It’s back and ready to blow you away! The madness of Darkcross returns to Red River Co-op Speedway in Winnipeg for it’s 3rd year on Saturday, September 7th with it’s title sponsor Wallace + Wallace Fences. A venue that is normally filled with the thundering roar of stock car engines will host screaming, cheering, cowbell clanging cyclocross spectators, as cyclists push themselves to the limit, riding the clay race track, climbing through the grand stands, hitting a flyover and a rock garden and whatever else gets in their way. All of this goes on in a party like atmosphere with a bunch of local DJ’s, including John Norman (aka DJ Khemlab), turning the racetrack into a disco inferno, and the killer Winnipeg band, The Crooked Brothers, playing between races. Oh, and fireworks. Don’t forget the fireworks!
Sound like fun? According to previous participant and writer for The Uniter, Grace Kennedy, “As I willed myself not to fall, the worry of the climb melted away and morphed into an adrenaline rush that carried throughout the race, due in part to the infectious energy coming from the crowd cheering and ringing cowbells.” Ya, that sounds like fun.
This is the first event of the Manitoba Cyclocross season and one worth checking out. The gates open at 4pm with the first race kicking off at 5:30pm with the main event is at 10pm under the lights of the track, bamboo candles and Christmas tree lights. Not only is this event free for spectators, but there are races for everyone and anyone wishing to take part, including racers that have never attempted this before and kids aged 5 and up. Want to find out more and throw your name into the hat to take part? Check out www.darkcross.ca and then get ready for the thrills, (hopefully few) spills and intense excitement that is cyclocross.