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In 2016, the first year of Twisted Cross, the Cedar Falls cyclocross race was the same day as Trek's CX Cup in Wisconsin. Not wanting to repeat that conflict again, last year organizers settled for mid-November, but a cold snap brought challenges of its own -- the races were fun, of course, but making a day of it was less inviting.
This year Twisted Spokes secured a sweet new weekend for their two-day cx event, a month earlier on the calendar, on October 13 and 14. What could possibly go wrong? Flooding, that's what. Heavy rains in mid-September put Tondro Pray Bike Park, home to Twisted Cross, completely under water. But despite that and recent threats of even more flooding, the race will go on.
"We've redesigned the course at Tondro Pray and it looks like a million dollars," said Race Director Joel Mason. "New sections, new features, no pinwheel, and a design that should stand up to even more rain. Flood recovery has gone extremely well thanks to an army of volunteers and city employees." Twisted Cross is on -- get up to Cedar Falls this weekend!
There's More to ComeThe last few days waiting to hear of Twisted Cross' fate have been a bit meloncholy. By now the biggest spectacles of the year, Trek and Jingle Cross, are but fading memories. On top of that the cancellation of Bobbers (flooding) and the threat to Twisted made it feel like 'cross season is nearly over. But nothing could be further from the truth.  photo by Angy Snoop, https://angysnoop.smugmug.com/ Cyclocross season is what you make of it, of course. Roadies might be content to extend their season a race or two in September. Fair-weather 'crossers will go on for a while longer ... depending. But if you love cyclocross there's no reason not to race through State in early December or even Nationals a couple weeks later. That means your season isn't half over.
Over two months of racing are yet to come after Twisted this weekend. Back to back weekends in Des Moines (The Grand and Spooky), then one day of racing at Coralville Creekside Cross. After that you might have to get creative -- Fulton Star Cross in Minneapolis, maybe? Or if Frosty Cross is too far maybe a Chicago Cross Cup race or two?  photo courtesy of U-ME COMPETE It's entirely possible that other Iowa races will surface before State December 1 (Valley Cross, anyone?). If not, though, there are plenty of alternatives in neighboring states. Then after State there's the Midwest Championship in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, just days before the beginning of Nationals December 11-16 in Louisville, Kentucky. Days get shorter. Temperatures fall. Mud gives way to snow. We have plenty of cyclocross yet to come. Are you ready to race?
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