October 25, 2014 (Winnipeg, MB) – Winnipeg is enjoying great sunny weather and organizers has pulled out all of the stops to host the 2014 Shimano Canadian Cyclocross Championships, with a three-day cyclocross festival, at historic The Forks from Oct. 24-26. The marquee event is the National CX Championships on Oct. 25 followed by the Manitoba Grand Prix of Cyclocross, an international competition open to professional and amateur racers, on Oct. 26.

The unique downtown setting features a 3.2km course that runs along the Red River right through the heart of the Forks Market Plaza including three particularly leg-cramping features – a 150 foot stretch of deep sand, a steep run-up along the river bank, and a white-knuckle descent through a grove of trees down to the river.

The Forks is a former rail yard that has been transformed into one of the city’s most cherished public spaces, hearkening back to its roots as a meeting place for early Aboriginal groups at the intersection of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers.

Other features include a sections of grass, gravel, sand, dirt, cobblestones, and pavement along with the unique Canadian Museum of Human Rights building, and Elite acers are expected to complete it in around 8 minutes.

Defending Elite women’s champ, Catharine Pendrel (Luna Pro), also the reigning MTB Worlds champ, will be on the start line with plenty of challengers most notably her teammate Maghalie Rochette who has been making big strides at recent cyclocross races – read more here.

Reigning men’s champ Geoff Kabush (Scott-3Rox) will be racing for his sixth title with a host of contenders including Aaron Schooler (AB) Focus CX Team, former CX champ Mike Garrigan (ON) Van Dessel/Challenge/POC, Evan McNeely (ON) Norco Factory Team and others.

The Master racers kick things off on Saturday at 9am (10am EST) – see schedule with local times below.

START LISTS here.

Schedule of Events

2014 Shimano Canadian Cyclocross Championships – Saturday, October 25
09h00 – 10h00    Master 50+ M/H; Master 30+ W/F
10h00 – 11h00     Master 40+ M/H
11h00 – 12h00     Master 30+ M/H
11h00 – 11h30     Push Bike Race (Kids Course)
11h30 – 12h00     U7 M/H & W/F (Kids Course)
12h00 – 13h00     Wannabe Canadian Challenge Open Race (M/H & W/F)
12h00 – 12h30     U9 M/H & W/F (Kids Course)
12h30 – 13h00     U11 M/H & W/F (Kids Course)
13h00 – 14h00     U13 M/H & W/F; U15 M/H & W/F; U17 M/H & W/F (Challenge Races)
14h00 – 14h30     Course Open for Training
14h30 – 15h30     Junior M/H, U23 M/H
15h30 – 16h30     Elite W/F; U23 W/F; Junior W/F
16h30 – 17h30     Elite M/H
18h00 – 19h00     Awards Ceremony (for all Saturday Races)

Manitoba Grand Prix of Cyclocross – Sunday, October 26
08h00 – 17h30     Race Office Open
08h00 – 09h00     Course Open for Training
08h00 – 13h00     Registration Open
09h00 – 10h00     Open Race M/H & W/F; Singlespeed Open Race M/H & W/F
10h00 – 11h00     Cat 4 M/H & W/F; U15 W/F; U13 M/H & W/F
11h00 – 12h00     Master 3/4 Men; U17 M/H; U15 M/H
11h00 – 11h30     Push Bike Race (Kids Course)
11h30 – 12h00     U7 M/H & W/F (Kids Course)
12h00 – 12h30     U9 M/H & W/F (Kids Course)
12h30 – 13h00     U11 M/H & W/F (Kids Course)
12h00 – 13h00     Cat 2/3 W/F; U17 W/F; Master W/F
13h00 – 14h00     Cat 2/3 M/H; Master 1/2 M/H; Junior M/H
14h00 – 15h00     Course Open for Training
15h00 – 16h00     Elite/Pro W/F (40 min.)
16h00 – 17h00     Elite/Pro M/H (60 min.)
17h30 – 18h30     Awards Ceremony (for all Sunday Races)