Whidbey Island Bicycle Club hosts state cyclocross championship

The Whidbey Island Bicycle Club is the new kid on the block when it comes to hosting cyclocross events, but that didn’t prevent the Washington State Bicycle Association from awarding the local club the honor of hosting the state championship Sunday, Dec. 11.

The WIBC sponsored its first cyclocross race, the Thanks Given’er, in 2014 at Fort Nugent Park. With that one race under its belt, it placed a bid to host the 2015 state championship.

The WSBC was reluctant to award its biggest race to a new venue, according to WIBC’s Brad Nelson. State officials, however, attended the 2015 Thanks Given’er and “really liked it,” Nelson said, and were so impressed that they chose Fort Nugent as the site of this year’s title race.

“We have a good track record even though this is only our third year,” he added. The WSBC “liked the course, which is a favorite among many of the racers.”

State officials were also impressed by Fort Nugent’s amenities, from its ample parking to its play ground, which provides a nice atmosphere for the families that follow the racers to the event.

Another plus is the park’s proximity to the city, which allows participants and fans easy access to other services, Nelson said. Most courses are set up in wooded areas away from city centers.

Nelson, Matt Plush and the WIBC pushed to bring the race to Oak Harbor, and the Chamber of Commerce and Oak Harbor parks department have been very supportive, according to Nelson.

“Some cities don’t see the value of hosting such an event,” Nelson said.

The City of Oak Harbor closes Fort Nugent Friday to allow for course preparation and then helps restore the park after the race, he added.

In addition to the state championship race Sunday, the WIBC will host the Thanks Given’er Saturday.

The Thanks Given’er is part of the Cascade Cross Series, a group of events in its 10th year with races from Oak Harbor to Ferndale that run from Labor Day through the second week of January.

Western Washington has two other cyclocross series, both in the Seattle area.

The Thanks Given’er generally attracts about 200 participants. The state championship race will bring about 400.

“We should draw a lot of riders out of Seattle,” Nelson said. “MFG (one of the Seattle series) has 1,000 members; they had 1,300 at their last race. We want them to see what we have to offer.”

The Thanks Given’er and the state championship aren’t just for elite racers — there will be divisions for all age levels and skills.

The state finals will have 17 categories, from novice racers to weekend warriors to professionals, Nelson said.

Race directors Nelson and Plush will set up the course and state officials will check to “see if it is up to par,” Nelson said.

An army of WIBC volunteers will allow Nelson to periodically step away from his race director duties and compete.

Nelson is one of the state’s top riders in the men’s single speed division, recently finishing second out of 140 in the MFG series.

Because of the enormity of the event, Nelson said the WIBC will not bid to host the championship race again for several years: “We’ll get back to the normal racing for a while then try again in a few years.”