November 8, 2006 – As head organizer of the Canadian Cyclocross National Championships, Norm Thibault, the defending Masters 30-39 Cyclocross Champion and husband of Wendy Simms (BC, Velo Bella-Kona) – a favourite to win the elite women’s National “˜cross title – has a lot riding on Saturday, Nov. 11.

“I love racing “˜cross and I love racing in Nanaimo,” said Thibault, co-owner of Nanaimo’s Frontrunners running store. His sentiments are shared by Simms and Corey Pickett, who are helping to organize this year’s main event on the Canadian cyclocross calendar.

“It’s been a lot of work,” said Thibault about organizing the 2006 Cross Nationals. This is not his first time in such a pivotal role. Through Island Multi Sports, Thibault has been putting on races for a number of years, including the province’s second-largest triathlon — the Half IronMan in Victoria. He started with cyclocross two years ago, organizing a total of six successful “˜cross races to date, and making a net profit of around $2,000, all of which he used to fund the National Cross Championships. “We’re just putting it all back in, because we like the sport,” he explained.

Thibault isn’t fazed by the hard work and small monetary rewards of organizing a race, because he, along with his co-organizers, has a vision. “We’re just trying to develop cycling,” he said. “We just feel that cyclocross is such an easy way to get into cycling.” The discipline is the least daunting way to get involved in competitive cycling because the races are short, fun and casual, he explained. Thibault cited numerous examples of non-racers who, after watching their first “˜cross race, quickly found themselves with numbers pinned to their jerseys and in the midst of the fray.

However, they’re having a hard time convincing potential sponsors to see the value of “˜cross. “The biggest surprise to me was the lack of support within the biking industry,” said Thibault. “It’s the National Championships, we should have people lining up to support it.”

A major reason for organizing the race was to raise money to help athletes fund their way to the World Championships, said Thibault. However, with the support they’re getting, “it’s just not possible.”

Of course Thibault did not want to minimize the importance of the support they have received from organizations like, Oak Bay Bikes, Frontrunners, Howard Johnson, Crank Brothers, Norco, Devinci, Specialized, Devinci, BBB, Arrowsmith Bikes, PowerBar, Fox and Malaspina University College.

“And the race certainly wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers,” said Thibault, who sent out e-mails to Nanaimo’s athletic community, asking for help.

To top off the difficulties he’s facing, Thibault is receiving criticism about the fact that he is racing and organizing the event. People are opposed to this for two reasons: first suggesting that he won’t be able to handle the pressures of doing both.

“It’s not like I haven’t been doing it regularly this year,” he said, pointing out that he often races in events he organizes, and pulls it off without a hitch. “We’ve got a crew, and the crew knows what to do. We put the race on so we could race.”

The second issue some people have with Thibault’s choice to race at his own event, is that it presents an unfair advantage, considering his intimate knowledge of the course. To this, he responded: “If you pound stakes all day [for course marking] Thursday and Friday before the race, you can hardly hold onto your handlebars the next day”¦. It’s definitely no advantage.”

Despite the difficulties, Thibault is not disillusioned. He’s looking forward to defending his title, cheering Simms on, and watching the country’s top racers make history in his hometown. And then the next day, he’s going to do it all over again, by organizing a regional cyclocross race in nearby Parksville.

Race Preview

Thibault is excited about this year’s National Cyclocross Championships course in Nanaimo, which has nearly 150 racers registered. “I think it’s a really good course, because I don’t think it will favour any one type of rider,” he said. “You have to be able to do everything well.”

The 2.8-kilometre loop includes a wide range of terrain, including open grass field, dirt road, gravel, pavement, BMX track, mulch, sand, and chip trail sections. “I’d love to have a huge mud pit section, but I can’t see anything getting too muddy.” According to Thibault, the course drains very well, meaning things shouldn’t get very sloppy, even with a lot of rain. One of the most original sections is where the course’s two sets of barriers are located — inside an equestrian barn, where racers will circle two riding rings. It’s also a good place for spectators, commented Thibault, with shelter from the elements and good tunes.

He estimates laps will take around 7.5 minutes as riders wind their way along the route. The organizers and volunteers have spent hours preparing the course, including building a new set of stairs, cutting blackberry bushes and improving lines.

The major split in the field will happen in the section between the two tech pits, said Thibault, because it includes the most technical features, like the run-up, the BMX course and the main climb. “Everything else is more flat and roadie-like.”

The Maxxis boys, Geoff Kabush (BC, Maxxis) and Mathieu Toulouse (QC, Maxxis), are Thibault’s picks for the win in the Elite Men’s race. “Kabush won two years ago and Toulouse is going really well at GP (US Gran Prix of Cyclocross) races.” However, Thibault doesn’t discount Andreas Hestler (BC, Rocky Mountain-Business Objects), Ryan Hopping (AB, Team Alberta), Nathan Chown (ON, Team Ontario) or Greg Reain (ON, Stevens). “Those guys will all be flying, I think.”

His pick for the win in the Elite Women’s race is either wife Simms or defending champ, Lyne Bessette (QC, Cyclocrossworld.com). “I think it will be a good battle between Wendy and Lyne,” he said. The race for top five will also be interesting he said, listing Mical Dyck (AB, Terrascape Racing), Kelly Jones (BC, Sugoi), Lisa Ludwig (BC, Oak Bay Bikes) and Tara Ross (ON, Cheerwine) as threats.

In the U23 Men’s category, Thibault is calling Mike Bidniak (AB, Juventus) as race favourite. As for the Junior Men, he’s looking to Graeme Bant (BC, Different Bikes) to deliver.

“There will definitely be a lot of local guys in the Masters categories,” said Thibault. Guys who he believes will give 40+ defending champion Peter Toth (AB, ERTC) a run for his money.

In the Master Men 30-39 category, Thibault is obviously rooting for himself. “I’m totally going for it. I’m going to race as hard as I can.” However, there are some guys who will make him really work for it, including men like Craig Hawkes (ON), Robin Dutton (BC, Arrowsmith) and Luc Proulx (QC, Xprezo). As for favourites in the Master Women’s race? He’s putting his money on Nicola Mann (WA), a speedy Canadian who lives in Bellingham, WA.

Thibault’s personal favourite part of the course is the BMX track and the section right before it. “It’s just fun being on a BMX track on a cyclocross bike,” he said. “It just put a smile on your face.”