History

Cross on the Rock got underway with four events, 264 total racer starts and an average of 65 racers per race. Troy Woodburn, Lisa Ludwig, Robin Dutton and Bill McMillan won the overall series categories.

Diver Lake hosted the first race of the year, where Rob Britton made his cyclocross debut. It was also the era of 9-speed Shimano, SRAM double-taps just arriving on the scene and Floyd Landis “winning” the Tour de France. Season #1 was officially underway.

Season #2 featured five races, including the first Cross on the Rock double-header: Coal Cross and Jungle Cross. Beban Park also made its first series appearance after previously hosting BC Cups and the 2006 National Championships.

Dawn Anderson recorded the first of what would become 22 Cross on the Rock victories. The season averaged 72 racers per event and saw 160 different riders on the start line. Meanwhile, cantilever brakes were still doing their best to slow everyone down.

2008 was a huge year for Cross on the Rock racers. Founder Wendy Simms reached #1 in the UCI cyclocross rankings, becoming the first Canadian ever to do so.

The series expanded from five races to six. A total of 183 racers took part and average attendance climbed to 76 racers per event. Dawn and Russell Anderson also made history by becoming the only husband-and-wife pair to win the overall series titles.

At the Cyclocross World Championships in Treviso, Wendy Simms led the race on the opening lap and finished seventh overall, which at the time was the highest-ever finish by a Canadian.

Cross on the Rock was still completely hand-timed and hand-scored in 2009, but the series kept growing. Seven races were held, including the first Island Championships at Shawnigan Lake School and the Nutcase Intercontinental Single Speed Championships of the Universe at Fletchers Farm.

The year also featured the one and only Children of the Corn at Slugget Farms, a race that went on to become something of a COTR legend.

Dylan Tremblay raced his first cyclocross event, while Mical Dyck defeated Alison Sydor. Participation jumped from 183 racers to 239, and average attendance increased from 76 to 85 racers per event.

Series winners included Roland Rabien in Intermediate, Dave Holden in Masters, Kristen Magnusson in Women and Craig Ritchey in Expert, with four wins ahead of Normon Thibault.

Season #5 was another big step forward. CrossOnTheRock.com launched, while photo sharing was starting to become a much bigger part of everyday life.

Adam DeVos made his first Cross on the Rock appearance at Bowen Park, which at the time became the hardest COTR race ever. The series also headed over the hump to Port Alberni for the first time and raced at the historic McLean Mill.

Six events were held after the final scheduled race at Shawnigan Lake School was cancelled because of a severe windstorm and no power at the school.

Average attendance jumped from 85 racers to 120, while total race entries grew from 605 to 728. Registration was still paper-only on race day, results were calculated manually and then transferred to electronic form, and disc brakes were still a ways from becoming the norm.

In 2011, results were posted on the Cross on the Rock website for the first time. Condo Cross drew 190 racers, with Tyler Trace and Dawn Anderson taking the wins.

Ricky Bobby Cross at Western Speedway became the hardest race in series history at the time based on DNFs, and remains one of the toughest COTR races ever. Three races from the 2011 season still sit among the hardest events in series history.

Participation continued to surge, with the number of racers increasing from 258 to 331 and average attendance climbing from 147 to 188 racers per event.

The overall series titles went to Dawn Anderson, Tyler Trace, Chris Sundby, Christyna Jones and Dave Damery.

2012 brought online registration for the first time. The first six seasons had been completely paper-based, although race-day registration and results still involved plenty of paper.

Seven races were held, and Cross on the Rock broke the 200-rider mark at a race for the first time. The number of individual racers jumped by more than 100, from 331 to 438.

Disc brakes were beginning to appear alongside mechanical Shimano CX75s and TRP Parabox systems. The season also featured plenty of familiar names, including Pelle Gustavs, Seana Wright, Sean Cruickshank, Dawn Anderson and Drew MacKenzie.

2012 also helped build toward the 2013 UCI Cyclocross World Championships and Masters World Championships in Louisville.

2013 began with the first Cyclocross World Championships ever held in North America, in Louisville, Kentucky. The event became an unforgettable one when incoming flooding forced the elite championships into a single day.

Back on Vancouver Island, Cross on the Rock hosted seven races, including the first My Little Pony Cross at Arbutus Meadows and the Binab Property Group GP at Western Speedway. The series also hosted the Provincial Championships at Bowen Park for the first time.

