The afterglow from the US Cyclocross National Championships continues to warm my soul, as temps here in Boston and elsewhere around the US continue to dip. For the past week, I’ve been trying to unpack exactly why, and I think I’ve come up with a succinct enough answer: Nats in Asheville was precisely the experience that top ‘crossers in the US deserve. The hype around the event is absolutely justified—the venue amenities were top notch, the whole parking/admission price ‘issues’ foreseen simply weren’t, and the course was phenomenal. At best, US cross racers will typically encounter a World Cup feature on their otherwise domestic course. No. Not here. Course designer Tim Hopkin crafted absolutely a World Cup-level course, packed with off-cambers, climbing, as well as sick descending. Even the weather cooperated perfectly – dumping just enough rain on course the night before, staying cold and dry all day, and developing into light flurries during the culminating Elite Men’s race. For a racer or fan in attendance, I don’t think one could have asked for better. Continue reading “The Big Picture: 2016 U.S. Cyclocross Nationals (John Kavouris)”