The Crosscast S7E09 - Trophies and Champs, review and preview

In Episode 9 of Season 7, Neil and Matt pull together a bumper show as a special for those of you who have long drive to Falkirk to watch or even race at the British National Cyclocross Championships.

The final round of the 23-24 Trophy is reviewed, a race that came from Tong where a respectably rideable course was a great achievement for a race that coincided with serious floods and waterlogged ground across much of the UK.  They also talk through what makes an event a success... and agree that it is much more than just a race course.

They finally open the can of worms reviewing practicalities of the National Trophy, geeking out over numbers and asking whether the drop in competitors this year is the next step in a multi-year decline and question why.  Neil quizzes Matt on whether he can guess which 4 National Trophies have had the highest and lowest entries over the last 7 years (go on... can YOU work it out?!).

While much of the show is a deep dive into organisation, there is also plenty of racing covering the World Cups from Hulst and Zonhoven, and also a bit of Baal with a side of Koksijde.

In the Laatste Ronde they look forward to what is set to be an enthralling National Championships from a spectacular venue with hugely competitive fields across all categories.  Will the favorites bring home a jersey or could some wildcards spring a surprise?... 

Can Imogen Wolff challenge for an U23 podium riding up from Juniors or could she be battling with Nikki Brammeier (who was on the U23 podium the year Wolff was born)?  And listeners, we hope that you take careful note of the family battles... can younger brothers get the better of the older in the Askey, Barnes, Chilton, and Amey households?

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To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps! Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events, and both support the DonnyChainGang.

Om Podcasten

Neil Mansfield, Matt Payne and special guests talk about World, European and UK cyclocross. Follow us on @TheCrosscast @CrosscastNeil and @MattFixerPayne. And give us a like on Facebook where we put up occasional FBLive video.
Neil Mansfield is the host of the show and the cyclocross uber-geek. He races for Magspeed Racing and his family all love cross. He has been podcasting since 2015 and over-analysing racing using spreadsheets for a lot longer. He helps Caroline (Mrs M) run Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel. Find out more at https://linktr.ee/crosscastneil.
Matt Payne is the voice of British cyclocross having been on the mic for all of the big races for years. He is a professional commentator regularly heard at raceside, and also on TV and streamed coverage for all cycling disciplines. He has long experience of professional race promotion, but also a passion for grass-roots opportunity from being the brains and voice of the twice-weekly Zwift Donny Chain Gang, to organising local league races.