Future stars were already appearing on COTR start lines. Sarah Van Dam raced her first cyclocross event and won Provincials at age 12. An 11-year-old Emily Johnston also made an early appearance and finished fifth in Beginners.

Participation continued to climb, with total racers growing from 438 to 495 and average attendance increasing from 188 to 205 racers per event.

By 2014, disc brakes had become increasingly common and Cross on the Rock continued to attract an incredible mix of riders.

Seven races were held, including another Provincial Championships at Bowen Park. That race produced a 14.5% DNF rate and remains one of the hardest events in the history of the series.

Riders appearing at COTR that year included three-time Ironman World Champion Peter Reid, Catharine Pendrel, Riley Pickrell, Maggie Coles-Lyster, Erin Atwell, Sarah Van Dam, Emily Johnston and Evan Russell.

Bear Mountain hosted a race for the first time. Average attendance jumped from 205 to 235 racers per event, while the total number of individual racers climbed from 495 to 547.

Cross on the Rock entered its 10th season with seven series races and nine cyclocross events taking place on Vancouver Island.

HLC Bike partnered with WD-40 as title sponsor for the year. One of the season’s most unique events saw racers travel through the Waverly Pub at Comox Lake Campground before returning to the course. A Harbour Air flight packed with cyclocross racers even landed in Comox for the race.

Mazda joined the series and the Zoom Zoom Half Lap races for kids were born. The season featured a Nanaimo double-header and ended with SSCXWC in Victoria, one of the wildest and most memorable events of the era.

Participation continued to boom, with racers increasing from 547 to 660 and average attendance rising from 306 to 325.

Season #11 brought one of the biggest operational changes in series history: electronic timing. After years of fully manual timing, Cross on the Rock finally made the jump, while keeping a manual backup just in case.

Team standings were introduced, with Coal City Cycles taking the first title. The season also brought new youth categories and the series returned to Diver Lake for a Mid Summer race. Mount Washington hosted Top of the World Cross, followed by a Nanaimo triple-header.

Another important addition was the “cross sitters” program, which provided childcare during races and made it easier for parents with young children to compete.

The year ended with a memorable Provincial Championships at the Logger Sports grounds in Squamish. A total of 710 racers took part during the season.

Season #12 featured nine events, including a return to Diver Lake for Mid Summer CX and a Western Speedway double-header featuring two Days of Thunder.

Pacific Mazda served as title sponsor, while Muc-Off helped keep bikes cleaned up and ready for the next race. Turnout continued to grow, with two events setting major attendance records.

Pro City GP drew 430 racers, still one of the biggest single events in Cross on the Rock history. The Kona Kup was not far behind with 314 racers.

A total of 794 racers competed during the season, with an average attendance of 348 riders per event. Naked Bikes won the team title, while Andy Paulin, Seana Wright, Brynn Johnston, Sarah Roberts, Nik Kay, Sean Lunny and Mical Dyck were among the season’s overall winners.

The logo for season #13 was a natural. How could we ever do a different theme? There was not supposed to be a Mid-Summer CX this year….BUT then we got word that the @konabikes Adventure team was rolling into town….and we knew we had to put on a race. @kerryw24 , @gofahr , @wicknasty and of couse @chris_sneddonn. It was a perfect night to start off the cyclocross season complete with Freezies!

One down….8 more to go for the year. The first appearance of Qualicum Beach in the series and a return to McLean Mill in Port Alberni. Also our first ever trip to Lake Cowichan which had the first ever floating section of COTR course along with one of the most technical DH sections. (Check the FB post for more photos). Starting the season with an unusually wet Coal Cross we finished the season with an unusually dry Day of Thunder.

2018 still ranks 4 events in the top 10 of all time biggest races and 4 categories in the top 10 of all time. @elevenspeedcoffee joined us for the coveted Last not Lapped prizes for each race. Racer notes for the year included an almost perfect Mical Dyck winning 6/7 races she entered only being bested in the final by @emilly_johnston taking her 3rd Expert Women win. Hugh Hart had a tear that year in the Super Masters category and Tracy Egan won the masters women. @carterwoodsmtb did not lose a race…..but needed one more score to take the series overall…..so had to settle with 2nd with only 6 event scores. The top 3 for the team title remained the same as the previous year @nakedbicycles Factory #1 followed by Rock City Cycles/Frontrunners/Kiyo Salon/Swet Haus and Tripleshot racing!

