So far the weather this weekend looks perfect for racing. "We have had so many fun years of racing, both really dry and really really wet as some people may recall.  This year we are looking like it will be one of those dryer race days with a great fall forecast."  ​

Capital City Cross was one of the first cyclocross races in Iowa. Now the progeny of BIKEIOWA Racing Team and located in Stone Park in Des Moines, the race has been around forever. ​And yet its organizers aren't satisfied doing the same old. In fact, this year Capital City Cross will feature two days of racing with four different events at two separate venues.

"Much of the thought behind "unsanctioned Sunday" was because Iowa does not have many USA Cycling officials these days," said BIKEIOWA's Scott Sumpter. "So we'll officiate Sunday on our own, plus the fun aspect of RELAYCROSS will bring a lot more folks to the event."​

The collaboration with Midstate is, in part, down to the shortage of officials, and in part down to the lack of a firm venue for a separate Midstate weekend. "We all believe that a few quality races can supersede quantity (weekly races with smaller turnouts).

So what the heck is short track CX? "An unsanctioned mini-cyclocross course, similar to the first Night Cap Cross. It actually happens at the same venue (Mullets). The course will be short and tight and hopefully flowy and fast with some unique features."

Is he talking about gravel? "Yes, everyone is a 'gravel racer' these days... the hype is unreal, yet very real... Gravel pretty much goes year 'round now and its entry point is even easier than CX, which I touted for years as the entry point to competitive cycling."

Is Iowa cyclocross hurting for lack of Jingle Cross? "I don't think the absence will affect us much going forward. Trek Cup is fulfilling for the folks who need to attend/race an event like Jingle Cross. So many locals weren't racing Jingle Cross since the competition was so fierce. Plus it really messed with the local race schedule when it moved to September versus 'Jingle' weather."
Thanks, Scott! We'll see you in Des Moines!

So, for those of us competitive or compulsive enough to shudder when reading "no Midstate Cross the weekend after,​" what are our options that first weekend in October? For Eastern Iowa folks there are options both days in Illinois and Wisconsin. Personally, I can highly recommend Badger Prairie Cross in Verona (Madison), Wisconsin Saturday October 1, and Schiller Woods CX in Chicago Sunday October 2.

Badger Prairie Cross was twice the venue for USAC Cyclocross Nationals, and it didn't disappoint. Schiller Woods is a first time venue, true, but it's also the first race in the Chicago Cross Cup, filling in for our beloved Caldwell Woods (which is under construction). ChiCrossCup races are big, welcoming, and fun, so you can't go wrong. Better yet, make a weekend of it and do both -- the two are only a couple hours drive apart.

Tondro Pray Bike Park in Cedar Falls is a flat, sprawling 20-acre flood plain repurposed after the 2008 floods as a park for BMX bicycling, cyclocross, and mountain biking. The pump track and MTB skills areas see plenty of action, but the park on the whole is usually a relatively quiet spot nestled just north of the Cedar River.
But not next weekend.

September 17 & 18 Tondro Pray will host the seventh edition of Twisted Cross, the first weekend of racing in Iowa's 2022 cyclocross season.

Over the years Twisted Cross has been in September, November, and October. It's been nice weather more often than not, but it's also been flooded (almost cancelled) and snowed on. But it has always been a good time. This year Twisted Cross promises more of the same.

Twisted Cross has a long history of spoiling racers with free food and drink. This year? "Yep!" says Kimberly Breuer of Cedar Valley Cyclists. "We'll have Single Speed beer, Verve Kombucha, pizza from the Other Place, Fat Cup Coffee." ​

Pretty amazing, but that's not all. "Raffle prizes from Maple Lanes, Fit Gym, KJ and Kompany, Ninja U, Prairie Yogi Massage, Hansen's Dairy, and Transcend Mind-Body Wellness & Floatation Clinic. Hall Bicycle is providing on-site mechanical support. And historic Black Hawk Hotel is providing a discount on hotel rooms." 

On a shorter course there's even a doggy cross and a kid's race. ​And check out the medals!

Twisted Cross 2022​ is September 17 & 18. Pre-registration is cheaper and easier for all, plus racers will be staged by their USAC ranking at the close of pre-registration. (Register on race day and you will start behind pre-registered riders.) Pre-register by Thursday at noon at BikeReg.com.

