MUC OFF – Cross on the Rock 2025. Season #19
Newsletter #2 -Schedule Adjustment –
Race Bikes. Make Friends. Have Fun.
It is the Tuesday night 5 days before what was supposed to be our first race of Season #19 for Cross on the Rock at Layritz Park. We have made the decision this afternoon to not go a head with that events as our season opener. We can get into all the reasons for it but basically it was getting to the point that we were just pushing and pushing to make it happen. We were bending time, space and resources and we did not think it would have been a great race. The available terrain after factoring in all the other events happening in the park on Sunday was in the opinion of our crew “Great for a Wednesday nighter but not great for a COTR event”.
In 19 seasons we have only cancelled a race one other time and that was for a black out snow storm. We are not happy about it. We did not take the decision lightly but we know it is the right thing to do.
The search continues for another more available and viable venue in Victoria!!
In the meantime we are continuing our preparations for Race #1 for 2025 and we will see you at Coal Cross!
Pre-Season Notes:
- UPDATE on Licenses for 2025. We still do not have this worked out. We are exploring a few options for the season. One includes Cycling BC. One does not. If you don’t have your license yet…..just hold off for now. IF you plan on racing Provincial Championships you WILL need a license. IF you only plan on racing Cross on the Rock this year you might not need a license. We will sort it out with lots of time before race #1.
- Mountain Bike World Championships on this week! COTR Alumni Jenn Jackson taking her first ever International short track podium WHEN IT COUNTED with a 3rd at the world championships! Keep an eye on all the action!!
1. UPDATED Cross on the Rock 2025 – Season #19 – Series Preview
RACE #1. September 28th. Coal Cross. Village Park. Cumberland. Trail Bikes Bike Club are hosting the series opener for 2025. One of the best courses for spectating in one of the best towns for biking. Be sure to pop into and check out the new Frontrunners location on Dunsmuir Street and head to Bibliotaco while you are in town!
Race #2. October 5th. Twin City X. The Fair Grounds. Port Alberni. It was great to have Port Alberni back on the schedule in 2024 with a rowdy time at the fair grounds. There is no better reason to go over the hump than to race bikes with the Slug Crew. Many racers said this was their favorite race of 2024.
Race #3. October 13th. The Muc Off Cup. Bowen Park. Nanaimo. We don’t like to just throw out the word “Classic” but in this case it is justified. Bowen park Cross on the Rock is a CLASSIC. Our 2nd most visited venue. A race that has held many records including BIGGEST ever COTR race (2019), Biggest Category with Masters Men 88 racers (2017, Hardest Race with 14.5% DNFs ((2014) AND 2 of the “tamest” races of the top 10 in 2016 and 2019 with less than 1.6 and1.3% DNF. The absolute BEST way to spend Thanksgiving Monday!!
Weekend break in here for the Tripleshot Cross Fondo!
Race #4. October 26th. Crosstoberfest. Transfer Beach. Ladysmith. We are heading back to Ladysmith!! The Cycle Therapy Cycling Club is swapping up their race venue for this season to bring back CROSSTOBERFEST. If you were at Crosstoberfest the last time we raced there in 2019 you will remember the tide coming in through the day to the point during the Open race that there was not much beach left for the races!
Race #5. November 2nd. Hot Crossed Bunnies. Beban Park. Nanaimo. The ICON. Home of the first ever Canadian National Championship held on Vancouver Island of any cycling type. Home of the first ever sanctioned cyclocross race on Vancouver Island. The birthplace of COTR. Our most frequently used venue! In 19 COTR seasons we have raced here 18 years PLUS 3 more times!
A break in here for the Provincial Championships!
Race #6. November 16. Broad Street Cycles GP. Jordie Lunn Bike Park. (Greater) Victoria. (Langford). Finishing the 19th COTR season with Victoria races for the first time since 2018 and the Day of Thunder. We will be racing for double points and to beat our friends on the challenging course at the Jordie Lunn Bike Park. Finishing the season with awards, celebrations and smiles after yet another amazing fall!
Registration will be OPEN for Cumberland in about a week so keep your eyes on our IG or FB pages and on our site as we update it for the upcoming season.
Hey Clubs, Teams and Groups.
Time for us to update our Teams and Clubs page If you have a team, club, or group that is cyclocross focused or does it on the side please let us know and we will get it up on our page.
Let’s get muddy, race hard, and have some fun this fall! 💪
#Cyclocross #CrossIsComing #RockCityCycles #RideWithUs #CrossOnTheRock
Parting Shot
Slightly Delayed start to the season but we are looking forward to seeing everyone in Cumberland!!