2019 – Season #14. The year of the dark mark! In many ways 2019 was the end of the second phase of @crossontherock.

Months before our race season started a huge number of members of our community gathered for one of the best events around. In the spirit of COTR and the @tripleshotcycling Cross Fondo a group including @nakedbicycles Jak Mar from Island Cycles and the Study Build put on the Quadra Island Quest. If you were there you know how cool it was. If you were not it is a good reminder to not wait “until the next year” as we found out there was no next year for this event!

The fall kicked off with Coal Cross. This event captured one of the best photos in COTR history….have a look and see if you can figure out which one. We made our second trip to Qualicum Beach. Unfortunately it was our LAST trip to Western Speedway for the last Day of Thunder as the property was sold and dismantled soon after. @mid_island_velo now iconic Hot Crossed Bunnies closed out the 7 race season on a Saturday in November. The Saturday part is significant as on Sunday our title sponsor MAZDA showed up for the event……not cluing in that the last race was done. (Photo included)
Once again the racing was HOT!

The team competition results were the EXACT same order as the previous two years! @nakedbicycles Factory #1 followed by Rock City Cycles/Frontrunners/Kiyo Salon/Swet Haus and Tripleshot racing. Same top three…..three years in a row!

Looking at the racers we saw some solid performances including Sam Schum doing amazing in the U13 Category. Ella Egan and Brailyn Webster going back and forth all year in U13W. Multi Sport Athlete Heidi Henry making her COTR debut in U15 with her sister @hollyn.henry winning Open Women. Liam Sargent and Sarah Robers Winning U17. Joel Lutz making his first Series podium in Masters.
And then…….

2020. We all know what happened. In 2019 we had the HIGHEST average number of racers per season in 14 years. Great participation. Most importantly a community that extended beyond our 6-9 gatherings a year. It all came to a halt.

In many ways 2020 was amazing. We know how the world slowed down. How we were “stuck” in “lock-down” in pretty much the best place to be stuck! We checked in on each other. We got outside. We exercised and moved to make ourselves feel better and for really no other reason. No racing but we were still racers! A year off.

Season #15 – 2021 – Back Racing!!

6 Races. 1 new venue with our first time racing at Jordie Lunn in Langford. Besides a bit of weird stuff like masks at check in and the start line it was the BEST feeling having people back together and racing!! So great to see everyone!

The general theme for the season was “wet”. This theme was pounded home by one race that if you were there and raced….you will remember it until the day you die. Our first introduction to “atmospheric river” came just before and during the masters race at the Muc Off Cup at Bowen park. It stands as one of the most gnarliest races off all the races we have put on. To finish….or survive is a badge of honor for for the 71 (4 DNF) Masters and 21 (4 DNF) Super Masters men. We salute you!!

By the time the Open women and men took to the course it was the a mess! Through the mess came 15 year old Sarah Roberts and Evan Russell for the wins!

The Half Track racers transitioned from to a FULL lap which was a big change….but they were READY!

We hosted 656 racers that year which is our highest in COTR – the 3rd Era and averaged 335 per race.

In the Team Competition out of nowhere the Powell River crew came out and crushed everyone for the win. Again….Rock City Cycles was second with previous dominator, @nakedbicycles in third. Some of the category winners for the year included Adianta Cocksedge U13, Sam Schum and Ella Egan U15, Kip Manktelow over Zachary Croom in U17, Eleanor Winchell and David Opko (helping Powell River to their win) in U17 and Super Masters, Peter Mogg crushing in masters and Sarah Roberts and Evan Rusell showing that it was their season in Open.

The season ended was supposed to end with National Championships at our old Laritz Park venue but it was cancelled……because of an atmospheric river!

Up until 2022 no single season held more than one spot in the top 10 for “Tamest Races (Least DNFs)”. 2022 took the top spot to that point with Coal Croal and then another top spot with Cowe X Cross. Looking back on the photos from that year we think we know why…..it was DRY. We had a bit of weather at the @victoria_breakaway_cycling GP but other than that…..it was dry.

We did have some SMOKE though at Qualicum Beach which was a new one and had us looking up protocols and guidelines again.

A bit of controversy at Hot Crossed Bunnies with the start of the masters men race but other than that it was a glorious race season!

Top spot for Team competition was taken by the Broad Street Cycles team with….you guessed it….Rock City Cycles-Frontrunners-Kiyo-Airhouse taking 2nd AGAIN and Tripleshot Cycling in 3rd!!

