The Crosscast

<p><b>Neil Mansfield, Matt Payne and special guests talk about World, European and UK cyclocross.</b> Follow us on @TheCrosscast @CrosscastNeil and @MattFixerPayne. And give us a like on Facebook and Instagram.<br /><b>Neil Mansfield</b> is the host of the show and the cyclocross uber-geek. He races for Grity Race Team and his family all love cross. He has been podcasting since 2015 and over-analysing racing using spreadsheets for a lot longer. He helps Caroline (Mrs M) run Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel. Find out more at https://linktr.ee/crosscastneil. <br /><b>Matt Payne</b> is the voice of British cyclocross having been on the mic for all of the big races for years. He is a professional commentator regularly heard at raceside, and also on TV and streamed coverage for all cycling disciplines. He has long experience of professional race promotion, but also a passion for grass-roots opportunity from being the brains and voice of e-Sports to UCI commentary, to organising local league races.</p>

The Crosscast S9E03 Falkirk Review, Xan in Sweden, Clanfield Preview

In episode 3 of season 9 Neil Xan and Matt review the Falkirk National Trophy with its tough course, and wet conditions. Neil reflects on his experiences, and how the racing unfolded over the weekend. Meanwhile Xan returned to Sweden where she had a successful series of 4 races, with a win and two further podiums... a first UCI win in the National Champs jersey. They return to the topic of race entry field size, and the viability of the National Trophy series in its current form....

10-23
01:14:21

The Crosscast S9E02 3 Peaks and Derby... Falkirk preview

In Episode 2 of Season 9 Neil, Xan, and Matt review the Three Peaks, the legendary race that Neil raced, Xan pitted, and Matt watched from the social feeds. Neil recounts his own experience where despite a Pen Y Ghent prang, him and Lotta won the parent-daughter category. They also look at the sharp end where Jenson Young took the course record to take the win along with Briony Halcrow in a really interesting field. They also review round 1 of the Derby National Trophy with its changing...

10-09
01:09:51

The Crosscast S9E01 Hope Supercross and 3 Peaks Preview

In Episode 1 of Season 9, Neil, Matt and Xan are back after a summer on the mic and on the bike... Neil got an injury and also a win, Xan dropped the watts on crits and grave, and Matt has been putting words to World Championships MTB, as well as road racing and e-sports. They look back at the Hope Supercross series with four UCI races in 9 days. Whilst all on the same course, there was variety due to the weather and the night racing. It did give an early indication of those who ...

09-24
01:14:33

The Crosscast S8E13 World Champs review and 25-26 season preview

In Episode 13 of season 8 Neil, Matt and Xan review the Lievin World Champs with its magnificent team relay that was exciting even with just the live timing. They cover all the races and The Crosscast Podium Picker competition in which Xan proved her expertise unlike Matt and Neil who didn’t have a great year! Was the course exciting, dull, challenging, or just confusing? What do you think? In the Laatste Ronde they look forward to a much changed National Trophy calendar an...

02-13
01:33:42

The Crosscast S8E12 World Champs Preview ¦ World Cup Finale

In Episode 12 of Season 8, Neil, Matt and Xan unpack a pair of tough races that rounded out the World Cup. Xan gives her on-the-ground review of just how tough they were, at the technical-tastic Maasmechelen and total classic of Hoogerheide. They give thoughts on the World Cup as whole and whether the compressed calendar worked. The most important competition of the year is on us all! Yes it is YOUR chance to compete in the annual Crosscast Podium Picker Competition at ti...

01-30
01:26:34

The Crosscast S8E11 World Champs Selections and World Cup Finale

In Episode 11 of Season 8, Neil, Matt and Xan look back on the recent goings on in the world of cross. In a show that has more ups and downs than the Loenhout washboard (AKA the 'oopsie whoopsies') they travel from the ice of Cyclopark to the Mediterranean sunshine of Benidorm. This week the National Body has received a lot of criticism and they unpack the issues surrounding World Championships Selection and the decisions not to fill places in the Elite Women and U23 Men categories.&nb...

01-23
01:24:19

The Crosscast S8E10 National Champs LIVE with new elite champ Xan Crees

CROSSCAST LIVE from Cyclopark Gravesend. Live from the cafe, Neil Matt and Xan talk through the action from the National Champs. The big news is that Xan did it - she is National Elite Cyclocross Champion! Awesome. Support the show -- To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps! You can watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@TheCrosscastCyclocross Follow us on Insta and Fa...

01-13
41:53

The Crosscast S8E09 National Champs Cyclopark preview and another National Trophy Weather Victim

In Episode 9 of Season 8, Neil Matt and Xan look back on the end of the 2024-2025 Kerste Periode remembering an entertaining Baal with Van Empel only leading the race for about 1 metre (the most important 1 metre), and Iserbyt at his best. Koksijde added Sweeck to the list of legends, and Dendermonde was somehow a great watch despite some dominant rides and its usually ultra mud bath course. The talk about Xans' peak in form with best ever result in a Belgian World Cup coming ju...

01-09
01:32:17

The Crosscast S8E08 Kerste review, van der Poel dominance, Bradford Trophy Preview

In Episode 8 of Season 8 Neil, Matt and Xan catch up in the middle of the busiest time of the CX calendar, the Kerste Periode. With so much action they bring you a full show covering classics such as Zonhoven and Hulst, Diegem and Loenhout, with a decent look at Besancon. Xan takes us through her experiences racing on some of the most challenging parcours of the year, and gives us insight into how she approached the barrage of huge fields, winter weather, and technical features. Despi...

