Ask you and you shall receive! Pro cyclocross racer and Ignition Coach Co co-founder Drew Dillman shot a course preview video a month ago with USA Cycling. That video unfortunately was without course tape, and featured more of Drew’s handlebar and the riding surface than a good view of the overall course and terrain.
Cyclocross Magazine asked if the Louisville-based racer would be so kind as to shoot another video once the course tape was up, and he did! The video hopefully will help readers, racers and fans see what’s in store for this week at the 2023 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships.
In 2018, Dillman used his running strength to finish fourth in the Elite Men’s race. Heading into the 2023 Nationals, Dillman is coming off two UCI podiums in Georgia. Could he use the home turf to his advantage this year?
Drew Dillman had a strong ride and comeback year to finish fourth. Elite Men. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships, Louisville, KY. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
While the course returns to Joe Creason Park, the same venue that hosted the 2018 Cyclocross Nationals, the course is dramatically different, skipping the challenging, but fan-pleasing descents, off-cambers and climbs down in the bowl-like area.
Gone are the challenging, fan-thrilling descents of 2018. Photo: After getting tangled in the tape with just over one to go, Sheffield battled for second with Carter but his silver medal chances went down on the final major descent. Junior Men 17-18. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships, Louisville, KY. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
When the rain and mud came, racers spent much of the lap off their bikes running, and had some community members complaining about environmental damage and invasive species introduction.
This year’s course avoids the “Managed Meadows,” and is relatively flat compared to 2018. The pro course features just 70 feet of climbing per lap, while other categories do as little as 28 feet. There are red, green, blue and black courses, and categories are assigned specific courses, with slower categories riding shorter courses.
Unfortunately, that complicates course pre-ride times, with the youngest two Junior Men’s and Women’s categories, including the largest individual category of the weekend, the Junior 13-14 Men, only allowed to pre-ride at 7:15am on their race day on Saturday, not any other time or day.
Anyone who appreciates Drew’s preview video should subscribe to his YouTube channel and coaching and banter podcasts, or support his Patreon.
Thanks Drew for the video!
