Rollercoasters, dragons and the steepest run up in cyclocross

When you’re asked to imagine a Scottish Cyclocross scene in your head, for many, Irvine will be one of the first pictures they paint.

Set against a backdrop of sea and sand, it’s something different. It also has a rich history of CX racing, recently hosting two memorable rounds of the British National Trophy Series, which produced fast, exciting racing.

This year Irvine will host the Scottish Cyclocross Championships, which doubles up as the final round of the SCX Series, and whilst there will be a lot at stake on Sunday 1st December, there is also a lot of fun to be had. To get you excited, we caught up with the effervescent Alan Anderson, now joint organiser, to get his take.

“So, Hannah [Kemlo] and I have been organising triathlons, sportives and other extreme multi-sport races for over 10 years, and we both absolutely loved it when we we’re either racing or working on the old Irvine course. Scott and the Walkers guys were organising it, but when they said that they were retiring, we knew this was a story cyclocross in Scotland needed, with the sand, and we loved the course, so we threw our hats in the rings and said, ‘look, we love it down at Irvine it would be absolutely devastating to see it go so we’ll take it on’.”

“We know how much 80% of the riders, love it. The other 20% find it infuriating with the sand, but they still turn up! So, we took on the demand to keeping it going and I think even the 20% who don't necessarily go well, I think they still appreciate it for what it is.

“It’s a beloved course, an iconic setting and it’s very different to every other course on the Scottish circuit - you’ve got to go to Holland to experience something similar. But actually you don't have to – you can stay at home and do it, plus they don't get to look at Arran when they're doing it!”

Hannah (or is that Alan) and Alan - HalloX 2017

Rollercoasters

Whilst each version brings it’s own story and challenge, there have been different versions of the Irvine course down the years, and it’s all change again in 2024, as Anderson explains.

“North Ayrshire Council are doing extensive construction works, which start at the end of this summer down at Irvine Beach. There's going to be a new hotel being built, new restaurants, new play parks and things like that, which cuts away half or even three quarters of the area the trophy course used, so that's why we're having to move south, back towards the old SCX course from 5, 6, 7 years ago.

“What we did last year and the year before was using one of the most beloved parts of the old Irvine course in the rollercoasters. But we’ve changed the use of the dunes to incorporate the two rollercoasters from the past two years, and we’re going to be able to incorporate the old rollercoaster!

“There is also going to be more sand than there has been for the past five years. We still have, use of the big sand pit, but we won’t have the long sand run going to the north on the way back. But what we do have is the old the old sand path that runs parallel to the sea, with the dune on one side, taking you in a southerly direction. You're going to do the sections of the trophy course that you've done for the past four or five years, but you do them in reverse now, to link up with the old course.”

So what about ground conditions, and what skills should you be working on to prepare yourself for the Champs?

“Irvine does not get muddy at all. The ground, and the grass itself is always solid, so it's an incredibly fast cyclocross course, except when you're in the sand, when it's incredibly slow and needs a lot of power!

“The dunes themselves are 25/30% gradients, so the top end of each category will be able to cycle up the dunes. The rest you will be running up the dunes. So, tire choice will be very interesting, because you want to have slick tyres for fast grass, but you also want to have grippy tires for the uphills. You want hard pressure for the fast grass, but you really want a low pressure for the sand. So that is, that's where there's going to be really tricky decisions to be made!”

Turtles & Dragons

You may have read the clickbait headline and expected fables, but we only speak the truth here at the SCX.

Preparing a race venue starts weeks and months before, with organisers coming up with new features, cutting back and tidying up sections of the course, all so they’re ready for the big day. But sometimes you’re thrown a last minute curveball, and on the day of the 2015 edition, the team got quite the surprise.

“We had to move a leather back turtle from the course! There had been a hurricane in the Caribbean, and it had been swept in the Gulf Stream up onto the dunes - we had to get the wildlife people out to help us move it!”

A Turtle maybe, but surely not a dragon?

“There's a dragon on top of one the dunes!”

As this author had to do, consult Google Maps if you want some evidence!

“What was great about the Trophy course is that you could see 95% of the course from any point on the course, so you had this great visibility as a spectator.

“What was not so great about the old, old course is that you could only see snippets, and then you had to wait for a minute, and then you see them again. As a spectator, standing on the dragon, you will be able to see almost the entire course below you.”

Biggest run up in British cross

If you know Alan Anderson, you’ll know he’s loud and extremely enthusiastic, and those traits certainly came to the fore when describing the course’s newest addition.

“I believe we’ve got the tallest and steepest run up in British cyclocross!”

“What we’re including is going to make the wall in Falkirk look like a step! It’s twice the height of that! It’s going to be the most spectacular place to watch a race. You can see the start. You can see the finish. You can see the roller coasters, plural, and you can see the run ups on the other side. It's just going to be an immense place to be a spectator, and could become the Montrose Street of Scottish Cyclocross!”

Team Relay

We mentioned Alan’s enthusiasm, and couple with Hannah’s eye for detail, the dynamic duo are setting out to create a full weekend of cyclocross heaven.

“The amount of people that we’ve seen in previous years coming down on the Saturday to practice when we've been building the course has been huge. In fact, Keith Stocker and Andy Strathdee ran a junior coaching session for the Scottish Cycling RACE programme on the Saturday last year - I thought I’d taped the course in an aggressive way that you wouldn't be able to ride up certain sections, and then these 14/15 year old kids were absolutely smashing it!

“So we’re going to be running a Team Relay on the Saturday, which will be a good way for us to see how it runs and see what tweaks that we make for the Sunday, to make it slightly more difficult for the Championship race.”

Whilst the exact format is still to be finalised, the Team Relay is likely to feature teams of three or four riders, with at least one female rider per team and at least one Vet 40+ rider per team. Alan and Hannah will also be organising a Cross Duathlon as well, which will be a 2.5km run on the sand, cycle four laps of the course, and then run another 2.5km, so it’ll be a full weekend of cyclocross!

As with all the SCX races, Irvine will feature a completely separate kids course for the u12s and below, which will feature mini-rollercoasters and sand, so it will test their riding skills too, and give them a feel for the full course.

“It’s not the flat Irvine kids races of old, which we think is great”, adds Anderson.

Atmosphere

As with all National Champs, the team are hoping to create a brilliant atmosphere, Alan hoping things will be in order so he can get on the mic and whip up some noise. They have the iconic course, they have the backdrop, but they’ll also have food trucks and the like, and are encouraging people to make a weekend of it, with the double, or even triple (!) racing opportunity.

“We want it to be an amazing weekend and would love to have 500 people racing on the Sunday, and hopefully at least 20 teams in the relay on the Saturday.”

Thinking back to previous editions, we asked Anderson what moments stood out in his mind.

“The iconic moments for me in the past have always been that first entrance into the sandpit, where everyone is going for the hole shot and they want to be first into the sandpit, otherwise you’ll get held up by someone who’s face planted! That’s the iconic photo of Irvine!

Get a feel for it by clicking here

We couldn’t finish without some quickfire questions, and here’s what Alan had to say.

Favourite rider: Cammy Mason... But can someone teach him how to sprint on the start straight!

Teacake or Wafer: Neither. Millionaire Shortbread.

Irn Bru or Coke: Coke.

Shimano or Sram: Shimano.

Favourite course: Zonhoven. The crowds and the noise in the sandpits are amazing.

Big thanks to Alan for being so generous with his time – the 1st December and the biggest day in Scottish Cyclocross will be here before we know it!

And if you haven’t already, get your entry in today