BTB TV Presents headed to Boulder, Colorado, for the weekend to take in the sights and sounds of two classics on the American cyclocross calendar. First up was the Colorado Cross Classic, which takes place at the iconic Boulder Reservoir. With dramatic backdrops, punchy, twisty racing, and a field full of America’s top names, Saturday’s action was definitely top of the line.
On the women’s side, American champion Katie Compton was eager to prove that reports of her demise were premature. After a pair of podium finishes in Providence—a far cry from the dominance we’ve come to expect – Compton seemed to have put her troubles behind her, and with the help of a little altitude, put her form right and the field in her rear view mirror. After the dust settled, the men hit the course, but it didn’t take long before the drama was pushed into high gear. Some tight, tactical racing, with a major comeback in the mix, meant Saturday’s racing at the reservoir was some of the best you’ll see all season.
On Sunday, all eyes turned to Boulder’s Valmont Bike Park, the site of January’s Cyclocross National Championships. More than points and purse was on the line, as everyone in the field was getting a taste of what’s to come in a few months’ time as riders vie for the National Championship. The women’s field will be hoping that the results sheet looks a bit different in January than it did on Sunday, as a hugely dominant performance left the rest of the field picking up the scraps.
For the men, it was a back-and-forth battle at the front throughout the day, but a single authoritative attack settled Sunday’s score and sent a message to the country that there is one rider to beat this season. In the process, however, a number of riders showed that they are not to be counted out when considering the list of favorites for January’s National Championship.
On top of the weekend’s racing action, we check in with USA Cycling’s Marc Gullickson and talk about this year’s USA Cycling Pro Cyclo-cross Calendar and how it’s moving cyclocross forward in the United States. We also talk to Cal-Giant Berry Farms/Specialized’s young gun Logan Owen about his transition from the junior ranks to the elite ranks and what he’s learned so far. Also on the list is Pete Webber, who checks in to tell us all about the Boulder Junior Cycling program as well as Nick Frey, the brain behind Boo Bicycles.
CXM also caught up with Powers when he was off-camera with BTB to find out what’s up next for him.
