2022 CROSS ON THE ROCK
#crossiscoming #crossisback
Cross on the Rock is a grass roots, laid back, fun, social, surprising competitive Cyclocross series on Vancouver Island. Organised by Norm Thibault, Wendy Simms and the Council of Cross.
The series is basically ability-based with a division by age. Fastest racers in the Open category. All others are divided into basically beginner (called “Launch” for our series) or a middle level which is further divided into masters above 40 years of age or below 40 years of age. There's a Kids category, too with 2 coioces: Little Kids and Bigger kids. The little kids do a short race on a modified course. Run bikes, pedal bikes, training wheels, bike with gears are all allowed. Older kids with more ability then graduate to the 1 lap of the FULL-COURSE race. All in all FUN TIMES!
Race reports from the Trail Bicycles Racing Team are coming in on a (semi) regular basis. Keep checking back for updates!
CX Nationals & Bear Crossing GP, Victoria - November 26 & 27, 2022
My first cyclocross nationals experience was great! Being an (almost) home race in Victoria, with lots of friends watching, it was the perfect setting, and the race did not disappoint.
The weekend was planned as follows: Friday practice, Saturday Nationals, Sunday Bear Crossing GP C2. The course was greasy on Friday; causing me and my dad to realize our tire pressures were far too high as we were slipping and sliding around like Bambi on ice. With tire pressures dialed in the course became much more rideable as more tires churned up the grass. Saturday races started out with tackier ground than the night before, and there were some fast laps put down. That said, as the day heated up the course got slippier; once more returning to Friday night’s form. Unsurprisingly my race went out at a blistering pace. I was happy with my start, and after a few turns settled into a grueling clip. I'm happy with how I held my speed and saved one of my fastest laps for last.
Bear Crossing Grand Prix C2 was the next day and proved to be just as fun. The same slippery, turn-ey course with the crazy side hills. I had an excellent battle in this race, which I ended up losing, but lots of fun was had. In the end, this was such a great experience, and I’m excited for next season.
Great work to all Trail Bicycles racers on an awesome season, and some great results this past weekend: Annabelle Whitehead: 4th U17 Women at Nationals | Kip Manktelow: 11th Junior Men at Nationals and 8th Junior Men at Bear Crossing GP | Tom Skinner: 4th Masters Men 35-44 at Nationals.
Thanks for a great season!
- Kip Manktelow
Hot Cross Bunnies, Nanaimo - November 13, 2022
The Nanaimo Cross On The Rock race was my favourite cross race this season. Me and my dad drove down to the race early in order to have time to pre ride and practice. The course was very different this year, less mud than previous years and reverse direction from what we have done in the past. Even though it wasn't wet, the weather was very windy and cold. After the launch race was finished, I got on the course again to warm up, and I got a flat on the pavement 15 minutes before my race was supposed to start! We quickly threw a tube in and I got to the start as fast as I could. I found myself near the front off the start, and pulled into the lead around the first corner, which didn't last very long, but I tried my best to keep up. Halfway through the first lap, a girl my age caught up to me, and we were trading positions for the rest of the race. We had a pretty good battle, but she was able to pull ahead and sprint the last section, beating me to the finish line by only 3 seconds! This race was an awesome one to end the Cross On The Rock season, and I am looking forward to nationals! Congrats to all the Trail Bicycles team members out racing, and thanks to all our sponsors
- Annabelle Whitehead
Broad Street Cycles GP, Langford - October 23, 2022
I arrived at the Jordie Lunn Bike Park after 2 days of volleyball in Victoria. When my brother and dad showed up, I ran to the car to make sure they had all my gear. After a quick warm-up lap it was time for the launch race. Congratulations to Darag
After the first lap I noticed we still had 4 laps to go which was our first time doing 5 laps all year. Slowly people around me began flatting, crashing, and having other mechanicals. I had one crash but was quickly back up and riding. In the end I had my best result so far (8th place) and Loki came in 4th for the second time this year. Congratulations to Talia and Annabelle for coming 5th and 9th in intermediate women, and Tom and Kip for coming 6th and 7th in open men.
