The Forks to host Manitoba cyclocross championships this weekend

The cowbells will be clanging at the Forks in Winnipeg Sunday as the historical meeting place at the confluence of the Assiniboine and Red rivers hosts the Manitoba cyclocross championships. Besides the variety of age categories in the two main races there will be a kid’s race and non-championship open race beforehand for anyone who wants to sample the unique discipline.

The course is a 3-km circuit that throws several types of terrain such as grass, pavement, gravel, cobbles and sand at the riders, with plenty of opportunities for dismounts and remounts. Admission for spectators is free.

Registration and sign in is at 10:00 am (don’t forget to set those clocks back an hour!). The first main race containing men and women rolls out at 2:00 pm and the second main race – all male – gets the gun fired at 3:15 pm.

Organizers are hoping to make a successful bid to bring the Canadian National Cyclocross Championships to the Forks in 2014 and 2015. This year the Nationals are in Surrey, B.C. on November 30.