• Looks like everyone had a good time at Relay CX. Results are on xXx Racing’s site here. Remember your Relay CX results do NOT count towards your CrossResults.com points.
• Only 2 more weeks until the Chicago Cyclocross Cup series begins on 9/11/16 at LaBagh Woods, also hosted by xXx Racing. The website still says Caldwell Woods, but the event is definitely at LaBagh Woods. Online pre-reg is up on BikeReg here: bikereg.com/labaghcx
• Online pre-reg for all other series races will open next Monday (9/5/16) at 10am on BikeReg here to give you plenty of time to make a coffee or get a Rocket Sauce, house a doughnut,  and settle in.
• Looking to tear it up this season? Consider a training plan by series sponsor Training Bible Cycling. Check it out on Training Peaks here.
• Lots of series sponsors from years past are back again this year, with a few new partners joining the “CCC Family”. Looks for updates over the next few days/weeks as we welcome a few new friends into the fold.
• Where’s everyone on social media these days? Snapchat? Twitter? Instagram? Facebook? MySpace? We want to know so we can keep see all of the photos and stories you are sharing. Let us know in the comments below.
• And finally… Jon Gatto is back at the drone controls and bringing us recaps of races. Check out his view of Relay CX here: vimeo.com/180671066

• Online reg for Labagh Woods opened over on BikeReg yesterday morning. All other CCC events will open on BikeReg on Monday September 5th at 10am.
• Interested in being a CCC series sponsor? Read our sponsorship proposal and email us at [email protected].
• Rad lady and all around CX badass Maria Larkin sent us some info about the Trek CxC Cup Junior Girls Cyclocross Clinic…
  • Where: Trek CxC Cup @ Trek Factory Headquarters, Waterloo, Wisconsin. Registration and meet up will take place at the chalet near the back parking lot on McKay Way. Please allow plenty of time to navigate traffic leaving Chicago on Friday evening.
  • When: 5.30pm, 9/16/16. The clinic will last 1 hour with some time for questions for Kaitie after we’re done.
  • Cost: FREE
  • You must be:
    • – A junior girl aged 9-18 Cat 2/3/4
    • – EXCITED ABOUT CYCLOCROSS!
  • You must bring:
    • A cyclocross bike (preferred) or Mountain Bike.
    • A helmet.
    • A USAC license (if you don’t have a license you can purchase a one day license online when registering or day of)
  • We will supply:
    • The Trek CxC Cup Course. You will be doing drills and skills on the challenging UCI course set up for the weekend’s racing.
    • Multiple time (junior and U23) National Champion, and 2015 World Cup podium finisher Kaitie Antonneau (Cannondale Cyclocrossworld)
    • PIZZA. We know you’ll be leaving after (during) school on Friday so we will provide water and snacks for the riders after the clinic. If you have any dietary restrictions please email us; [email protected]
  • Registration Link: https://www.usacycling.org/register/2016-2699
  • Other Info:Trek has gone to great effort to provide a learning and racing environment for girls at the CxC Cup. We encourage you to make the most of the weekend and get yourself and your daughters signed up to race. The skills that Kaitie will be teaching are best put straight into practice!
• And finally… want to help out with the series or maybe just have a comment or idea? Email us directly at [email protected].

• Aaaaaand… we’re back!
• We’ve had a bunch of updates to the event calendar, see everything on the Schedule page.
• Pre-reg for all CCC series events will again be hosted on BikeReg.com. Pre-reg for most events will open at 10am on Monday 9/5/16 with LaBagh Woods opening up Monday 8/22/16.
• xXx Racing is back with their Relay CX on Sunday 8/28/16 in Jackson Park. This year there will be yet another category, the Relay Roulette, which will serve as a fundraiser for a local area cycling charity/cause of the winners’ choice. Find more details here.
• Half Acre’s CX Eliminator will be on Saturday 9/10.
• The CCC’s first race of the series will again be hosted by xXx Racing and held in LaBagh Woods on Sunday 9/11/16. Due to Jingle Cross and the Trek CXC Cup changing dates, xXx Racing moved LaBagh Woods earlier on calendar so more Chicagoland racers could experience those larger races.
• A quick note from our neighbors across Lake Michigan… Looking to get your ‘cx season started off a bit early with a quick road trip to Michigan? Check out the Snap Fitness Alma Grand Prix of Cyclocross & 5k in Alma, Michigan (about a 4-ish hour drive from Chicago) for some good early season fun. The race website is AlmaGP.blogspot.com and pre-registration is available through USA Cycling. Camping on site Friday night, as well as an early number pick up option at Snap Fitness in town. Swag coming out of your ears!
• And as if that was enough CX in September for you… xXx Racing is Bringing the Sven’s to Chicago for a CX clinic. Check out all the details here.
• Interested in being a 2016 Series Sponsor? Please review our 2016 Series Sponsorship Proposal here and get back to us ASAP.
• And finally… did you notice we spruced up the place? Thanks to the guys at Bark Design for freshening up our website and logo.

