While we're not quite as compressed as the famous Belgian Christmas week, our Kansas City scene is ready for the next rounds of winter cyclocross. Sunday December 28th is the final event of the Boss Cross Series at English Landing Park in Parkville, click on the link to the blog to keep updated on Jeremy's course plans and points updates. This venue has a 'low countries' flavor with mostly flat terrain, but also a little mud and sand.
Wednesday, December 31st is a new event, 'Cross Off The Old Year' at a familar venue. This New Years Eve event starts slightly later in the day to allow those skipping a half day of work to join the fun. The course at Pierson Park features a good chunk of pavement with a moderate hill, and lots of flat fast grass straightaways. Pierson was used as the Kansas State Championship course for several years.
Sunday January 4th will feature the second Epic Holiday Cyclocross. Another mostly flat venue, but uniquely situated in and around the Tuileries Shopping Center. Lots of Brick road for the fast sections, expect mud on the expanded course.
The final event of the Series60CX and a local classic is the January 11th Grote Prijs Shawnee. This race is in and around the historic Old Shawnee Town of Herman Laird Park. The race draws large crowds of spectators, has heated facilities, and features a large course in a small venue. Over 600 meters of continious road before the twisty turns and swampy polder that forced runs last year. Also last year's event is still famous for a 'limited release' version of Smokestack's Sixth Glass.
And while that ends the season here in KC, a few riders are heading to Belgium to race the World Masters Cyclocross Championships and to watch the UCI Elites and Juniors in Holland. There MAY be limited availabilty on the localcycling.com package for those interested. Give mark@localcycling.com a jingle, but time is short.