European Cyclocross Videos 2009-10

Nathan Spear CX Videos
The comprehensive European cyclocross video website, ccx.nathanspear.com, developed by Nathan Spear is currently down, but it's scheduled to be back online over the Thanksgiving weekend.

My guess is that many of you know about these, but for those who don't, they're low res tapings of the Dutch Sportza network broadcasts. They're start-to-finish coverage (60 minutes) of the major cyclocross races throughout Europe. These include the World Championships, the World Cup series, the GvA Trofee (Gazet van Antwerpen), and the Superprestige (see below for a synopsis of these major series).

Nathan attempted to bring these broadcasts to a wider audience before last year, but there must have been some copyright infringement and his site was shut down mid-season. In the 2008-2009 season he was given the golden cowbell or something because we were able to view and download thirty-plus low res versions of these races, with a final trofee of our own, a full res version of the final World Championship race, including women and U-23.

It was a major coup for all of us who were cooped up late last fall and over the winter spinning on our trainers in the basement. If you know the Dutch language you have an advantage, since these are not translated into English. But to be honest, there's something quite primal and satisfying about watching a race in its homeland and surrounding environs broadcast in its native tongue. Cyclocross is like music in that way. It translates well in any language. We were able to follow the ups and downs of Niels Albert, the continued dominance of Sven Nys, and the struggles of Jonathan Page, as well as follow all the other luminaries of cyclocross, as they blasted over the greatest, toughest courses in the world.

Nathan even includes a number of women's races--often under-reported--so we'll be able to watch Vos, Wyman, van den Brand, Havlikova, and Compton as well. These are just as exciting as the men's races.

Major European Races
World Championship - one day - races by nationality - UCI - begun 1950
World Cup - series UCI - begun 1993 (women 2005)
Superprestige - races by commercial team - held in Belgium and the Netherlands - begun 1983
GvA - races by commercial team - held in the province of Antwerp, Belgium - begun 1987

Keep your browsers peeled Thanksgiving weekend and go to ccx.nathanspear.com (or just nathanspear.com) to find the beginning of a CX feast.

Check this out for a YouTube taste, though imagine it from the starting crack of the gun to the final raising of arms as the winner crosses the finish line.