Cyclocross Nationals Course Preview Madison 2012.AVI

[TheMmtimm]

Did any of you commenters ride the Midwest Championships on this course? Didn't see you out there! The course is great for spectators. It is a hard course with elevation changes, plenty of twisty-turns, pavement, gravel and sand. The run up is steeper than it looks and is carved by railroad ties. This video does not do it justice. Real cross racers know that you ride whatever the race director puts in front of you on race day. This course gives no one any gifts.

[TheDaveBeals]

one word.... boring.

[StierPlay]

thanks, great video, pathetic course though

[phatspanky1]

any chance of posting another ride with the new features? Maybe some better audio? thanks

[addictedtobicycles]

I'm expecting the same amount of spectators in January as we are seeing in this video...

[bobbyd233]

No, this IS the actual course except for a few newly mowed cut throughs that they finally put there this week and those actually eliminated a few turns I took in the video and straightened the course out more! They may put in some railroad ties on the uphill section, but that is pretty much it. New Mexico's concerns are valid, this course is pathetic and a detriment to cross in Madison, Wisconsin and the US in general. You get what you accept in life and this course is simply not acceptable.

[NewMexicoSkiBum]

Part 4:

Honestly, there is potential at Badger Prairie, but it is limited- it has elevation, some steeps, some off camber… Without some real creativity, a willingness to carve into the landscape a bit, and a new design, it’s a massive fail. Let’s revisit this before people make their travel plans… or don’t.

[NewMexicoSkiBum]

Part 3:

Perhaps with a few flaming gap jumps or a biathlon approach involving Pugsleys & archery, we could make this a hell of a course in January. Anything to keep the faithful wandering away from this velocide to browse snow blowers at the Farm & Fleet, or to the hip Walgreen’s in Verona for some melatonin to ease the pain. We may well find Todd Wells and Ryan Trebon sitting in on circle time at the Library rather than outside lining up for this travesty.

[NewMexicoSkiBum]

Part 2:

But we heard a new course would be carved out of the pliable prairie & were cautiously optimistic. That was misplaced. This course won’t merely disappoint but, compared to Bend & the USGPs, will tarnish the Midwestern cyclocross scene & possibly the sport as a whole. Melodramatic, yes, but this venue & course are pathetic. Any first-time CX Nationals pilgrim will leave stunned, depressed, & drifting toward more engaging, dynamic sports like long-distance walking or ultimate shuffleboard

[NewMexicoSkiBum]

Part 1:

Uninspired is understatement. This course takes a typically dull venue & reduces it to tedium. I've ridden Badger Prairie in just about every iteration, & raced it a half dozen times. It is among my least favorite venues in WI. I was disappointed when I heard it would be the Nationals venue. Not Olin Park on Lake Monona with a view of the city, a frozen chunk of shore as a feature, hills, ancient oaks, single track, parking, a heated shelter, close to everything for racers & spectators?

[janitorjermz]

Umm... Is that really the course? What are you guys doing out there?? Seems too long first of all, as well ad being entirely unfriendly to spectators. I understand you rode slower than race pace, but even still. Bad conditions would make it a 5 lap race.

Was that little hill the big run up we keep hearing about?

And with all that open space, why so many straight lined. Turn baby! Turn!

Thanks for posting, what did you use for your map??

[xcman1500]

All I could think of while watching this was, this is really boring. Glad I'm not the only one that thinks so. They should just use the USGP course, that one is an excellent cyclocross course

[bobbyd233]

I posted this video to show how totally uninspiring this course is. It could also be quite unrideable and downright dangerous in many areas if the weather is as bad as it could be in January in Wisconsin. I have serious concerns about the reception of this course by all the racers who choose to travel to Madison in January to race Nationals. I feel it will be a huge disappointment and will tarnish the fine reputation that the cross scene in Madison has earned with the USGP Planet Bike Cup race

[skunkfifty]

I have seen crits with more turns that this. As a local I'd like to let the unfamiliar know that this is not typically how we do CX in Wisconsin. This is what blowing an opportunity to showcase the quality of cycling available in WI looks like.

[ronbridal]

If this is really the course I think a lot of people will be disappointed. It seemed like a complete bore until the last couple minutes. This definitely will make me reconsider making the trip to Madison.

[Biffbradford]

If the weather cooperates, it could be beautiful. If not ... brutal!

[iamameatpopsicle]

i hope the tires stay in the course

but seriously, this is basically a road course. i guess we'll see how it goes at BadgerCross

[phatspanky1]

Looks like an awesome course in October/ November, and a retarded course in January with 2 inches of Ice on the climbs and DESCENTS! It will be total carnage.