Race Preview – HPCX Returns for Year 18 of UCI Cyclocross in New Jersey

This weekend features not one, but two UCI weekends in the U.S. Joining the Cincinnati Cyclocross weekend is HPCX in New Jersey. HPCX is one of the longest-running UCI events in the country. This year’s edition will be number 18.

The HP in HPCX stands for Highland Park, where the race was first held. The event moved to Thompson Park in Jamesburg, almost a decade ago, but it retains the name HPCX.

Riders jump for joy for the opportunity to race at HPCX. Gordon celebrates her win with Elliott and Van Gilder.  2016 HPCX Day 2.

18 years is a long time running a race. What helps organizers push to get better and keep things fresh? Kids these days.

“The secret to success has been the partnership with the Rutgers University Cycling team,” said race director Craig Callan. “The nature of collegiate cycling keeps fresh blood flowing through the program thus renewing the excitement and commitment.  It could not exist without them.  Rutgers cycling got excited about cyclocross about a dozen years ago and they won the ECCC title for a bunch of years in a row.”

Callan said putting on the race for so long has helped his team deal with the uncertainties nature throws at them, including Hurricane Sandy, among the more notable challenges.

“People have an enormous ability to adapt and rise to the occasion,” he said.  “I have been so impressed by everyone who works to put on the race.  Two years in a row we put on the race while new jersey was under a state of emergency prior to hurricane Sandy and an October snowstorm.  The Middlesex County Parks Department was very helpful and lots of other people were willing to lend a hand.  So I have improved my ability to remain calm which has not been easy for me.”

Sometimes snow comes in October and you have to race bikes. © Chris LaBudde

The Course

The Mid-Atlantic Cyclocross Series website says the “exciting sand pit,” first introduced last year, will be back again in 2017.

The Beard Robert Marion makes any sand pit more exciting. HPCX Race, Day Two – 2015 © Andrew Reimann / Cyclocross Magazine

The course will also have a lot more to offer. “The current course is a professional UCI-quality course,” said Callan. ” We have lots of space in our current venue with lots of features.  It’s hilly so we work to keep it fun.  I like to think of it as like creating a roller coaster.  It’s also a great course for spectating, with a lot to see from one or two spots on the course.”

HPCX features a hilly, challenging course. HPCX, Day One. © Andrew Reimann / Cyclocross Magazine

The Racers

The Women’s and Men’s start lists feature a number of riders from the Northeast who are staying close to home to compete in the UCI C2 events, as well as others who are traveling from afar to race in New Jersey.

As we did for DCCX, we will turn the race prognosticating over to the math whizzes at Crossresults.com.

For the women:

Women's Crossresults.com Race Predictor - 2017 HPCX

And for the men:

Men's Crossresults.com Race Predictor - 2017 HPCX

Schedule

Race schedules are the same for Saturday and Sunday.

Women: 1:15 p.m. Eastern
Men: 2:15 p.m. Eastern

The much-anticipated Li’l Belgians Kids race is at 12:55 p.m. on Saturday.

Women's Start List - 2017 HPCX

Men's Start List - 2017 HPCX