• Thanks a wrap… official CX racing is all done here in Chicagoland.
• Thanks to the Chicago Cuttin’ Crew for winding us down after a long  CX season with another great Afterglow. Results will be here. MORE

• This Saturday the Chicago Cuttin’ Crew hosts Afterglow – A Cyclocross Race… now with #INSANEDEOMNIUM2015!!!
• Then on Sunday its the 2015 CCC Awards Party, we’re not going to make up some silly story that tickets are selling fast, there’s plenty of room, but please help us and EJ’s Place plan for how much food to make. Winners get their cowbells… and everyone gets something. Come join the fun.
• With the winding down of the CX season here in Chicago the CCC will crawl into its den evile lair and updates here on the site will be few and far between until summer 2016. Have great winter and ride safely as much as you can. Given the trend in competition over the last few years we expect 2016 to be another fast CX season.
• Want to keep in shape over the holiday and race your CX bike in January??? Well luckily for you USA Cycling is having CX National Championships in Asheville, NC January 5-10. Good luck to everyone traveling and racing!
• And finally… thanks again to everyone who made a series donation this year. With donated entry fees from Melas CX the CCC will make just North of a $2,100 donation to each of our three causes… West Town Bikes, Blackstone Bicycle Works, and Big Marsh. THANK YOU AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Photo: Tipping Point Photography

