MISSOULA — The Ranch Club hosted a cyclocross race on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2023, where the bicyclists had to go through the many obstacles that a golf course has to offer from the tough hills to the sandtraps and just about everything — except the water.
“Out here since it’s all grass it’s harder physically, it’s not harder technically — it’s harder to pedal the grass sucks your energy," explained event organizer Shaun Radley. "The rolling resistance is less, so you really have to be at the top of your fitness to ride a course like this.”
The event started with a race that included kids of all ages and some of their parents powering through the challenges the course had to offer. With cyclocross becoming a fast-growing sport in Missoula. the kids who are involved in the sport have gotten closer through friendly competition.
“I’ve made a lot of friends through this and just biking in general but like — a lot of the guys here have been really like fun to race with," Jack Peddy said. "And like there’s a competitive feel to it but we still have fun and just race our own race.”
Missoula will play host to the Pan-American Cyclocross Championships on Nov. 5 and Nov. 6, 2023.
