Recap: Virginia’s Blue Ridge Go Cross Presented by Fat Tire

Posted on October 31st, 2023

Fallon Park is the Place to Be During Virginia’s Blue Ridge Go Cross

The USCX Series has concluded and, for the second year, Go Cross looks back at a successful race and mounting enthusiasm for cyclocross racing in Virginia’s Blue Ridge.

Riders from 30 states, France, Belgium, and Canada made their way to Fallon Park for Virginia’s Blue Ridge Go Cross Presented by Fat Tire this past September 16 and 17. These visitors to the region stayed in hotels, ate at restaurants, shopped, and -of course- participated in the festivities at Fallon Park. The event generated a total economic impact of $414,000 over just two days.

Not only did the weekend provide a boost for the local economy, but it also put the race and Virginia’s Blue Ridge on view to a world-wide audience. Go Cross made it to the international stage for a second year in a row, streaming live on Global Cycling Network in 20 different languages with an approximate 100,000 impressions per day.

While live-streaming made it possible to catch the action anywhere, the place to be was the Fallon Park Cyclocross Course where the atmosphere was full of excitement and regional collaboration.

Day 1: Sun-filled Fallon Park. Trek Bicycle Roanoke, equipped with cow suits and cowbells, set up the lively cheering section at the top of “School Hill” overlooking the course. The Lil’ Belgians kids’ races hosted by Just the Right Gear filled the spectator zone with tons of budding racers. The team of mechanics and cyclists from Cardinal Bicycle offered free coffee and a place to service bikes. And everyone came together to cheer on an exciting 80’s-themed Fat Tire Beer Mile Relay Race with RunAbout Sports Roanoke. All of which led straight into the first elite race where Maghalie Rochette topped the podium, followed by Caroline Mani and Raylyn Nuss. Then, in an exciting photo finish, the men’s pro race concluded with Loris Rouiller in first, Anton Ferdinand in second, and Andrew Strohmyer in third.

What got these pro athletes working so hard to finish on top? Well, this was the first race in the USCX series, which represents the top cyclocross events in the country and offers a $15,000 prize purse. And, as the overall season-opener for professional cyclocross racing, this was the first opportunity for racers to gain series points and establish themselves in the rankings. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Go Cross is at the top level of internationally sanctioned racing in the US, specifically: Union Cycliste International C1/C2, and therefore offers a prize purse of over $18,000.

Day 2: The weather turned to light rain, and the course developed into true cyclocross conditions – muddy and slick – which challenged riders to adjust their tactics making for exciting spectating. Audiences stuck around, donning raincoats and pulling out singles for “dollar bill hand-ups” (a cyclocross tradition), and enjoyed some sticky competition. To close out the weekend, the pro athlete winners were again Maghalie Rochette for the women and Loris Rouiller for the men.

Go Cross 2023 by the numbers

  • 921 racers – up four percent over 2022
  • 30 states and three countries represented
  • Live-streamed in 20 languages
  • 100,000 daily impressions on Global Cycling Network
  • $414,000 in economic impact

So, what is national cycling media saying about Go Cross and Virginia’s Blue Ridge? Catch the coverage of this year’s race:

Want to check out the livestream? Both days are available on Global Cycling Network, as well as tons of other cycling videos. Here are some highlights from day 1 women and men.

Photo recap from Go Cross