In what might be the worst kept secret in cyclocross, the UCI confirmed today the Trek CXC Cup will join Jingle Cross as an American UCI Cyclocross World Cup next season. The September event, held on the Trek headquarters campus, took a big jump in prominence and stature last season, and is now primed for another leap on 2017. Could Worlds next?
L to R: Jim Aernouts, Wout van Aert, and Quinten Hermans. Elite Men, 2016 Trek CXC Cup Day 2 © Jeff Corcoran
Many long-term cyclocross racers don’t think of Trek as one of the bike brands that has long been involved in cyclocross. Companies like Redline (no longer in the sport)and Kona on the U.S. side, and Alan and Guerciotti across the pond may have made earlier production cyclocross bikes, but Trek was customizing carbon hybrids and mountain bike frames for its sponsored racers in the mid 90s and then also for Matt Kelly and Saturn racers under the Lemond brand.
TBT to 1995 Nationls: Northern California-based racers Trek-sponsored Don Myrah and Justin Robinson braving the New England snow. Robinson still races, and landed two podiums in Hartford, 21 years later. © A. Yee
Since then, it’s been a slow, gradual progression involvement in the sport, beginning with the XO production line of bikes and the steel Greg LeMond Poprad, then evolving to the short-lived Ion and Chronus series, then its Crockett and Boone models that Katie Compton piloted to multiple National Championships.
The Boone was a boon for the Wisconsin company, as the company unveiled the model with new signee and then-current World Champ Sven Nys, and that partnership with the living legend really gave a boost to Trek’s involvement and investment in the sport.
In the three years since, Trek has rapidly expanded its profile in the sport, pushing its Trek CXC Cup to UCI C1 status, signing the Telenet Fidea team, attracting European racers including the 2016 World Champion Wout van Aert, offering U.S. viewers live coverage of the DVV cyclocross series, and even transforming Nys into a hand-up taking, beer-spray-embracing singlespeeder.
“Sven, hope you saved something for Part 2 of our battle tonight.” “What?” 2016 SSCXWC Men’s Finals. © M. Estes / Cyclocross Magazine
Now the company can add a UCI Cyclocross World Cup to its resume, as the 2017 series will include a stop in Waterloo, Wisconsin. Formerly known as the Trek CXC Cup, formerly directed by local legend Renee Callaway, the race will bring on Brook Watts as organizer, and take on the name World Cup Waterloo.
The event will start on Friday, September 22, will include amateur and professional races, and culminate with Elite men’s and women’s World Cup events on Sunday, September 24.
Telenet-Fidea surrounded van Aert, to no avail. Elite Men, 2016 Trek CXC Cup Day 2 © Jeff Curtes
CrossVegas returns this year, not as a World Cup, but as a UCI C1 race on Wednesday, September 20, possibly in its last year as Interbike eyes new venues after 2017.
The course is just steps from Trek Bicycle’s Waterloo, Wisconsin-based headquarters. Organizers say the course “will be enhanced throughout the spring and summer to meet the prestige that accompanies a World Cup event.”
“We felt like we took a huge step in 2016 with the CXC Cup,” said Trek Race Shop Manager Scott Daubert. The races has continued to grow in presence and stature. Could a future World Championships be in the plans? “After it was over, we asked ourselves, ‘What’s next?’” Dauert said. “Trek is a place that always pushes for bigger and better, and the World Cup will be no exception.”
The company has already let it be known the men’s and women’s fields of this World Cup event will feature equal payouts.
Caroline Mani leads Antonneau and the field up the steep run-up. Elite Women, 2016 Trek CXC Cup Day 2. © Jeff Corcoran
“We are delighted to welcome Waterloo as a new round of the Telenet UCI Cyclocross Cup in 2017,” said UCI Deputy Sports Director Peter Van den Abeele. “With the Support of the local community, we are confident that this World Cup will be a great addition to our series.”
The UCI Telenet Cyclocross World Cup for the 2017/2018 season is planned as follows, but of course, changes can occur, due to Mother Nature or other unforeseen situations.
2017-2018 Telenet UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup calendar
Iowa City (USA) – 16.09.2017
Waterloo (USA) – 24.09.2017
Koksijde (BEL) – 22.10.2017
Bogense (DEN) – 19.11.2017
Zeven (GER) – 25.11.2017
Namur (BEL) – 17.12.2017
Heusden-Zolder (BEL) – 26.12.2017
Nommay (FRA) – 21.01.2018
Hoogerheide (NED) – 28.01.2018
“The U.S. continues to break new ground in ’cross and World Cup Waterloo is proof,” said Watts. “We will have lots of announcements to make as we get closer to September.”
Plans for the weekend, including a live web cast schedule, are currently ongoing and Trek will be communicating details regularly as they become available.
See you in Waterloo?
Official event website: trekcxccup.com
