The Crosscast
Neil Mansfield, Matt Payne, Xan Crees and special guests talk about World, European and UK cyclocross. Follow us on @TheCrosscast @CrosscastNeil @XanCrees and @MattFixerPayne. And give us a like on Facebook and Instagram. Support us at https://buymeacoffee.com/crosscast.
Neil Mansfield is the host of the show and the cyclocross uber-geek. He races for Grity Race Team and his family all love cross. He has been podcasting since 2015 and over-analysing racing using spreadsheets for a lot longer. He helps Caroline (Mrs M) run Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel. Find out more at https://linktr.ee/crosscastneil.
Matt Payne is the voice of British cyclocross having been on the mic for all of the big races for years. He is a professional commentator regularly heard at raceside, and also on TV and streamed coverage for all cycling disciplines. He has long experience of professional race promotion, but also a passion for grass-roots opportunity from being the brains and voice of e-Sports to UCI commentary, to organising local league races.
Xan Crees is a double British Elite Women's champion, having taken titles in both gravel and cyclocross. Now racing the pro-circuit as an elite, she has been a cyclocrosser at heart since she was a youth. With first hand experience of pretty much every course out there, and knowing how to win UCI races, she brings the insight of a pro-athlete.
The music is by Steep and used under a CC license.
The Crosscast
The Crosscast S8E04 South Shields and Koppenburg, and looking forward to Torbay
In Episode 4 of season 8 Neil Matt and Xan look back on the past few weeks of racing. This included Xan’s ongoing adventures in Sweden as well as her return to the Koppenburg. Matt is back from the 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships, and whilst the tech remained bug free… he got infected by a virus and so a little croaky today 🦠.
They look back on the south Shields National trophy where both Neil and Xan were racing. The course was fast, but remained a challenge. It should be a worthy venue for the 2026 National Championships.
They also talk through the European championships, which gave race after race of action, even if team GB were conspicuous by their absence. But don’t fret - the legend Vic Barnett still brought home a Masters gold medal🥇to Welland Valley.
They debate the merits of gravel racing and are pretty much in agreement that it’s a good thing for the sport as a whole although riders will struggle to excel in both, if they try to jump straight from gravel into cyclocross without a break. Ask Xan if you need details!
In the Laatste Ronde they preview the upcoming national trophy coming from Torbay, which is expected to be a contrast to what we saw at the first two rounds. But there might also be a contrast to what we’ve experienced there in the past considering the weather forecast for the next few weeks. Time will tell whether we get another ‘Paignton’ course that will cut up and result in Ton of Pain. Will we see a repeat with plenty of bike changes or are we going to get something fast and a new experience for racing down in Devon?
Please remember to support the show and support those that support the sport! Pop over to Buy Me a Coffee to help us with Crosscast costs, make sure that you give Xan and her team Spectra pals a shout, and drop by the Grity shop or website to take a look at some riding kit goodness.
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To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps!
You can watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@TheCrosscastCyclocross
Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield @crosscastneil is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne @mattfixerpayne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees @xancrees races for OGT USE.