Some new names at the top of the series standings with Ocea Fawkes and Kasain Russell winning Launch. The youth categories is a peek into the future with Mercer Benham, Daiya Schossberger, Raymond Carr, Adianta Cockedge, Elias Harker and Annabelle Whitehead wining their youth categories.

The youngsters were putting their mark on the open women: 1st Kimberly Chen (16), 2nd Eleanor Winchell (15), 3rd Jamie Harker (18) and 4th Heidi Henry (17).
We closed out the cyclocross season in Saanich with Cross Nationals returning to Vancouver Island for the first time since we hosted in 2006.

Before our season started we hosted our Mid Summer race at Diver Lake Park in memory of our friend Menno. It was a glorious summer night and a fitting tribute of racing from someone that appreciated and raced our series from 2006 to 2015.

Before summer some many of our racing community enjoyed the Forbidden Gravel race in Cumberland put on by the Coal Cross Crew. It remains one of the best gravel events to have happened on Vancouver Island (IOO).

Season #17 shows no races in the top 10 for “Hardest” BUT it still holds one record for “Tamest” with Cross on the Commons still holding down the #10 Spot.

We know the Masters Categories are a huge part of the SOLE of @crossontherock and in Season #17 we had some great racing the entire season with Christy Love and Graham Cocksedge winning the “young” masters. At the top of Super Masters were Christine Neal and Ken Olsen both with a perfect score for the season. Our top Mega Masters was once again Derek Steel.

The Open women was taken by a consistent 16 year old Eleanor Winchell. At the other end of the age range 39 year old Craig Richey took the mens.

Also in 2023 was the first ever Canadian Gravel Championships which occurs 27 years after the first Canadian Cyclocross Championship. This is significant because we have petitioned Cycling Canada for proper categories for CX National Championship for 20 years by 2023 and they have never and have yet to come. Gravel received proper masters categories in 2026 after only 3 years.

Broad Street Breakaway repeat in the Team Category. (The photo says 2024….but we know it is 2023!) With you guessed it….Rock City Cycles-Frontrunners-Kiyo-Airhouse in runner up for the 6th year in a row with Physical Culture subbing in for Tripleshot in 3rd.

Season #18 – Back to 7 Races!

We started the @crossontherock season returning to Topaz Park for the first time since 2021. We also had a return to Port Alberni for the first time since 2018!

Sadness for the series early as Patrick’s team mate and supporter in the timing tent Lexi passed on to the timing tent in the sky. We miss her!

Pelle Gustavs was back was back on course for the first time in years capturing still and moving images of what makes this series amazing.

The racing was HOT in 2024! Owen Chen and Marley Schmidt taking their first U13 titles. Tessa Thibault and Maxwell Sauter winning U15. Wendy Simms back on top in Masters Women with Michele Carr another perfect score in Super Masters. Graham Cockesdge retiring from COTR after being defeated by Scott Mitchell in the Masters men’s category. Winning Open for the first time were Cristin Schlossberger and Ethan Pauly. Ethan has been racing COTR since 2013 at 12 and this was his first series win!

For the 3rd year in a row Broad Street Cycles won the Team category.

Most importantly 2024 saw Buttcat Racing win the rarely given out and very much earned Spirit Award.

Provincial Championships were held WAY out in Chilliwack and a few of our racers took home Provincial Champ Jerseys.
648 Racers for the year.

We celebrated the life and spirit of Lindsay Burgess at Cowe X. It was a unique opportunity to bring together our community in support and love. One of the highlights amoung highlights for @crossontherock.

In many ways season #19 showed us that our crew is getting really good at cyclocross. Of the 6 races last season currently 4 of them are on the all time tamest races. Out of around 130 races…..4 from last season had the lowest DNF rate and rank 1st, 6th, 7th and 8th for all time highest finisher rate.

We also had the 3rd biggest single race category of all time with the masters men at the @mucoff Cup.

The GOAT Mical Dyck came out to race at Coal Cross for the first time in 6 years. She won. Extended her all time wins to 28 and disappeared again!

Of the 17 series race categories we had 11 first time category winners. The highest number of first timers EVER.

PLUS….for the first time since the dawn of history @rockcitycyclesnanaimo -@frontrunnersnanaimo won the team category.
We finished the season with the @victoria_breakaway_cyclin