SO WHAT HAPPENED WITH CANNONBALL CROSS?

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.

"We chose the original date for Cannonball Cross because of the schedule at that time," explained organizer Matt Curtis. Jingle Cross, in it's first year as a World Cup race, moved from December to September. "People were looking for tune-up races before the big races at the start of the season, Trek Cup and Jingle Cross. At the time there were few opportunities to race before the big Midwest UCI races."

Trek was the week before Jingle Cross, so the only real chance to race beforehand was Pella's since-deceased Dirty Wooden Shoe. Cannonball Cross was filling a void, but when it hit the calendar on Labor Day weekend there was definitely some grumbling from roadie and MTB types about cyclocross encroaching on traditional summer dates.

Now Jingle Cross is gone and Trek is in October, and things look different, with several empty weekends on the calendar, and a pretty sparse November. "'Cross is traditionally a Fall & Winter discipline, so the former race calendar made our race really stand out as being very early in the season. We always loved spending the holiday weekend with our extended cycling family, but now our organizers and volunteers are looking forward to having the Labor Day weekend off.

"So, we are moving forward with a new date. Same great race minus the bugs!"

Does the constricting 'cross schedule signal hard times for the sport we love? "While cyclists have a tendency to move around disciplines, I think 'cross offers such a unique environment that it will never really lose its draw. It's an extremely social and high-energy setting, which makes every race an exciting experience. It takes a certain mindset to race 'cross, and the die-hards will never really walk away from that. The unique nature of the discipline continues to draw new people as well, similar to the traction gravel has been getting.

Speaking of absences on the calendar, are we suffering from the loss of Jingle Cross? "Jingle Cross has been a driving force behind Iowa cyclocross for a long time. It's been a staple at the end of the calendar, a high-energy kick off to the season, and a goal to strive for no matter what time of year it happened. 

"The success of the UCI and World Cup races was a unique experience felt around the world -- it was even voted best World Cup at one point. That kind of impact can't be overstated.

"We lost a fantastic race, but it also leaves space for organizers, racers, brands, and fans to step up to the example Jingle Cross created. They showed us that the sky is the limit, and it's our turn to make sure that legacy carries on."

Thank you, Matt! More on Cannonball Cross 2022 later, but just for the record registration for November 19 & 20 is already open at BikeReg.com. Don't miss it!