- Sam Schum
Muc Off Cup, Nanaimo - October 10, 2022
This was my third Cyclocross race, and my first cyclocross race on a cyclocross bike. The Muc Off Cup course had many off-camber corners and
I was in first place for 10 seconds at the start of the race, then eight other racers snuck by me before the single track. The cyclocross bike was frightening compared to my Trek Top Fuel that I had used to race the previous races. One lap later, I went over the bars in the sand pit trying to get off my bike and my body slammed against the volleyball net post. Surprisingly, it did not hurt. What hurt more was my hands and my back, as I was not used to a cross bike.
The competition for the Muc Off Cup was fierce, even in the intermediate level. Many strong racers from the mainland had come over to compete. I placed 9th in the four-lap race. Exceptional job to the rest of my teammates; you all did your best.
Nico and Darragh were 9th and 31st in Launch Men. In Intermediate Men, Justin was 22nd and Sam sadly had a mechanical. Talia was 4th and Annabelle 6th in Intermediate Women, while Sarah Hauser was 11th in Master’s Women. Dan Lehton was 45th in Master’s Men and Tom and Kip were 8th and 37th in Open Men.
Shout out to our sponsors @trailbicycles @nikkeiramenya , Wedler Engineering, Rob Nygren Realtor @freshtracksphysio @hornbyorganic @eatmoresprouts. And thanks for the pictures to Patrick Burnham @palleus.
- Loki Motai
Coal Cross, Cumberland - September 18, 2022
We arrived at the Cumberland Park and did a warmup lap while our dad signed us up. Since we set up the course we new what it would be like. When it was close to my race I practiced starts. Then at 10:40 I went to the start line, we waited for the siren to go for the start. It went and I sprinted as hard as I could.
When we entered the ‘’Dog Leg’’ trail someone crashed in front of me, so I was held up. I caught up to them and passed them but it made me even more tired. The course was really fun. I really like “Dog Leg” and “Choose Your Own Adventure”. “Choose Your Own Adventure,” was a route choice where you could pass or be passed by a competitor. Myself and this other boy were fighting for third but I passed him and broke away.
I finished third and I was so happy with my result. It was a great course.
Congratulations to Darragh with 23rd in Launch Men; Loki, Sam and Gray were 4th, 10th, and 24th in Intermediate Men; Talia won Intermediate Women, and Sara finished 16th in Masters Women. Tom and Kip finished 3rd and 20th in Expert Men.
- Nico Schum
Cross On The Commons, Qualicum Beach - September 11, 2022
First Cross Race of the Season! Qualicum Beach hosted the first race of the 2022 Vancouver Island Cross on the Rock series. I was excited because I moved up to the Intermediate category this year after winning the final COTR race in 2021, the infamous "atmospheric river" race in Nanaimo, the wettest and muddiest cross race ever!
It felt early for cross, with the hot weather and not having much cross practice yet. I arrived in Qualicum the morning of the race straight from a training camp in Tofino with sore legs and not a lot of sleep. During warmup I pre-road the course a few times and noticed the course was different from last year. Organizers had reversed the direction and they had taken out the hard sand pit section, making for faster laps. I thought doing more laps in the intermediate category would feel long and hard but the entire race went by in a flash. I started in the fourth row and was stuck behind lots of people at the beginning as we weaved into single track in the trees, but by the end of the first lap I was in the lead. I rode hard for the next two laps and was happy to hear the bell for the final lap because I really started to feel my tired, sore legs, and I knew my teammate, Annabelle Whitehead, would pressure me if I eased up. Iwas stoked to finish first in my first race in the intermediate category and to be on the podium with Annabelle.
Congratulations to my Trail Bicycles Racing teammates for putting in strong efforts at COTR#1. In the Launch Men's category, Gray Tunnah and Nico Schum came fifth and sixth, with Darragh Whitehead 26th. In the very competitive Intermediate Men's group, Loki Motai came eighth riding his mountain bike(!), Sam Schum was 15th and Hudson Webster 33rd. Annabelle Whitehead came second in Women's Intermediate. Men's Open Category saw Tom Skinner finish third and Kip Manktelow 15th. Master's Men Scott Manktelow and Dan Lehton finished 11th and 39th respectively, while my dad came in the 15th riding my bike in the Super Master's (over 55) category.
Finally, a big thank you to our sponsors @trailbicycles, @eatmoresprouts, Rob Nygren Realtor, Welder Engineering, @Hornbyorganics, @freshtrackphysio, and @nikkeiramenya. We are grateful for their support to help us race.
- Talia MacPhail-Mcgrady
