Race Preview: 2017 Charm City Cross Continues US Cup-CX at Historic Druid Hill Park in Baltimore – Start Lists

The Pro CX and US Cup-CX UCI series move to the Mid-Atlantic this weekend with Charm City Cross at Druid Hill Park in Baltimore. The 2017 edition will be the 13th running of the event. Saturday’s race will be a UCI C1 event and Sunday a C2 and both races will be a part of the seven-race US Cup-CX series.

Katie Compton (KFC Racing p/b Trek/Knight Composites) won both days at Charm City last year, but she has headed over to Belgium to begin her European campaign at the DVV Trofee race in Ronse on Sunday, so there will be a new champion in Charm City this year. Stephen Hyde (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) returns as the Men’s defending champion after winning both days last year.

The Event

Race director Kris Auer—who was responsible for bringing equal pay to Europe for the first time at the 2014 Koppenberg Cross—said Charm City started as a way to bring top-level racing to the Mid-Atlantic region. “I started it as a way for the Mid-Atlantic to have a proper early season event and reduce some of the travel to New England every weekend.,” he said.

“At the time the races up there were much more advanced and I wanted to change that. We’ve evolved over the years and now it’s a whole mess of volunteers that make this event happen. Jay Lazar and myself take the helm, but so many people make this event come alive it’s impossible to list them and even harder to thank them enough.”

Auer’s Twenty 20 Cycling, which hosts the event, is located in Baltimore, and that connection to the city is important to him. “Charm City Cross is also about Baltimore,” said Auer. “Baltimore has a rep.  It’s not always a good one but the city is filled with great people from all backgrounds and we want to add cyclocross to that blend.”

The Course

The course at Druid Hill Park features a lot of grassed areas. © Jay VanRennselear

Many parks claim to be historic, but Druid Hill Park can do so with a bit more gusto. The park is the third-oldest established public park in the U.S., having been dedicated in 1860. Only Central Park (1858) and Fairmount Park in Philadelphia (1812) are older.

Auer said his team strives to make a tough course worthy of the UCI designation. “We’re trying to push our own limits and create a hard course without being over the top,” he said. “We hope that other events try to emulate our progress and try new ideas and create progress year after year.”

There are some changes in store for this year, including a new flyover. “This season we’ve abandoned our old flyover and created a European-style one,” said Auer. “I’m not sure how it’s going to roll yet, but it is the largest structure we’ve ever had as well as the tallest.”

One challenge the team faces is the nice weather Baltimore often gets early in October. “We also continue to add elevation as our weather has been too nice most of our years,” said Auer. “We want a nice blend of technique and fitness so a true crosser can succeed. If your not off the bike at least a few times a lap, I just lose interest. ’Cross is about skill on and off the bike.”

Day 1 of the 2016 Charm City Cross got a little muddy, but the weather is often really nice this time of year. 2016 Charm City Day 1. Elite Men. © Ricoh Riott

Charm City Cross course map 2017. photo: courtesy

The Racers

If you are looking for favorites this weekend at Charm City, a good place to start is with the White family. The 2015 weekend was a total White-Out, with Curtis and Emma (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) sweeping both days of racing. In 2016, Emma finished second and third, and Curtis took home a third as well.

Curtis White is no stranger to Charm City success. 2015 Charm City Cyclocross, Day One. © Andrew Reimann / Cyclocross Magazine

Emma White’s other podium mates in 2016 were Compton and Helen Wyman (Kona Factory Racing), both of whom are in Europe, and neither Kaitie Keough (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) nor Maghalie Rochette (Clif Pro Team) raced the event in 2016. Will White have the advantage over the two women she is tied with in the US Cup-CX standings with her past experience and success in Baltimore?

One name on the start list that stands out is that of Georgia Gould. Georgia did not race in 2016 and last we heard from her, she was welcoming baby Quinn to the world this summer.

Emma White has several Charm City podiums to her name. 2015 Charm City Cyclocross, Day One. © Andrew Reimann / Cyclocross Magazine

On the Men’s side, Hyde won both races in 2016, and Jeremy Powers (Aspire Racing) and Kerry Werner (Kona Factory Racing) took seconds on the two days of racing. All of these riders will be gunning for Tobin Ortenblad (Santa Cruz / Donkey Label Racing) as he sits atop the US Cup-CX standings.

Tobin Ortenblad (Santa Cruz / Donkey Label Racing) is the man to catch in the US Cup-CX standings. 2017 KMC Cross Fest Day 1 (Friday) © J. Curtes / Cyclocross Magazine

Tentative start lists are below.

The Schedule

Racing at Charm City Cross takes place Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s tilt is a C1 with higher payouts and UCI and US Cup-CX points available and Sunday is a C2.

The racing schedule is the same both days. The women start at 3:15 p.m. Eastern and the men start at 4:15 p.m. Eastern.

Stay tuned to Cyclocross Magazine for coverage of the 2017 Charm City Cross. 

Women's Start List - 2017 Charm City Cross

Men's Start List - 2017 Charm City Cross