a few shots from the 2009 Charm City Cyclocross eventthese shots from the Elite Masters
or is it the Masters Elite?
cyclocross is about racing
not just racing for the tape but racing at that moment
attacking each section
fighting to pass
fighting not to get passed
racing each section
attacking each section
racing to the finish
attacking until the finish
no time to rest... no time to recover... just time to race
race until the finish
then collapse or maybe vomit
cyclocross is about the race within the race
no matter where you are in the race it is about the race within the race
whether you are fighting to bridge the gap created by the break away rider, fighting to return from a crash/mechanical/dropped chain or fighting for position mid pack
no matter where you are in the game you are fighting
cyclocross is a fight from start to finish
at times you fight with others
at times you fight with yourself
a fight among gentleman*
it is a fight of the spirit
gentleman attacking each section with intensity and passion
with one issue
the intensity and passion can cloud the judgment such that these men do not always behave like gentleman
for the most part it is a fair fight
in most cases the best man wins
even within the fight with in the fight that is the race within the race
cyclocross is definitely about racing
cyclocross is definitely about the race within the race
if there is no race around you then you may be le lantern rouge or you should cat up**
*gentleman or ladies depending on the category
**the best race format is the mass start
the Shenandoah Mountain 100 has a mass start... the winner takes all
cyclocross with its line up then feed into a hole shot before a bottle neck can make for a less than fair experience
yet that is the madness that makes the race the race within the race