and Ian giving TV commentary on GCN and the UCI depending on where you are.

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 Xan Crees Racing.

In Episode 12 of Season 6, Neil and Matt take a look at CX fashion week, where riders decide who is going to be wearing which colours for the next season. Naturally they focus on the UK Champs that came from Milnthorpe with its extra contribution to the 'Lake' District. The look at the thrills and spills that came from a tough course that really split the fields and ended up with the fewest riders finishing on the lead lap for many years.

They also look back at how the extended points regime in the National Trophy has resulted in much more interesting racing for the non-elite riders, and a motivation for many to complete the whole series.

Looking to Europe, they review action from key nations including Ireland and the Netherlands, and of couse Belgium where Cant continued her phenomenal streak of winning every National Champs since 2009. 

They also report on the news that Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus will be undergoing some big changes for next year... watch your feeds for news.

In the Laatste Ronde they look forward to the MC* Hamme X2O and the finale of the 22-23 World Cup with racing coming from Benidorm and Besancon, with Benidorm looking like it will be a suprisingly packed field of CX talent. (*Marvellous Course)

And will we see even  more escalation of the Vantourenhout / Sweeck battle on the bike?

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 Xan Crees Racing.

In Episode 11 of Season 6, Neil and Matt look back on (yet) another series of cracking races from Belgium and the UK. They go from the puncture affected woods of Herentals, to the dunes of Koksijde. They also wonder how much Chumbawumba can be invoked*, with Riberolle getting up again after her knock down at Gullegem, and pretty much half the field coming a cropper in the revised... and dare we say improved... epic of Zonhoven.

They look back on the second UK UCI double-header of the season with the tough Clanfield Cross, and what is now surely a classic at Cyclopark.  And in the week after the British PM announced that he wanted to improve the maths abilities of 18 year olds they wonder if he had the right idea after all... after the elite series medals were awarded to the wrong riders on the day.

In the Laatste Ronde they look forward to , and attempt predictions, for the hotly anticipated British National Championships coming from Westmorland, a course that will test riders... we just hope that injury hasn't removed Mason and Kay from the starts, but with such a stacked field of CX talent, the racing is sure to be awesome. Be there people :-)

 (*if you don't remember Chumbawumba... try Spotify 😎)

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 Xan Crees Racing.

In Episode 10 of Season 6, Matt and Neil are joined in the studio by CX talent, Lotta Mansfield fresh from her block of Belgian action over the early Kerstperiod. Lotta talks about the experience of racing for Montezuma's Race Team on the continent and back home in the UK. 

They review what has proved to be a series of ace races, with battles from Gavere in the draggy mud, Zolder being reminiscent of previous tight editions, and Diegem being a night to remember. Loenhout with what will become a classic sprints, and Baal... being Baal.

Sadly, the predicted Baal broken bones came true and they talk through whether the course can continue to be used in its current form.

In the Laatste Ronde they look forward to the double header of Montezuma's home race from Clanfield and the National Trophy finale coming from Gravesend. They also preview the continuing series of Kerste races - Herentals, Koksijde, Gullegem and Zonhoven. And do you agree with Matt - Koksijde is no longer the hotly anticipated event that it once was?

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 Xan Crees Racing.

In Episode 9 of Season 6, Neil and Matt are joined in the studio by Junior CX talent, Oli Akers fresh from (yet) another win in the National Trophy. Oli talks about his season, and how things are taking shape at Garden Shed UK Ribble Verge CX. He talks about the balance of risk and reward, and how much he is anticipating the end of the season with a series of big-ticket races across Europe.

They review the ice conditions that were experienced at Barnoldswick and how they responded to the challenge of racing in the cold and slidey conditions. They also review all of the action from Val di Sole (spoiler - there wasn't a great deal in the end), and debate the balance of risk and reward and the challenges facing organisers in the balance of designing courses that are pitched at the right level for a sport that inhernetly carries some risks.

In the Laatste Ronde they look forward to the upcoming Kerstperiode and preview Gavere, Zolder, Diegem and Baal. And also mention Mol and Loenhout on the way. So much CX goodness in such a short space of time - listen up for all you need to know and what to look out for.

