Madison is already used to hosting winter cyclocross with the Cyclo Frost. © Emily Mills
That’s right folks – we’ve been warning you it was coming and now it’s official. There’s no 2011 official USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships as the event moves to January in 2012 and will be hosted by Madison, Wisconsin. (Come join us in the fall of 2011 as we transform our Wednesday Night Worlds into the 2011 National Championships.) Full press release below.
Colorado Springs, Colo. (October 29, 2010) — USA Cycling is pleased to name Madison, Wisconsin as the host city for the 2012-2013 Cyclocross National Championships.
Additionally, the national governing body announced today that for 2012 and 2013, the event will move from its traditional dates during the second week of December to the first week in January.
Although the United States has held its cyclocross national championships in December for a number of years, the move to January was proposed to better align the event with the international calendar. Additionally, the move will better support the U.S. athletes who are training to compete in the world championships slated for Louisville, Ky. later in January.
USA Cycling originally began the discussion surrounding the date change last year. After a participant survey showed member support for the move, the final decision was confirmed this fall.
“To make sure this decision was in the best interest of our members, we distributed a survey to 2009 Cyclocross National Championship participants,” explained USA Cycling National Events Director Kelli Lusk. “When a large majority came back and said they would support moving the event to January, the decision was made to move the national championships to the UCI-designated weekend.”
Because next season’s national championship will take place in January of 2012 and this season’s is scheduled for December of 2010, there will not be a cyclocross national championship event held during the 2011 calendar year.
Madison's Winter Awaits Cyclocrossers in 2012. © Ryan Wick
Organized by the Madison Area Sports Commission and Team Sports Inc., the 2012 event will take place January 4-8 in Madison’s Badger Prairie/Reddan Park where warming tents and plenty of shelter will help ensure the warmth and safety of racers and spectators.
The USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships were last held in the Midwest when Kansas City hosted the 2007 and 2008 editions. Since then, the event has been held in Bend, Ore. (2009-2010). The city of Madison, which has also played host to the USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships (2010 and 2011), is happy to welcome the annual cyclocross event back to the Midwest for a two-year commitment.
“We know that Madison’s great cycling culture and enthusiastic cycling fan base will create a memorable experience for the racers competing in these events,” said Jamie Patrick, Director of Sports Sales and Program Development, Madison Area Sports Commission
“We are truly honored and excited to host the 2012/2013 USA Cycling CX National Championships,” said Tom Schuler of Team Sports, Inc. “I know that the rest of the country will quickly learn what midwesterners know already, that the greater Madison area is an incredibly cycling-friendly city.”