Shorter days and cooler weather have made it feel like cyclocross season lately. With Labor Day Weekend here and gone, the season is getting a late but solid start with two beginner's clinics and a mid-week training race. And we still have Cannonball Cross to look forward to in November. (More on that here.)

The Des Moines area has had the jump on Eastern Iowa this year, with a Renegade Cross beginners' clinic and Valley hot laps every Wednesday in August. But we're catching up fast with the Twisted Cross Beginners' Clinic Thursday, Cross Curious with Corridor Devo in Coralville Sunday, and the IC Community Cross training race next Tuesday evening.

The course Tuesday will be what everyone has come to expect in Upper City Park. "I think the course ends up a little under a mile total distance."

We hope so too! Register for Community Cross today at BikeReg.com.

Most folks had Cannonball Cross penciled in for Labor Day Weekend this year, and that was no surprise. That had been its date since its inception in 2016. The big surprise was the sudden date change to mid-November.

This Saturday Lions Park in Altoona will host the Iowa State Cyclocross Championship for the 13th time since 2008. Nothing unlucky about that, though -- the weather looks fine, the payouts generous, and a few days later CX Nationals will start just this side of Chicago.

"Some teammates and I were just discussing the wide range of weather we've had for State CX. I think my first or second year there was a dusting of snow.  Fast forward a couple years and it was -11⁰ at the start, and then just a couple years ago it was 34⁰ and raining, as well as the nicer days sprinkled in between."

So far the weather this year looks good, dry and ranging from an overnight low around 30⁰ to a high of 45⁰. That's lucky for us, not only to avoid sub-zero temps, but also without much rain the course will likely include the grassy climb and off camber 180 and descent below the park Shelter. It's a very fun part of the course.

The rest of the course isn't bad either. Arguably one of the better balanced races in the state, there's the uphill paved start and finish, power-sapping climbs and flowy descents, off-camber turns, and even a bit of single track. The challenging course and solid pay outs ensure some strong competition from neighboring states as well.

Online registration for the Iowa State Cyclocross Championship ​ends Thursday at 6pm.

It's been two years in the making, yet we've heard next to nothing about the course for USA Cyling's Na​tional Championships in Chicago next week. USAC posted the course map on Facebook yesterday, just a week before the event, but no details about elevation or terrain. 

Jeff Osborn (Team Denovo) will race the Men's 50+ Thursday.
Jim Bethea (Iowa City Cycling Club), Noah Marcus (Neff Cycle Service), and Keith Snoop will race the Men's 45+ Thursday.
Linda Cooper (Sakari Race Team) will race the Women's 55+ Friday.
Autumn Olsen (Parallel 44) will race the 11-21 Women's Non-championship race Friday.
Clayton Stephens (Corridor Devo) will race the Men's Junior 13-14 Saturday.
Axel Brandsmeier (Corridor Devo), Fin Daufeldt (Corridor Devo), and Anders Holmes (L5 RACING TEAM) will race the Men's Junior 11-12 Saturday.
Griffin Caskey (Corridor Devo) and Chase Cubbage (Corridor Devo) will race the Men's Junior 15-16 Saturday.
Autumn Olsen (Parallel 44) will race the Women's Junior 15-16 Saturday.
Vance Fletcher (Phoenix Syndicate), Jason Scholbrock (BIKEIOWA Racing Team), Kaden Snoop, Brian West (Phoenix Syndicate), and Nathan Zollman  (NorthStar Development) will race the Men's Singlespeed Saturday.
Nathan Zollman (NorthStar Development) will race the Men's Junior 17-18 Sunday.
And Luke Arens (Adapt Cycling), Seamus O'Connor-Walker (University of Iowa), and Dakota Olsen (Move Up) will race the Men's Under 23 Sunday.
Go get it!

Then over the holiday weekend are the South Dakota Championship in Souix Falls and the Midwest Regional Championship in Crown Point, Indiana, just southeast of Chicago. ​Whether you're building toward Nationals or just prolonging your season, get ready to race!

The permanent cyclocross course has been mowed and open for riding all season. Last year, when most events were cancelled due to Covid-19, Valley Cross managed two days of racing before a tighter lockdown nixed a third. This year Saturday is the only day to race Valley Cross.

If you're in Eastern Iowa, the Wisconsin Championship in Waterloo might not be much further away than West Des Moines, and that's on Trek's amazing backyard World Cup-worthy cx course. The Minnesota Championship is another option if you want to race both days this weekend.

