The Crosscast

In Episode 12 of Season 3, Neil, Matt and Bruce review the final round of the World Cup that came from Hoogerheide. The men's race went to form meaning that Toon Aerts retained the title of World Cup winner. The women's race was fabulously drama packed right until the line and saw Brand take the win ahead of Worst and Cant, after an arguably tactical disaster from Alvarado. That means Worst ended up victorious in the World Cup overall.

They mull over the controversial topic of the return of Betsema and the impact it has had in the world of CX, and also touch on the touchy topic of funding for the GB Cycling Team.

On the day that the new contract with Tormans is announced Matt dives into the pits with the sensational Thomas Mein, after another super season.

The main focus of the show is, of course, the Laaste Ronde, where the 6 World Champs races are previewed. We reckon that we are probably the most informed outlet anywhere for the ones to watch in the Junior Women's category. The team also give their views on who is looking strong for Switzerland and make predictions across all categories… can you do any better?

And finally, they dive into the pits for some Wyman wisdom from on-the-ground at the venue to see how it's looking, how steep are those flyovers, how squidgy is the ground, and how tricky are the turns.

#SYOTOSOTT

Click to view: show page on Awesound

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 11 of Season 3, Neil, Matt and Bruce review the British National Championships from Shrewsbury that saw an expected win from Tom Pidcock, a composed second from Ben Tulett, and an excellent third from Cam Mason. Hattie Harnden took an awesome win excelling again in the mud ahead of Beth Crumpton with Anna Kay rounding out the podium. Tom and Hattie dive into the pits for a quick post-race catch up.

National Champs from elsewhere in Europe are reviewed, as is the penultimate World Cup from Nommay with its head-to-head, shout-at-the-screen moments right to the finish for both elite men and women's categories.

And in the Laaste Ronde, they preview Hoogerheide and wonder Hoo is going to take the women's title which is still wide open, and whether the likely men's World Cup winner is able to take a race win. Helen Wyman joins in as usual, giving her 100 seconds on the racer's view of the Netherlands race.

Did you know that it was only a second-ever elite podium for Cameron Mason (kudos in the Facebook comments if you know where he got his first-ever elite podium 😉)?

#SYOTOSOTT

Click to view: show page on Awesound

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 3, Neil and Bruce review the bumper Kerstperiode over the Christmas and New Year break. Neil was out in Belgium and on the ground for most of the races, and so we hear comment from up close to the tape, as well as from the pits. They talk through the Zolder World Cup, Wout's return at the DVV from Loenhout with the iconic oopsie whoopsies, the mega Diegem Superprestige night race, New Year new kit new shampoo from Baal, and the back-to-school Uni race from Brussels... and they refuse to even acknowledge the spiral of doom. They wonder where Iserbyt found his leg warmers and where the Telenet Baloise Lions jerseys have gone from the front of the men's field. They also give thoughts on the successful Helen 100 Junior Women's DVV with the future (and let's face it current) talent of US riders Madigan Munro and Lizzy Gunsalus, the well known and former Crosscast guest Zoe Backstedt, and Fem Van Empel (NL). Huw Williams dives into the pits with Anna Kay and Beth Crumpton as they prepare for the National Champs.

And in the Laaste Ronde Matt Payne dives into the pits to chat with Helen Wyman to get a regular 100s on the next world cup from Nommay, and they preview the imminent UK National Champs from Shrewsbury. Would you bet against Pidcock and Kay, the strongest favorites for years? Jersey-tastic.

#SYOTOSOTT

Click to view: show page on Awesound

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 3, the focus shifts from sand to mud. Neil, Matt, and Bruce review all the action from the National Trophy Finale in York that saw Gianni Siebens and Hattie Harnden take the races in tough muddy conditions, while Gosse VanderMeer and Ffion James secured their series titles. They dive into the pits with Gosse to talk tech with Hunt wheels, tyres and to talk about his season and future plans.

They review the historical race from Ronse that served up its usual comedy corners but saw Aerts break VanderPoel's streak of cyclocross wins in style, and Alvarado continue with her winning form.

And hot (or should that be cold) off the press they review an epic event at Namur where the weather conditions made an already challenging course even tougher with several riders having hard crashes and suffering in the cold.

And in the Laaste Ronde they dive into the pits to chat with Helen Wyman to get a regular 100s on the next world cup from Zolder, and preview the Christmas block of races from Louenhout, Diegem, Baal and Brussels.

#SYOTOSOTT

Click to view: show page on Awesound

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 3, Neil, Matt, and Bruce review all the sandy action from Pembrey, the penultimate round of the National Trophy that saw a season reviving ride from Gosse VanDerMeere. They talk through Koksijde and the impressive rides, not only for the win, and they also review Zonhoven which was a classic, even by Zonhoven's standards.

