While Rob Ford will be fuming about the marathon runners closing city streets this weekend, he can at least be pleased that cyclists will be off the streets and racing them around Toronto parkland.
Toronto Cyclo-Cross welcomes some of North America’s best cyclists for a race through Centennial Park this weekend. Hoardes of off-road cyclists will have to negotiate a course which includes multiple accents of the ski hill and other obstacles.
Crashes are frequent as riders fight for space the narrow track and fall off on muddy corners, with over $15,000 prize money the competition will be particularly intense.
The organizing Midweek cycling club defines the sport below.
“Cyclo-cross started in the early 1900’s, with it’s first World Championships in 1950. The sport didn’t become popular in North America until the 1970’s and has grown in popularity ever since. Cyclo-cross races take place mostly off-road, in smooth terrain, often in city parks, with obstacles forcing the riders off their bikes to run. Races are typically an hour long and have tons of action to entertain the crowds.
The bikes used for cyclo-cross races look like a typical 10-speed, except with knobby tires and special mud-clearing brakes.”
Here’s a video of the 2009 race:
