Cyclocross is cycling on different roads: flat asphalt, dirt with obstacles, and sometimes dragging the bike on itself. In the sport, this discipline is called cyclocross. It involves riding at speed on a complex circular route on a special cyclocross bike.
Outside the sport of cyclocross, cyclocross refers to riding in lower gears off-road. Many people associate this activity with rivers of mud, which, in principle, is not far from the truth.
It is believed that cyclocross originated in France. The organizer of the first ever race was the Frenchman Daniel Gousseau in 1902. And it was not just a competition, but the championship of France. The new sport discipline spread to the neighboring states – Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
The first world championship was held in 1950 in Paris, and was won by the hosts. Subsequently, the title of champion was won 7 times by Eric de Flaminck of Belgium, brother of the famous rider Roger de Flaminck.
The greatest development of cycling cross was in Belgium and the Netherlands, good results are shown by athletes from France, the Czech Republic, Italy and Germany. Leading positions among women are occupied by racers from the United States and Great Britain.
The first historical case of mechanical doping was recorded just in cyclocross. In 2016, a motor was found in the bicycle of the Belgian rider Femke van den Driesse at the World Championships. As a result of long proceedings, the athlete was disqualified for 6 years.
These are cross-country cycling races. Cyclists ride on a course that includes not only asphalt, but also paving stones, gravel, soil, grass, etc. On their way there may be ascents, descents and artificial obstacles: hills, barriers, etc. Some of them, especially difficult, have to be overcome by running, with the bike on his shoulder.
Velocross consists of several laps, each of which is about 3 km long. Race among men lasts a little over an hour, among women – 40 minutes. But these are averages – it all depends on the track. Some courses are easy and allow you to develop a good speed, while other sections have a high level of complexity, especially in bad weather. Therefore, the average speed varies at 20 km/h.
The track on cyclocross necessarily has a “pit-zone” – where the athlete has the right to change the iron horse on the other with the help of qualified personnel. To do this is not uncommon, because cyclocross associated with a large number of breakdowns due to the complexity of the tracks. If it rains or wet snow, the mud adheres to the wheels of the bike, and it has to clean every lap.
Competitions in cyclocross have a seasonal nature – they are organized in the fall and winter, when road riders have a rest. This feature allows athletes to compete in both road cycling and cyclocross.