They dive into the pits with Cyclocross Bible author Alex Forrester to get all the details from Mol and review not only the technically challenging course but the challenge of sliding along tarmac in the big races.

howtorideabike.co.uk/the-cyclocross-bible/

And in the Laaste Ronde they dive into the pits to chat with Helen Wyman to get a regular 100s on the next world cup from Namur with its heeby jeeby descents and technical challenges. They also transition from Namur to manure with a preview of 'sliding in a cow field' Ronse.

Finally they give a preview of the National Trophy in York where the elite men's series is still wide open. They talk points, and how deep they go in the series and how hard they are to win. Matt talks about the challenges of the course with Phil Ingham, who seems to have put together a fitting end to a very close season.

You might also ask whether Matt's puppy left him any sausages for his tea.

#SYOTOSOTT

Click to view: show page on Awesound

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 3, Neil, Matt, and Bruce review all the action from recent events including the European championships coming from Italy which saw an old-school muddy course. They also talk through the Tabor World Cup and Hamme weekend double with its double winners in double events.

They don't neglect the awesome racing that occurred in Crawley with the strongest field in the UK for years and consider the merits of occasional stars picking up the big points, and try to work out who makes the steps in the run ups.

And in the Laaste Ronde they dive into the pits to chat with Helen Wyman to get a regular 100s on the next world cup from Koksijde which coincides with the most Koksijde-esque venue in the UK this season - Pembury. They also look forward to Mol, and Zonhoven. So that's two sandy races followed by another couple of sandy races. I hope you've brought your bucket and spade.

#SYOTOSOTT

Click to view: show page on Awesound

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 3, Neil, Matt, and Bruce review all the action from an action packed set of races on the Koppenburg that saw some flippin amazing performances from British riders in all categories. They also review the return of Matthieu van der Poel at Ruddervoorde and debate what this might mean for the rest of the season, and who is actually leading the Elite Men's Superprestige series.

They dive into the pits with Helen Wyman to get the latest Helen's 100 seconds on the upcoming World Cup in Tabor in the Czech Republic. They also preview the next round of the DVV in Hamme the following day; it's almost 1000km away on the road but it does have some lovely woods.

Before those races come the European Champs in Italy with a strong UK contingent and the next round of the National Trophy in Crawley. Neil, Matt and Bruce give you all the info and what to expect… including the 27 Belgian and Dutch riders expected to make the journey to England.

And finally, they are geeked-out when Neil drops in the obscure UCI rule about eligibility to race abroad for the highest world-ranked riders, and how it needs to be interpreted (spoiler… they're not 100% sure 😁)!

#SYOTOSOTT #Kops&Rudders

Click to view: show page on Awesound

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 5 of Season 3, Neil, Matt, and Bruce review all the action from the last World Cup in Bern where the course was dramatically improved with a bit of Swiss weather, and of course we saw a podium of personal bests in the women's race, including Anna Kay's first World Cup podium. They revisit the last two rounds of the Superprestige where the usually muddy Gavere was dry and the usually dry Boom was muddy.

They also unpack the play from the Scottish Race, the National Trophy in Irvine, where Katie Scott and Gosse van de Meer both brought home hard-earned wins in the hard-blowing wind.

Finally, in the Laaste Ronde, they preview the upcoming Koppenburgcross, a favourite for British riders, and Ruddervoorde which promises to see a 3-way battle between van der Poel, Iserbyt and Pidcock.

Bruce, we hope you had a nice meal and Neil, we hope you caught your flight!

#SYOTOSOTT

Click to view: show page on Awesound

In Episode 4 of Season 3, Neil, Matt, and Bruce review all the action from a mega Milnthorpe and a gripping Gieten, both of which saw some compelling racing and signs of a brilliant season unfolding.

They dive into the pits with Trinity Racings' multi world champ Tom Pidcock, and the king of CX on YouTube, Cameron Mason. They get insights into the Bern course from organiser Christian Roche, and from a rider's view with Helen's 100 seconds, where Helen Wyman tells us all about the thrill and spills from last year.

Matt drops another Crosscast Exclusive, being able to announce that some of the future rights for the World Cups are transferring to Red Bull TV with a top-notch commentary team. We understand that it will not be geo-blocked in the UK! Yay!

In Episode 3 of Season 3, Neil, Matt, and Bruce catch up on all the action from the first round of the UK National Trophy in Derby where the continental riders didn't have it all their own way, and the Trek World Cup which reminded us of what muddy races can be like. Both races showed how important it is to get the right equipment for the conditions, and to make sure that you come with a bucket load of skills.

In the pits Matt catches up with Katerina Nash, the current elite World Cup leader, and winner of Trek.

And in the Laaste Ronde they preview Gieten, the start of the Superprestige series, and give you everything that you need to know about Round 2 of the National Trophy in Milnthorpe. They join Dave Haygarth in the pits whose tips should give racers a good 10 seconds advantage per lap (…NB not guaranteed