The day after Thanksgiving is  the South Dakota Championship in Souix Falls. That's a bit of a drive, but if you're in the neighborhood and looking to race, check it out.

"We were able to build off the enthusiasm from the mid-week Upper City Park CX race in 2019 and 2021, which were based on a foundation laid by the Chamois Time gals in the years preceding that. Parks staff had been impressed with the turnout at those events, and were open to more events in the future. After a successful event this year I asked about a full day event, using Lower City Park and its larger area and unique features.

Online registration for City Park Cross Saturday ends Thursday at 5pm. Registration for Creekside Cross Sunday ends Friday at 5pm. So far the forecast for both days looks good.

Unfortunately Spooky will only be one day this year, Saturday October 30. "When I first contacted the city about Spooky, things were still a bit uncertain as far as where we'd be at with Covid, restrictions, and safety measures," explained Guiter. "In the end we just opted for the one day event. As always, the City of Altoona has been amazing to work with and has continued to support our racing community. This has been an odd year of racing and I'm thankful we're back to hopping barriers again."

Losing most of the 2020 season to the pandemic has made us feel lucky to race cyclocross at all, but we've lost some race opportunities. With six weeks until Nationals -- in Chicago, no less -- Iowa has only four racing days on offer after Spooky. Anyone wanting to race their best at Nationals, or score some points before then, will need to broaden the scope of their race calendar.

As detailed on the CRANDIC Calendar, the Sunday after Spooky is Campton Cross just west of Chicago. The first weekend in November will feature two races in the Iowa City area, City Park CX Saturday November 6 and Creekside Cross Sunday November 7. If you'd rather travel for a big race with better points, Groundhog PSI-clocross that Sunday is a great choice, or maybe the two day Fulton Star CX in Minneapolis.

Again near Minneapolis is Croix Cross November 13 & 14, and the Minnesota State Championship November 20 & 21. Closer to home Saturday November 20 is Valley Cross in West Des Moines or even the Wisconsin State Championship at the Trek headquarters in Waterloo. Sunday is Wheeling CX in Chicago.

Over Thanksgiving weekend South Dakota's State Championship is Friday in Sioux Falls. After that it's just the Iowa State Championship in Altoona Saturday December 4 with the US National Championships starting just a couple days later in DuPage County Illinois (speaking of which, discounted "early bird" fee ends November 2 -- sign up now.).

Still "TBD" -- but sure to be sweet if it happens -- is Montrose Harbor in Chicago Sunday December 5, just before Nationals. Typically the last race of the Chicago Cross Cup, the Illinois State Championship, and recently a very worthy Midwest Regional Championship, sandy Montrose Harbor is about as challenging and fun as a race can be. If you're lucky enough to attend the whole National Championship, start your visit a couple days early on the shores of Lake Michigan. You won't be sorry you did.

First and foremost for us Eastern Iowa types is The Grand this weekend in Des Moines. Two days of cyclocross brought to you by the Phoenix Syndicate, The Grand unfolds around The Sands Volley Ball Club right in the heart of the city.

For 2021 Scheels DSM stepped up from team sponsor to be the the title sponsor of The Grand. Bike Rags, Merchants Bonding Company, and DSM Stamp are also sponsoring the race. Online registration closes Thursday night, so get it done at Bikereg.com.

Of course, this wouldn't be October if we weren't looking forward to Spooky Cross at the end of the month. This year Spooky will be just one day, Saturday October 30, but will offer plenty of cyclocross fun nonetheless. More on Spooky Cross later.

The first weekend in November will feature two races in the Iowa City area. Sadly, Bobber's Cross won't be happening, as the marina campsite/bar & grill will already be closed for the season. Creekside Cross in Coralville is still a go for Sunday, November 7, and will be presented by Corridor Devo. For Saturday, November 6, Goosetown Racing/New Pi has plans for a new race in Iowa City's Lower City Park. We'll have more on that soon.

Saturday, December 4 will be the Iowa State Cyclocross Championship in Altoona. That's just days before the start of the USA 2021 National Cyclocross Championship near Chicago December 6-12.

Next week more details about the local races above, plus some teasers for great racing options throughout the region. Check the CRANDIC Calendar for all the latest. And get ready. There's plenty more great racing to come.