The 2021/22 cyclocross season is official a "go"; #crossiscoming season is gone and the actual season is here! There are a couple signals that tell the athletes and fans that the season has arrived. As the season gets underway, let's take a look at some of the key events that mark the start of the season.
Go Cross (United States)
Go Cross, which takes place this weekend - September 18-19, 2021, marks the start of the season for many elite-level riders, due to its UCI C2 designation. Due to a shuffling of the deck with UCI points, this race will draw many athletes seeking to improve their call-up position. With so many races cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UCI has made changes to the way points are tracked and carried from season to season; these changes make the first few races of the season especially critical for riders who hope to have a decent starting position later in the season.
Go Cross doesn't have a live video stream, but you can check out Curtis White's course preview on YouTube, and then follow @gocrossrace on Twitter as they live-tweet the Elite races.
Live streaming of the USCX series on GCN+
While Go Cross doesn't have a live stream, many of the upcoming race weekends in the United States will have live coverage, a luxury we haven't previously had. In addition to the 3 World Cup races streaming during normal waking hours, GCN+ has also announced live streaming coverage of the brand new USCX series of cyclocross. The USCX kicks off with Rochester Cyclocross Sep 25-26, 2021, so tune in next weekend for a rarity - live cyclocross streaming, in English, from our own time zone!
Ethias Cross (Europe)
Since you'll likely already be subscribing to GCN+ to check out those USCX races, you may as well maximize your viewing dollars. The Ethias Cross series is also underway, and it's included on GCN+, with round #1 taking place last weekend and round #2 running on the same days as Go Cross.
GCN+ also has the streaming rights to the Superprestige and X2O Badkamers series this year, so you have access to basically every elite-level race that isn't a World Cup on GCN+, a pretty packed calendar.
Cyclocross Crusade
One of the largest and most well-known cyclocross series in the USA was cancelled outright in 2020, but returns in full force with a six race season for 2021, starting October 24. It's great to see amateur athletes with an opportunity to compete again.
Other new items of note:
Let's see, what else have I got to tell you about?
- I had an opportunity to sit down with Diane Jenks from the Outspoken Cyclist podcast to preview the upcoming season. We talked World Cups, how to get started in the sport as a beginner, and Katie Compton. Give it a listen.
- I've added the Stan's NoTubes product line to RideCX.com and I'm really excited to bring you their tubeless tire sealant and rim tape, it's my favorite sealant for tubeless 'cross and gravel.
- Inventory still remains spotty in the bike industry due to shipping challenges related to the pandemic, but I've still got a good mix of tires from Challenge ready to go, and I'm expecting a restock of Donnelly tires the week of September 20, stay tuned.
- New season means new sponsors, new kits, and new bikes, many of which you'll start to see with Shimano's new wireless shifting Dura-Ace and Ultegra groups. Read my preview for an understanding of how they work.
Best wishes, and I hope to see you at the races soon -
Justin