Race Preview: US Cup-CX Returns This Weekend with Cincinnati Cyclocross at Devou and Harbin Parks

After a hot and dusty start to the US Cup-CX racing at the KMC Cross Fest and Charm City, the series returns for its fifth and sixth races at the Cincinnati UCI Cyclocross weekend. Saturday’s race at Devou Park in Covington, KY is a UCI C1 and Sunday’s race at Harbin Park in Fairfield, OH is a C2.

With four of seven races in the US Cup-CX series in the books, Kaitie Keough (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) currently leads the Women’s standings, with Emma White (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) sitting 15 points behind her

Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com riders Kaitie Keough and Emma White are 1-2 in the US Cup-CX standings heading into Cinci. 2017 KMC Cross Fest Day 1 (Friday) © J. Curtes / Cyclocross Magazine

Tobin Ortenblad (Santa Cruz / Donkey Label Racing) leads the Men’s pursuit, with Stephen Hyde (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) 15 points back as well.

Tobin Ortenblad and others head up the Belgian-style flyover. 2017 Charm City Cross Day 1 © M. Colton / Cyclocross Magazine

The Cincinnati Cyclocross weekend was first held at Harbin Park in 2004 and is the longest-running UCI event in the Midwest. From 2008 through 2013, the Cincy weekend featured three races—Harbin Park, Devou Park and Kings CX—but has scaled back to two days after the Pan-American Championships were held at Devou Park from 2014 to 201t6.

One unique aspect of the Cincinnati weekend is the focus on Junior racing. The Ohio Valley Cyclocross series (OVCX) has a strong Junior program—Spencer Petrov (Aspire Racing), among others, is a graduate—and that is reflected in the race attendance.

Spencer Petrov is on OVCX alumna. 2017 Charm City Cross Day 2. © M. Colton / Cyclocross Magazine

“The tons of junior races make Cincy unique,” said race director Mitch Graham. “We see 150-200 Juniors descend on Cincy every year for the UCI weekend, and many parents bring their Juniors to the Ohio Valley to get a look at what will be their Nationals competition.”

The Courses

Graham also said the two different venues make Cincy unique. “The different venues suit different skillsets,” he said.

Saturday’s course at Devou Park is the more technical of the two. “Devou has a lot of steep ups and downs, rolled out in rollercoaster fashion,” said Graham. “If your skills can keep your momentum, you will have a big advantage. There are a lot of off-camber and technical features too, which makes it one of the most technical courses in the U.S.”

Devou park offers plenty of technical challenges for amateurs and pros alike.

Saturday’s course also features the famed “Pan-Am Plunge,” which has claimed its fair share of victims.

Pan-Am Plunge victim Kyle Russ. © Kent Baumgardt

Graham said he expects more pack racing at Harbin Park on Sunday. “Harbin Park is also very hilly, but the grades are not as steep, so the racing stays together with tighter packs,” he said. “The weather will play into the racing, as always. If it rains, then the Harbin course will split the riders up something fierce.”

He concluded, “Both courses are very dialed in and a lot of fun.”

Right now, there is rain in the forecast, but for Friday night, so it remains to be seen how it affects the course at Harbin Park.

2017 Cincinnati Cyclocross forecast. photo: Weather Underground

The Racers

The Cincinnati Cyclocross weekend features a Junior Men’s 17-18 race in addition to the Women’s and Men’s elite races. Tentative start lists for each race are below (registration closes Thursday evening).

The focus of the Women’s and Men’s UCI races will likely be the US Cup-CX standings. Scott Tedro of the sponsor Sho-Air Cycling Group announced he is expanding the payouts to three-deep, so the racing will likely continue the intensity seen during the first two weekends.

The front of the Women’s standings are led by Keough and White, and for the Men, it is Ortenblad and Hyde.

Kaitie Keough has a history of success in Cincinnati. photo: Kurt Baumgardt.

Maghalie Rochette (Clif Pro Team) is currently sitting in third place for the Women with 225 points, but she is racing the Canadian National Championships this weekend. The battle for third then turns to Rebecca Fahringer (Stan’s NoTubes p/b Maxxis/Go Fahr) and Crystal Anthony (Maxxis-Shimano), who are tied for fourth with 210 points.

For the Men, Kerry Werner (Kona Factory Racing) is currently in third, behind Ortenblad and Hyde, with 230 points. Petrov and Curtis White (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) are within striking distance, 20 and 30 points back, respectively.

Kerry Werner currently leads the chase for third in the US Cup-CX standings.  © M. Colton / Cyclocross Magazine

Weekend Schedule

Friday – Devou Park

Friday night, Jonathan Page will be hosting a free Junior clinic from 4-6 p.m. Registration is limited to 50 Juniors.

Saturday – Devou Park

Saturday’s C1 race is on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River at Devou Park in Covington, KY. The schedule is as follows:

Junior Men: 3:00 p.m. EDT
Elite Women: 4:00 p.m. EDT
Elite Men: 5:00 p.m.  EDT

Sunday – Harbin Park

Sunday’s C2 race is north of Cincinnati at Harbin Park in Fairfield, OH. The schedule is as follows:

Junior Men: 3:00 p.m. EDT
Elite Women: 4:00 p.m. EDT
Elite Men: 5:00 p.m.  EDT

Start lists are subject to change. Registration closes at 5:30 p.m. Eastern on Thursday. 

Junior Men Start List - 2017 Cincinnati Cyclocross

Elite Women's Start List - 2017 Cincinnati Cyclocross

Elite Men's Start List - 2017 Cincinnati Cyclocross