01-01
01:25:09

The Crosscast S8E07 Cancellations and Crashes - Xan at Namur, and Kerste Preview

In Episode 7 of Season 8 Neil, Matt and Xan catch up after a memorable few weeks… and Xan tells us how she is after her TV-time and horrible incident on the Namur bank. They catch up on what happened and what didn’t at Clanfield National Trophy and Cabras / Namur World Cups. Neil raced day 1 of Clanfield (25th and fun had 😊) as did the regional champs crews in a very welcome and successful return to regional competitions. The main winner of the Clanfield / Cabras UCI week...

12-17
01:19:54

The Crosscast S8E06 Clanfield preview and World Cup kickoff

In Episode 6 of Season 8 Neil and Matt are joined by Xan after her adventures at the World Cup that kicked off in Antwerp and then in Dublin. Xan gives us all the details of the course from a rider's view with insights on the course, the atmosphere, the (lack of) grip, and we have to say it is awesome to see that Xan has got the top 50 World Ranking that has been a target for a while - ace job! Meanwhile Matt gives us insights on what they were doing to the sand that he could se...

12-04
01:13:31

The Crosscast S8E05 Torbay Thrills and World Cup preview

In Episode 5 of Season 8 Neil and Matt (and TheGrityKitty) catch up on Round 3 of the National Trophy that came from Torbay and delivered an unexpected fast and dry(ish) course with technical flow. They talk through the tactical racing and even dip into a few stats comparing this year to last year. Neil corrects an error from last show and educates himself on Pearson Bikes and DAS. They reflect on the grim course from Niel, and talk about how individual features like ‘the Hamme b...

11-21
01:26:05

The Crosscast S8E04 South Shields and Koppenburg, and looking forward to Torbay

In Episode 4 of season 8 Neil Matt and Xan look back on the past few weeks of racing. This included Xan’s ongoing adventures in Sweden as well as her return to the Koppenburg. Matt is back from the 2024 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships, and whilst the tech remained bug free… he got infected by a virus and so a little croaky today 🦠. They look back on the south Shields National trophy where both Neil and Xan were racing. The course was fast, but remained a challenge. It shou...

11-06
01:07:45

The Crosscast S8E03 Xan in Sweden, Neil at the Peaks, all at Derby and what to expect at South Shields

In Epidode 3 of Season 8 Neil, Matt and Xan look back on One National Trophy, Two races in Sweden, and Three Peaks. They remember 2017’s Season 1 Episode 2 of The Crosscast when they mentioned Zoe Roche and Finlay Goodman who were U10s. Class shows… Zoe just won Juniors at the Derby National Trophy and Finlay just won the Junior World X-Terra title. Awesome. In Crosstalk, Neil re-lives a memorable 3 Peaks, that certainly went to plan… but maybe the plan wasn’t perfect? They talk through...

10-15
01:21:10

The Crosscast S8E02 Hope SX, 3 Peaks and Derby Trophy

In Episode 2 of Season 8 Neil and Matt are joined by Spectra’s Xan Crees fresh from her complete set of Hope Supercross finishes. They reflect on how the series has quickly become established and has attracted riders from across the world to the joys of Yorkshire Cross. They highlight who is standing out as starting the season on form and who has more to give. In the Laatste Ronde they preview the awesomeness that is the Three Peaks coming in a few days. Xan gives her top t...

09-24
01:12:20

The Crosscast S8E01 It's Crossmass!

In Episode 1 of Season 8, Neil and Matt look forward to the 2024-25 Cyclocross Season. It is a very strange one in terms of calendar that will come in a series of distinct chapters September is all about Yorkshire. We kick off with the Hope Supercross series of 4 UCI C2 races in the UK in a short block - a must for anyone chasing the UCI points. Then there is the diversion westwards for the Three Peaks which Neil is returning to… listen to Episodes 2 and 3 for his pla...

09-08
01:04:17

The Crosscast S7E12 - 24 World Champs review with Ian Field

In Episode 12 of Season 7, Neil Mansfield and Matt Payne are joined by Ian Field to review the 2024 World Championships that came from Tabor, Czechia. The weekend started with a compelling team relay where strategy was key, and where GB were just pipped to the line by France. Surely this race needs to be covered in full with dedicated graphics to make it more accessible to the less obsessive CX fans out there? They talk through how day 1 saw Gery take her second jersey of the wee...

02-07
01:25:54

The Crosscast S7E11 - Pre-worlds prediction with Ian Field

In Episode 11 of Season 7, Neil and Matt are joined by cyclocross talent, coach extraordinaire, and commentator on Discovery+, Ian Field. They review the 14th round of the World Cup that came from Hoogerheide and query whose form is peaking when... some were at the end of a training block to prepare for the World Championships, and others seem to be coming along just nicely potentially challenging for a jersey next weekend. They discuss whether Belgian Cyclocross is going through a rou...

01-30
01:40:33

The Crosscast S7E10 - National Champs and Benidorm

In Episode 10 of Season 7 Neil and Matt look back on a fabulous Falkirk National Championships with its perfect January weather, superb location, awesome atmosphere and cracking course. They talk through each of the UCI category races, with Mason defending his jersey and Kay taking the title for the first time. Both were popular wins with the local crowd for Mason and Kay having been a CX pro for a while, and the win coming 5 years after her first time on the National elite podium. &nbs...

01-22
01:28:01

The Crosscast S7E09 - Trophies and Champs, review and preview

In Episode 9 of Season 7, Neil and Matt pull together a bumper show as a special for those of you who have long drive to Falkirk to watch or even race at the British National Cyclocross Championships. The final round of the 23-24 Trophy is reviewed, a race that came from Tong where a respectably rideable course was a great achievement for a race that coincided with serious floods and waterlogged ground across much of the UK. They also talk through what makes an event a success... and a...

01-10
01:48:42

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