• That was another fun Montrose Harbor and Illinois State CX Championship. Many, many thanks again to Ten27 Bicycle Club and Spidermonkey Cycling for making the event happen and to everyone, and we mean everyone who came out to make the day special. All results are online in the normal places.
• Its been another fun, exciting, and action packed CCC series with plenty of twists and turns (literally and figuratively), but we had a ton of fun and we hope you all did too. Someone pointed out to us on Sunday that every race this season (except the cancelled Melas CX) was above 45 degrees at some point in the day and we had no rainy/muddy races. Thanks el Nino! As we’ve said in the past, its the racers and community that makes a race, not the weather or even the course itself. So we are very thankful for everyone who participates in the CCC, on both sides of the tape, and look forward to hanging out with you all again next year.
• Speaking of results, congratulations to the 2015 Illinois State CX Champions (roughly in the order they were awarded, i.e. the CCC race day schedule)
  • Masters 35+ – Christopher Pike (The Pony Shop)
  • Masters 45+ – Michael Naughton (Unattached)
  • Masters 55+ – Gregory Anderson (Spin Doctors Cyclewerks CX Team)
  • Masters 65+ – Albert Weigel (Verdigris-Village CX)
  • Single Speed – Christopher Pike (The Pony Shop)
  • Unofficial Women Single Speed – Daphne Karagianis (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew)
  • Junior Women 17-18 – Audrey Ernst (EGO p/b Sammy’s Bikes)
  • Junior Men 17-18 – Juan Gonzalez (Heritage Race Club)
  • Junior Women 15-16 – Ella Neurohr (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew)
  • Junior Men 15-16 – Juan Gonzalez (Heritage Race Club)
  • Women Cat 4 – Amelia Van Maldegiam (Spin Doctors Cyclewerks CX Team)
  • Junior Women 13-14 – Brianna Urban (ABD Cycling Club)
  • Junior Men 13-14 – Evert Lindberg (The Pony Shop)
  • Junior Women 9-12 – Ellie Hosey (UPB Cycling)
  • Junior Men 9-12 – Bennett Lindberg (The Pony Shop)
  • Cat 3 – Stephen Parkes (Comrade Cycles Racing)
  • Women Cat 1/2/3 – Maria Larkin (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew)
  • Women Cat 3 – Amelia Moore (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew)
  • Cat 1/2/3 – Brandon Feehery (Unattached)
  • Cat 4 – Benjamin Schlarman (Unattached)
• And since this is the website for the CCC series, the 2015 Chicago Cyclocross Cup overall winners:
  • Team Competition – The Pony Shop
  • Masters 35+ – Christopher Pike (The Pony Shop)
  • Masters 45+ – Danny Warner (Verdigris-Village CX)
  • Masters 55+ – Gregory Anderson (Spin Doctors Cyclewerks CX Team)
  • Masters 65+ – Albert Weigel (Verdigris-Village CX)
  • Single Speed – Christopher Pike (The Pony Shop)
  • Junior Women 15-18 – Ella Neurohr (Chicago Cuttin Crew)
  • Junior Men 15-18 – Juan Gonzalez (Heritage Race Club)
  • Women Cat 4 – Amelia Van Maldegiam (Spin Doctors Cyclewerks CX Team)
  • Junior Women 9-14 – Brianna Urban (ABD Cycling Club)
  • Junior Men 9-14 – Jonathan Costin (The Pony Shop)
  • Cat 3 – Kevin Hathaway (Unattached)
  • Women Cat 1/2/3 – Maria Larkin (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew)
  • Women Cat 3 – Amelia Moore (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew)
  • Cat 1/2/3 – David Reyes (Heritage Race Club)
  • Cat 4 – Mitchell Dutczak (The Pony Shop)
• That does it for the CCC series, but there’s one more officially sanctioned (i.e. legit) CX race here in Chicagoland before the winter truly sets in… Afterglow – A Cyclocross Race hosted by the other CCC (Chicago Cuttin Crew) on Saturday 12/19/2015 in Douglas Park. Come race, stop holding grudges, and do some good with all proceeds going towards Chicago area youth cycling programs.
• Then the next day the CCC officially, officially comes to an end with the 2015 CCC Awards Party. Come raise a glass and leave with some swag. Seriously, everyone gets at least something.
• Attention Chicago Cyclocross Cup Ladies! Sad to see the season come to an end? Interested in keeping connected with your competition friends? Come out for some leg burning, lung bursting, and sweat freezing on your face good ole’ fashioned outdoor fun on January 24th for a stair climbing challenge at Swallow Cliff stairs. We will run stairs and then regroup at Imperial Oaks Brewery for some more socializing. Wait! There’s more….Ultimate Pro Bikes along with other racers/teams are donating great items for a raffle. T-shirts, hats, fitness classes at INTENT, foam roller, art work and more! Start time 11:10 am at the Swallow Cliff stairs in Palos Heights. Meet at the base of the stairs. Imperial Oaks start time: 12:55 pm. Questions? Contact [email protected] Stay tuned for more details at https://www.facebook.com/events/1672778696328212/
• In other news, the Illinois Cycling Association (ICA) has a new website… check it out.
• And finally… speaking of legit, setting goals, working hard, believing in yourself, and holding no one but yourself responsible for your own success… and having it pay off big time, we’d like to give a hearty congratulations to Anthony Clark of Squid Bikes and Psimet sponsored rider for taking his first UCI win on Sunday and earning the VERGE NECXS elite overall title. Way to go Anthony!

