An interview with Geoff Kabush

Canadian cyclocross champion Geoff Kabush is preparing for his first-ever start at the cyclocross world championships held on February 2 and 3 in Louisville, Kentucky. He will lead one of the largest selection of ‘cross racers that the Canadian team has ever assembled for the international event.

What are some of the strengths and weaknesses of the large team that Cycling Canada has put together for cyclocross worlds?

I think the team selected is definitely one of the most complete and talented teams Canada has ever sent to cyclocross worlds. We have some talented young riders and I’m definitely excited to see what they can accomplish. The espoir and junior races are always much more wide open and the fact that worlds is in North America should also play to their advantage.

The fact that worlds is in North America is definitely a big reason we are sending such a strong team. Not many Canadian riders have the luxury to be able to focus 100 percent on cyclocross so having the race closer to home has made a big impact on a lot of riders decisions to compete. Having the race in Louisville definitely makes worlds more accessible from both a financial and travel perspective.

Do you have any specific ambitions for your first world championships in cyclocross?

This will be my first time competing at worlds as well as my first time racing with such an international cyclocross field. My start position is definitely going to be far from optimal and my ambition for the day will definitely depend a lot on the conditions and the first few corners. My goal is to show up fit, ready to compete, and hope for a little bit of luck at the start.

Can you tell us what your specific training plans are for worlds?

The U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross (USGP) in Bend, Oregon was the end of my unstructured fun time and off-season [from mountain biking]. Since mid-December, I’ve been getting back into some solid riding and building some basic structure back into my training.

I just arrived in California where I’ll be basing my training until worlds. I’m spending a few days with Ryan Trebon, just north of San Diego, then relocating to Ventura where I’m staying with my Scott-3Rox teammates for all of January. I’m looking forward to getting in some really good consistency and being ready to go at worlds. I have one trip scheduled to Idaho for a Scott-3Rox winter ski camp but that should be a really good break and something I’m really looking forward to.

Have you seen or ridden on the worlds course?

I’ve raced in Louisville multiple times but missed the USGP there this year. I know the venue and city well so it should be a comfortable place to return to for me. I’m excited to see the course and hopefully some winter conditions. Almost every year I’ve raced there has been more of a fast and dry grass course. I’ll be starting further back, so I can only hope for slow, nasty, and tough conditions that will make it easier for me to move through the field.
CANADIAN DELEGATION – 2013 UCI CYCLO-CROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Elite Women
• Mical Dyck (Victoria, BC/Stan’s No Tube)
• Wendy Simms (Nanaimo, BC)
• Emily Batty (Brooklin, ON/Team Subaru-Trek)
• Pepper Harlton (Edmonton, AB/Juventus Cycling Club)
• Julia Lafrenière (Oxford Station, QC/Xprezo-Borsao)

Elite Men
• Geoff Kabush (Courtenay, BC/SCOTT-3Rox Racing)
• Chris Sheppard (Bend, OR/Rocky Mountain Bicycles)
• Craig Richey (Victoria, BC/SponsorConnected.com-Ridley Bikes)
• Aaron Schooler (Edmonton, AB/Norco Bicycles-SRI Importing)
• Mike Garrigan (St-Clements, BC)

U23 Men
• Evan McNeely (Ottawa, ON/Specialized Canada)
• Andrew l’Espérance (Halifax, NS/Norco Factory Team)
• Michael van de Ham (Edmonton, AB)
• Connor O’Brien (Ottawa, ON/Stevens p/b The Cyclery)

Junior Men
• Peter Disera (Barrie, ON/Cycle Solutions-Angry Johnny’s Cycling Club)
• Trevor Pearson (Delta, BC/DEVO)
• Isaac Niles (Tuner Valley, AB/Team Alberta)
• Neil Symington (Sussex, NB/Outdoor Elements-Atlantic Cycling Centre)