Cyclists of all ages and experience levels from across the country gathered at Hardwood Ski and Bike in Oro-Medonte for the Canadian National Cyclocross Championship. Cyclocross is a cycling sport that extends the cycling season into the fall. Cyclists race through cold, mud, snow and whatever Mother Nature brings. This is the first time the national event has taken place in Ontario. Hosted in collaboration with Pulse Racing, the event had three full days of racing with relays on Friday, the national championship on Saturday and the provincial championship on Sunday. Anyone can participate. Arienne Strong, Race Director for Canadian National CycloCross Championship, says more than half of the registrants are from outside the province. Rheal Jaillet, Coach for Team Fitworks, came all the way from New Brunswick. He raced in the ages 45 to 54 Masters category, which he came in fourth place. Jaillet tells CTV News he’s been racing for 10 or 12 years and finds it a “fun sport after the mountain biking and road season.” He calls it a “niche cycling sport.” “Either you love it or hate it. There’s no kind of in-between for Cyclocross,” Jaillet says. While conditions on the weekend were ideal for spectators, not so much for the cyclists. “We definitely prefer racing in, if you will, crappy conditions, so snow, mud,” he says. Having raced through different courses across the country, Jaillet says this one has a solid mix of sand pits, downhills, flats and technical portions. “We just like following the national events and supporting Cycling Canada in general,” he says. Strong tells CTV News Cyclocross has riders on what looks like a road bike but the tires are slightly knobbier and wider for riding on wide open courses through grass dirt and various sandpits. It’s not just a rough terrain that cyclists have to power through, but there are barriers in place where they are forced get off their bikes and carry them on their shoulders. Barriers such as wooden staircases, sand pits and steep ups and downs. She says the courses are short with cyclists required to do as many laps as possible in a given time frame, making the races ideal in fall conditions as the sprint makes riders heat up quickly. “Cyclocross weather is actually not typically like today,” Strong says. “Rain, a bit of snow, it always adds to the fun and the excitement. But we’re really blessed to have good weather this weekend for our spectators and the families and teams that are here.” The event has brought tourism to the region, driving business to accommodation and food partners. Strong says the event is spectator-friendly and hopes to see even more next year, which Hardwood is already set to host again on Halloween weekend. One thing Strong says is always encouraged in this sport: heckling. Hardwood is already set to host again in 2027, also on Halloween weekend.