Photo: Tipping Point Photography

Photo: Eric Goodwin

• #MontroseCX
• Ten27 Cycles and Spidermonkey Cycling host the last stop of the 2015 CCC… the Illinois State CX Championships at Montrose Harbor. We ask everyone to bundle up, bring your cowbells, cameras, drones, noise makers (leave the vuvuzelas at home please) and make a day out of Montrose…
• Registration: We’ll be running reg the same way as every other CCC race. Please allow all 35+ racers to pick up their numbers first since they have to get ready first. Several fields are either already full or very close. Online waitlists are on BikeReg. After No-Shows are removed we put in the online waitlisted riders, then its first come, first served until we hit the field limits. Online pre-reg closes tonight… so if you’re not yet reg’d, do everyone (yourself included) a favor and reg now!
• Montrose is once again sponsored by Goose Island’s 312 Beer which will be awarded on the podiums to everyone of age (or their parents).
• Staging: Staging will follow the same protocol we’ve been using all season long in the series. See the procedure here.
• Preliminary staging will be posted here. Email us at ChicagoCrossCup at gmail if you have problems.
• State Champion Requirements: Ten27 Cycling, Spidermonkey Cycling, and the ICA will be presenting 19 Illinois State CX Champion Jerseys (on the podiums) to the first IL rider to cross the finish line in every category (excluding the 4/5’s). This means Juniors 17-18, 15-16, 13-14, AND Juniors 9-12… boys AND girls, Women Cat 3, and yes even the 65+! Remember that in order to win the state championship you must be a permanent Illinois resident (we’ll be checking state/federal ID’s), a US citizen or permanent resident, and hold a valid and unsuspended 2015 USAC annual license before the start of the race (yes, we’re looking at you Cat 4’s). There must also be a full podium of IL riders (that means 3) to win the state jersey. This should not be a problem in any category.
• The Chicago Cuttin’ Crew will also be awarding medals and matching cash dollars +$1 for the top 3 women in the Single Speed category in the same way they have been doing since 2013.
• All races are championships except the Cat 4/5’s.
• Podiums presentations for each race (top 3 overall in the race) AND and for the IL state championship (top 3 IL riders in the race) will occur immediately after each race finish… so pay attention after your race, Kenny Labbe may be calling your name!
• Payouts: 5 deep per the 2015 CCC minimum payout schedule.
• The Pony Shop and Chicago Cuttin’ Crew will also have their usual extra prizes for Junior categories.
• While 5 riders have already locked up their CCC overall titles (see riders in yellow), there are still 10 very, very, very close categories still to be decided on Sunday. Overall titles will be  posted Sunday, but all official overall series awards will be presented at the CCC Awards Party on Sunday December 20st at EJ’s Place. We look forward to celebrating with all of you.
• The weather usually makes Montrose the special event it is. Right now the forecast is for sun and highs in the upper 40’s! In any event, the weather and wind can always change on a dime, especially next to the lake, so bundle up, dress appropriately, and come prepared with extra warm & dry gear.
• The Big Star food truck will be serving their famous tacos and other food at the curb between 11am and 3:30pm.
• A few series and race sponsor tents will be gathered into an Town Square/Expo Area between registration, the finish area, and the podiums where the state champion jerseys will be awarded throughout the day of racing.
• Team Tents: Given the ever present potential for strong winds, bring weights and stakes. Also, Ten27 will have an expo area near registration with designated tent spots for race sponsors, so please do not set up your tents in these spots or you will be asked to move.
• Parking: Parking will be on the street only along Simonds Dr. Simonds Drive will be closed to through traffic between the staging grid and finish line.  You may approach the race course on Simonds Drive from either Wilson Avenue or from Montrose Avenue, but you will have to turn around and leave the same way you came in.  Please do not park adjacent to the road closure barricades, as Ten27 is required to leave enough room for all cars to turn around at the barricades.  Only authorized vehicles (i.e. officials, CCC staff, event organizers, BigStarTruck, etc) will be allowed within the road closures. Please do not give the traffic marshals a hard time about this, they are just doing their job. No Parking at all on the grass, anywhere, period (except for the SRAM NRS car).
• Team trailers: Plan to arrive early between 6:00-6:30am to park your trailer. The streets will be closed at 6:30am. Please drop your trailer and move the tow vehicle to the general parking area. We are trying to keep the barricade area as car free. It is possible to park your trailer Saturday evening by 5:00pm. Security watching the area overnight. Please contact the race directors through BikeReg to make any other special arrangements.
• Alcohol is prohibited in the park without permit, so please act appropriately and responsibly.
• Pack out what you pack in. A large trash dumpster will be provided in the street for any refuse.
• Bib Numbers: On your LEFT SIDE as always. All riders with longer hair are reminded that their hair MUST be pulled up and can not obstruct your bib # while racing. Riders are reminded to not sit up while coming across the finish line, this is especially noted for Juniors – wait to post up until AFTER you’ve safely finished and have been properly scored by officials. Numbers must also be clearly visible to the officials checking you in at staging. Failing to have numbers visible slows down and delays starting fields on time.
• One2Go Event Services will again be providing camera timing and lap times. However if your bib number is on the wrong side, you will NOT be scored. So pin those numbers correctly.
• Speaking of scoring… Montrose being the State Championship and the last race of the CCC series, the USAC officials will be pulling out-of-contention riders so the race leaders have a clear course. However, everyone will be placed, even if you are several laps down. The only way riders will be listed DNF (did not finish) is if they stop voluntarily. So keep racing until the chief referee tells you to stop. Riders will only be asked to exit the course near the finish line.
• Speaking of the finish line, SRAM Neutral Service will be in the equipment pits helping you get there in the case of a mechanical.
• The equipment pit is on the other side of the road from the start and finish lines. Please do NOT leave your spare bikes and wheels in the pit after your race. The next category needs to use the pit too.
• The Course: Ten27 Cycling’s course designer Chuck Judy has tweaked last year’s course again while retaining all of Montrose’s classic features. The course runs clockwise this year, which is the opposite from year’s past, beginning at the staging grid which will now be on the North side Simonds Dr. The start will be long, and wide, and without sharp turns. The finish line and registration tent will be in nearly same location as years past, just off the road to the North and near the sand, however the finish line will now be on the paved path. Riders will again have the full width of the tunnel heading southbound under Simonds Drive.  The course will then cross back over the tunnel on Simonds Dr to complete the loop, resulting in essentially a paved flyover. Yes the main sand pit will be back but backwards, where spectators are all but guaranteed a great view of all the action. As always the final course track will be determined Saturday afternoon and may be altered from the map below.
• Also, with yesterday’s snow showers the ground is a little wet, so please NO GROUP PRACTICES on the course. We want to leave the grass in as good of shape as we can after Sunday so we can come back and race next year. Thanks!

