A Weekend of Iowa City Cyclocross

No doubt we'll miss Jingle Cross this year, but in its place we have two local Iowa City races for what looks like a wonder weekend of cyclocross. 

This Saturday is City Park Cyclocross, the second edition of one of the most grassroots events imaginable. And Sunday is the return of Bobbers Cross, "The best little 'cross race in Johnson County," complete with the marina backdrop, volleyball sandpit, and beer garden finish.

Registration for both races is open now at BikeReg.com.

photos by Angy Snoop (angysnoop.smugmug.com)

City Park Cyclocross grew out of Community Cross, the weeknight training race in Upper City Park organized recently by Goosetown Racing Club and part of the Chamois Time race series before that.
With each passing year Iowa City has become more comfortable with the prospect of cyclocross in City Park. Last year Goosetown Racing Club took it to the next level with City Park Cyclocross, a successful weekend event offering a full day of cyclocross racing in Lower City Park.

The course this year will use even more of the park, explained Race Director Nick Sobocinski. "We plan on using both Lower City Park, like last year, and also getting into Upper City Park, that has always just been used for Community Cross.  That should add some climbing and definitely stretch those laps times out a bit.  We are looking at staging and running the start/finish in a different area as well."

A beautiful venue set right in Iowa City, with tons of potential for a challenging race. City Park CX shows promise for years to come!

Crowd favorite Bobbers Cross has been off and on for the last few years.  We missed it in 2020 for the pandemic, of course. But also in 2018 after widespread flooding put most of Scales Pointe under water. 

Then last year, with the busy cx schedule forcing the race into November, plans went south when Bobbers Grill closed for the season at the end of October.

If there is a silver lining to losing Jingle Cross, it's probably the rest of the state cx schedule loosening up. With an October date, Bobbers Cross is back.

"We're excited to have Bobbers back on the calendar after not being out there for a couple years," said Sobocinski. "Bobbers is a one-of-a-kind venue, overlooking the lake and having the bar and restaurant on-site. 

"​As in the past, all race proceeds go to the Iowa City Nordic Club and their mission to maintain and expand cross-county skiing opportunities and access throughout the area.  They will have a raffle as well, with a variety of stuff from local businesses, to fund what they do to really make cross-country skiing at a variety of locations possible."

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."  ​

Day-of registration is available for both City Park Cyclocross and Bobbers Cross. $10 cheaper and easier for everyone is pre-registration open now at BikeReg.com.