The localcycling.com newsdesk got pretty excited this afternoon. Local KCCX/Verge rider Chris Wallace has been selected for the Euro Cross Camp, an intensive developmental program to help refine the best cyclocross racers from the U.S.A.
Mr. Wallace is currently leading the USGP Series for Juniors 17-18 years old. The camp is located in the heartland of the cyclocross world: Belgium.
The localcycling.com news team would like to congratulate Chris, and his mentors at the KCCX/Verge program, particularly Mr. Bill Marshall for this accomplishment. AND we would encourage our cyclocross community to give Chris and the Wallace family a hand in sending him 'over the pond' with a donation.
Mini-editorial: Jeremy Haynes published a short recap on his Boss Cross page about the local history and development of 'cross. He touched on plenty of the pieces (and the Boss Cross Series is an important one), but there are lots more: Kansas City has had 3 Cyclocross National Championships in this decade. Many, many folks poured love and effort into developing a thriving cyclocross scene;more than I can remember or name. Mike Berning and Teresa Jarzemkoski have energized clinics for newbies, accomplished riders and women specific. Chris Locke and crew amped up series racing to a new standard. Roger Harrison showed us what quality equipment can do for an event. Before that we had Mike Hudson fostering State Championships and Curtis Martel giving us "Pure 'Cross. There are tons of connections and components that have brought us to where we are today: launching a new generation of elite cyclocross racers from right here!