As usual the season flew by. Montrose is going to be a blast as always and especially nice with the weather that the Cup has ordered up.  Once it’s over, and still fresh in your head, lay out your annual training plan (ATP) as the first step in realizing your potential next year.

The first phase of importance is the transition phase, which is easy because it consists largely of nothing!  Taking time off the bike can feel odd though after such a sudden STOP. Your body craves it and your mind misses it.  Hang in there because while it can take some time to process this phase of your training is an important part of the equation.  It’s good to be active, including some cycling, but let your mind and body take a break from the grind and just have fun.  More on that here.

The 2015 ChiCrossCup has once again been a blast!  Thanks to everyone out there who is reading what we love to write about.  The coaches at Training Bible Cycling have experience in all disciplines and specialize in taking the time and tools at your disposal and helping you get the most out of the effort you put in. Shoot us a note, set, repeat and better than ever…

See you Sunday.

Rob Kelley

TRAINING BIBLE CYCLING

• We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday weekend with their family, friends, pets, bikes, trails, etc.
• Speaking of being thankful, thank you to everyone who donated their race entry fees for the cancelled Melas CX event to the series donation causes; Big Marsh, West Town Bikes and Blackstone Bicycle Works. We’ll have a final total cash dollar amount number to announce hopefully next week.
• Its now the first week of December, so that means its sweeps states week. The final race of the Chicago Cyclocross Cup powered by SRAM series and the Illinois State Cyclo-cross Championships are this coming Sunday at Montrose Harbor in downtown Chicago. Looks for the course preview on Thursday at the normal time, but in the meantime check out the info on the static preview page, especially the section concerning IL State Champion requirements.
• But CX racing is not over here in Chicagoland. The Chicago Cuttin’ Crew helps us finish out the year and helps Chicago area youth cycling programs West Town Bikes and Blackstone Bicycle Works with Afterglow – A Cyclocross Race on Saturday 12/19/15. And as if you needed another reason to race your CX bike again, this year the (other) CCC introduces Grudge Match.
• A few riders have already clinched their CCC overall titles, and we’ll calculate the final standings for all categories on Sunday at Montrose, but awards for all categories will be distributed on Sunday 12/20/15 at the CCC awards party at EJ’s Place.
• And finally… the #PutaRingonIt challenge by Spidermonkey Cycling is down to the final week of fundraising before Montrose!  Half Acre and PSIMET have stepped up to the plate .. will your team?  Go to http://bigmarsh.causevox.com/ and get started now!  For more information, contact [email protected].