Cyclo-Cross (sometimes abbreviated to CX) is, as it names suggests, cross-country racing on a bike. Races are ridden on modified road bikes or specialised cyclo-cross bikes and courses consist of various sections of grass, tarmac, mud, sand and obstacles such as steps, ramps, jumps or hills that force riders to push or carry their bikes on their shoulders for a period each lap. The season begins in October and ends with the cyclo-cross world championships in February, just in time for the road season to begin again.
What is the World Cup Series?
The UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup Series is the pinnacle of the sport, akin to the WorldTour on the road, and regularly attracts thousands of fans to each round. The professional series consists of 14 events based in the USA, Belgium, Holland, Ireland, Czech Republic, Italy, France and Spain. The series is run on a points basis and usually attracts all of the sport’s top riders, including some famous names from the road scene. The last round finishes one week before the cyclo-cross world championships and the series is ideal preparation for the one-day world title race.
Why is the Dublin round on December 1 a big deal?
The Dublin round of this year’s Cyclo-Cross World Cup at the Sport Ireland Campus in Abbotstown on December 1 will be the third time a top-tier UCI Cyclo-Cross event has been held in Ireland. The event is sure to attract the cream of the sport and provide a huge spectacle for Irish cycling fans, with plenty of fans also expected to travel from all over Europe. The Dublin event is the second round of the series and is at the point of the season where things get really serious as the world championship looms.
What’s the format for it?
Races are usually run on an open winding course anywhere between 2.5km to 3.5km long, providing spectators with plenty of opportunities to see the stars of the sport up close each lap. Elite professional races usually last just over an hour, with support events lasting anything from half an hour to an hour.
As well as obstacles to provide thrills and spills, there are bike pits on the course where riders will often swap their mud-plugged bikes for a cleaner and therefore lighter replica several times during the race.
Who’s leading the UCI World Cup series?
The cyclo-cross season is usually dominated by Belgian and Dutch riders and this season has been no different. Yesterday saw the first round of the World Cup series in Antwerp with Fem van Empel winning the women’s elite race and Eli Iserbyt prevailing in the man’s race.
Pim Ronhaar of Netherlands crosses the finish line to win the men’s race at last year’s UCI Cyclocross World Cup at the Sport Ireland Campus. Photo: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Which big names are taking part in Dublin?
Iserbyt and all of the top riders in the series are expected to compete in Dublin. Last year’s winner Pim Ronhaar will be back along with his Baloise Trek team-mate and recently crowned European champion Thibaut Nys, while in-form Laurens Sweeck will be looking to go one better than second last year. Lucinda Brand will be hoping to repeat her victory in the ladies race last year but may have tough opposition in Fem van Empel, Ceylin Alvarado, Zoe Backstedt and others.
Which Irish riders are selected?
James Armstrong, Ryan Daly, Cameron Henry, Curtis McKee, Conor Murphy and Hugh Óg Mulhearne will ride for the Junior men’s national team, with Greta Lawless and Aoife O’Donovan representing Ireland in the junior ladies race.
An U-23 squad of Michael Collins, Travis Harkness, Dean Harvey and Tadhg Killeen will ride the combined men’s U-23 and elite race on Sunday while Doireann Killeen,Caoimhe May, Hannah McClorey, Elena Wallace and Esther Wong will ride the U-23/elite ladies race.
In addition to these Irish national teams, Róisín Lally and Stephanie Roche, (both U-23), will race the Elite Women’s race as individuals, while Richard Barry, Darnell Moore, Ronan O’Flynn, Tim O’Regan and Paul O’Reilly will do the same in the men’s race.
What other races are taking place in Abbotstown?
Adding to the excitement of the weekend there will also be a full programme of domestic races from under 6s right up to Masters on Saturday. The younger riders will get to experience riding around a specially built course adjacent to the main cyclocross course on the campus, making it a brilliant opportunity for riders to try cyclocross for the first time. There will also be a skills zone running both Saturday and Sunday.
Junior UCI Cyclo-cross races for both men and women will be held on the Sunday morning of the elite World Cup races, with the women’s junior race due to get under way at 9.30 am and the men’s junior race set to start at 11am.
How do you watch the race in person?
Cyclocross racing is designed so that spectators can see lots of the course from one vantage point. Tickets for the highly anticipated event are now on sale and can be purchased on the official UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup website. Adult tickets are available to purchase online at a discounted rate of €20 per person from https://dublin24.tickets.ucicyclocrossworldcup.com/selection and tickets will also be available to purchase on the day for €25 per person. Children under the age of 12 years old are free of charge, while tickets will not be required for Saturday’s support races. There will be food and drink available from vendors on site.
Parking
On Saturday, parking is available is at the Conference Centre on the Sport Ireland Campus. Please only park in designated car park.
On Sunday, parking is available at the M3 Parkway. A shuttle service will take you to and from the course. Parking for those with health conditions or impairments is available on the Sport Ireland Campus.
