Tracklocross may be a niche within a niche sport, but while you were probably coasting, it’s become a fixation and an international sport. With growing scenes around the world including in Russia, the UK, Japan and the United States, the sport’s best and most passionate will converge in late August in Japan to battle for the first-ever Tracklocross World Championship title.
One racer who will be enjoying a free flight to the fixed gear contest will be Kell McKenzie.
Kell McKenzie lapped all but one racer on his way to win the 2019 Tracklocross Nationals. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
McKenzie had a tight battle with Kazzle Spencer for the first half of the 2019 Tracklocross Nationals before Spencer took a digger on the course’s major descent.
Kell McKenzie survived a tight battle with Kazzle Spencer for half the race to win the 2019 Tracklocross Nationals. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
While Spencer was pulling himself off the dirt, McKenzie seized the opportunity to fly solo through the Oakland hills and secure the Nationals title.
Kell McKenzie scaled the Oakland hills and its natural obstacles to claim the 2019 Tracklocross Nationals. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
Now he’ll be flying from the East Bay to the Far East to represent the States at the 2019 World Champs in Japan.
“I wanted more than anything to go to Japan. Now to go on the inaugural year of Worlds is really cool,” McKenzie said after his win.
He lauded the inclusivity of tracklocross, but warned that tracklocross requires “has a high barrier of entry.” Being good at riding a track bike, and good riding in the dirt are necessary for safety and success, McKenzie maintains.
McKenzie credited his BMX racing for the skills that helped him as a tracklocross racer. It seems most of his cycling career has been on one-gear bikes.
Kell McKenzie started with BMX racing and parlayed those skills to all types of one-gear racing success. 2019 Tracklocross Nationals. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
Prior to Nationals, McKenzie put in the work not only to become the champ, but also to make the party in the woods happen.
Kell McKenzie literally put the work into creating a strong foundation for the 2019 Tracklocross Nationals. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
“I wanted more than anything to go to Japan. Now to go on the inaugural year of Worlds is really cool,” -McKenzie
Watch the full interview with McKenzie below, see our interview with Tracklocross champ Sammi Runnels here and stay tuned for a photo gallery and winning bike profiles.
