Cyclocross Starts with a Bang at Cannonball Cross

Are you ready for cyclocross? Ready or not, next weekend the fourth edition of Cannonball Cross will open Iowa's season in a big way. No shot across the bow, it's more like the battle is on. "This race is a great Opener to the CX season," said Twisted Spokes' Kathleen Porter, "to get you acclimated to the toughness and fun that is cyclocross!"

Cannonball has always been a tough race. "One of the reasons we decided to put on Cannonball Cross was Jingle Cross becoming a World Cup race and moving to September," explained Race Director Dave Delperdang. "We needed another race to get ready for that and for Waterloo, Wisconsin's Trek CXC Cup." The Mason City race draws talent from across the upper Midwest. The competition is  fierce, but Delperdang and Spin Devo make sure it's fun as well.

"It is a very well run event with a challenging course," says Porter, "It has a little bit of everything from off camber switchbacks, wide open flats, steep hillside climbing and a super steep flyover* feature. The venue is very good with ample parking and there has been a food truck on deck. A well laid out course makes it spectator friendly from different viewing points."

"Cannonball is fairly flowy with lots of good straight aways on a mostly grass course," said Trevor Roose of Iowa City Cycling Club.
"There are a couple good off-camber sections that can be tricky, as well as a couple stairs and a hill run up with a barrier right before, making it tough to ride. Last year's race was really muddy, so we’ll see if this year's is dry and fast!"

The race venue, Mason City's beautiful East Park, couldn't be more inviting to families. There's plenty for kids to do in the park when they aren't racing, many options for food and drink around Mason City, and even camping just to the north across the Winnebago River in MacNider Campgrounds.

Last year was Cannonball Cross' first rainy edition, and it did not disappoint at all. So far, though, the forecast for 2019 looks pleasantly cool, dry, and very fast!

Cannonball Cross is the first two racing days for the Iowa Cyclocross Series, followed by day three and four the following week in Pella. "Cannonball and Dirty Wooden Shoe are similar," suggested Roose, "but they each offer a little different taste. Neither are incredibly technical, so both would be great beginner courses. Cannonball offers a little more off-the-bike action with the stairs and run-ups, and DWS has more climbing and good cornering sections. DWS is a bit shorter than Cannonball, so expect a few more laps."

* Actually, that notorious flyover Porter mentioned above? It's had a makeover since last year.
Delperdang describes the new flyover as "A foot shorter, with one less stair step, and the ramp is less steep and has a rounded transition to flat." While this is undoubtably progress, a few may miss the ramp the way it was.

Cannonball Cross is August 31 and September 1, 2019 in Mason City's East Park.
Register now at bikereg.com.