Happy Kerstperiod everyone!

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 Xan Crees Racing.

In Episode 8 of Season 6, Neil and Matt are joined in the studio by World Champion Ceris Styler, fresh from defending her jersey at the Masters World Champs. They give a full run down of all the fun from Ipswich, and talk through all of the GB podiums from what was another awesome event from Steve Grimwood and the whole organising team.

They also look back at the racing from Boom and Antwerp, and what amounted to a Hollywood-esque pair of elite races from Dublin, with action from start to finish. They talk about how Wout has an undefeated track record in big races when someone shoves a foot through his wheel and Neil rolls out the 'throwing in the towel' meme. They debate whether Pieterse was overly optimistic hopping congested barriers, or whether lines were defended a tad too agressively by the opposition. They also reflect on the fantastic performances from the GB squad, and give respect to Cycling Ireland for providing such a forum for a large team to get experience on the biggest stage.

And questions are asked... who are the favorites for the World Champs in the women's field at the moment?... and does it matter that the women's National Jersey hasn't seen any action since it was won last January? And will the National Trophy overall be won by Baker and Barnes, as time is running out for other contenders? This week's quiz question is when did Pidcock, Van Aert and Van Der Poel last take to the same start line?

In the Laatste Ronde, they look forward to a pair of races that appear to be entirely dependent on the weather. Val di Sole will certainly be picturesque, but will it bring exciting racing? And Matt gives Neil and Ceris lessons on how to pronounce Barnoldswick, the venue for the penultimate National Trophy. Make sure you listen up to avoid muppetry with the locals.

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 Xan Crees Racing.

In Episode 7 of Season 6, Neil and Matt are joined in the studio by off-road uber-talent, Evie Richards, who not only gives all the information on her recent success at the highest level of sport, but also of plans for a return to cyclocross, and experiences at the Western and West Midlands local leagues. Evie also gives Neil some tips on how to manage his gridding at the Masters World Champs.

They are also joined by Gareth Richards, the brains behind CX HUBZ, to talk about how grass-roots CX is growing the UK, and also about experiences of being a parent of a professional young athlete.

Neil and Matt review the most recent National Trophy, and consider whether Paignton delivered a Ton of Paign on a course that gave all riders a tough day out.  They also review the stuttering return of Pidcock and the impressive return of Van der Poel, on some pretty awesome, if tricky, courses. They also reflect on how Pieterse is thriving as the conditions get more and more difficult, and the hospitality offered by locals when cross comes to town.

In the Laatste Ronde they look forward to established and new World Cup courses from Antwerp and Dublin, the home of the trolls in Boom, and of course the imminent World Masters Championships that is a focal point for many riders on the UK scene this year.

And can YOU answer the randomly fiendish quiz question of when was the last time that the elite male and female world champ both took the win at the same race?... 

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 Xan Crees Racing.

In Episode 6 of Season 6, Neil and Matt are joined from Belgium by Spectra Wiggle's Xan Crees from the middle of her European race block. They get all the insights from Xan who has been on the ground at almost every one of the big races this year.

They cover all the action from Koppenburg with the memorable wins for Van Der Haar and Van Empel, and the race that Prevot will want to forget. They cover the return of Alvarado to winning ways at Niel after a 2-year hiatus., and a first World Cup win for Van Anrooij after Pieterse and Van Empel's complacency (or was it?) at the bell. 

They also reflect on the European Champs - both the elite and masters results, with another superb haul of medals for the British vets, just a few weeks before the Masters World Champs.

There is the debate on which jersey should Van Empel and Pieterse wear at the next World Cup (which is carefully tiptoed round), and most importantly they have received fan mail from the operator of the cablecam.

In the Laatste Ronde they look forward to the upcoming races from Merksplas and Kortrijk, that might see the return of Pidcock, and the return of World Cups from Overijse - which might or might not have the killer climb into the pits off the start, and from Hulst. 

They also preview the next round of the National Trophy from Paignton and Andover Supercross.

It's been a cracking season so far... and before you listen, do you know the answer to the question of before Namur, when was the last time Vos and Prevot went head-to-head on a CX bike?

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 Xan Crees Racing.