The Crosscast

Neil Mansfield, Matt Payne, Xan Crees and guests

Neil Mansfield, Matt Payne, Xan Crees and special guests talk about World, European and UK cyclocross. Follow us on @TheCrosscast @CrosscastNeil @XanCrees and @MattFixerPayne. And give us a like on Facebook and Instagram.  Support us at https://buymeacoffee.com/crosscast. Neil Mansfield 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. Matt Payne 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. Xan Crees is a double British Elite Women's champion, having taken titles in both gravel and cyclocross.  Now racing the pro-circuit as an elite, she has been a cyclocrosser at heart since she was a youth.  With first hand experience of pretty much every course out there, and knowing how to win UCI races, she brings the insight of a pro-athlete. The music is by Steep and used under a CC license.

  1. The Crosscast S9E13 Cyclocross season reflections and looking forward to 2026-27 with a GB World Cup

    4D AGO

    The Crosscast S9E13 Cyclocross season reflections and looking forward to 2026-27 with a GB World Cup

    In Episode 13 of Season 9, Neil, Xan, and Matt look back on the 2025-26 cyclocross season.  They talk through the World Cup, which they agree had zero duff rounds this year, but are disappointed that Terralba is missing from next year, just as it is finding its identity.   They reflect on the rules on scoring for Superprestige, that meant points-tied Van Alphen took the series ahead of Fouquenet, despite having zero wins and fewer head-to-head victories and finishing behind in the last round.   Whilst the X2O series is clear at the sharp end, there remains an odd rule where those getting 80%d (i.e. lapped) or DNF appear to have a better series outcome than those finishing at the back end of the lead lap.  Neil has homework... next season he promises to track it to look at strategies. They also look back at the Rising Stars and those Struggling to Shine last year. Of course they look forward to the 2026-27 season with the Glasgow World Cup, and note some interesting calendar details, such as a very early Dendermonde, and the current lack of a Hope Supercross series. Finally, they gives a heads-up on some of the rule changes, including a dispensation for bar width in the UK (for some races, but not all), and the ultra important rule on race celebrations for youth riders. 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 Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield @crosscastneil is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne @mattfixerpayne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees @xancrees races for OGT USE.

    1h 16m
  2. The Crosscast S9E10 National Champs Cyclocross and 26/27 Trophy. Benidorm Maasmech & Hoogerheide

    JAN 22

    The Crosscast S9E10 National Champs Cyclocross and 26/27 Trophy. Benidorm Maasmech & Hoogerheide

    In Episode 10 of Season 9, Neil, Xan and Matt look back on the National Championships from South Shields.  Xan looks back on her race and her second place finish, after doing the jersey proud for the past 12 months.  Neil also revisits the weekend where he was also racing and working with Grity. They give their views on the planned changes to the National Trophy Series that will be introduced next year.  There is a lot to look forward to and things will be different.  Whilst they welcome a much-needed refresh the devil will be in the detail, and the reduced number of UCI rounds will be missed. They also look back on the Benidorm World Cup, which Matt was commentating on the UCI World Feed, and in which Xan was racing.  The races turned out to be really entertaining and another opportunity to show how the venue would make a credible World Champs. In the Laatste Ronde, they look forward to the next two World Cups - Maasmechelen and Hoogerheide.  Both races have given us fantastic action in the past and will be under the spotlight as Xan takes to the start, and Matt puts words to the action. 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 Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield @crosscastneil is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne @mattfixerpayne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees @xancrees races for OGT USE.

    1h 17m
  3. The Crosscast S9E09 National Champs incoming! Irvine and Kerste Periode Part 2

    JAN 8

    The Crosscast S9E09 National Champs incoming! Irvine and Kerste Periode Part 2

    In Episode 9 of Season 9 Neil, Xan and Matt look back on their highly committed many hours of cyclocross watching, racing, working and commentating with a look back on the second half of the Kerste Periode.  They send comiserations to those riders crashing out for the end of the season and hope for quick recoveries.   They look back on the final round of the National Trophy that came from Irvine.  It was a magnificent event, that proved very popular amongst those who made the trip to Ayrshire.  Neil gives the details of his race and reports back on the overalls.   In the Laatste Ronde they look forward to the National Championships that are due to come from South Shields in the UK.  They review the course, and the front runners for the elite men and elite women.  They also discuss the live coverage that will be provided on YouTube. They also touch on other key National Champs including a mini preview of the Ireland course. 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 Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield @crosscastneil is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne @mattfixerpayne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees @xancrees races for OGT USE.

    1h 27m
  4. The Crosscast S9E07 Bradford Namur and Kortrijk, preview of Antwerp, Zolder, Koksijde and Gavere

    12/18/2025

    The Crosscast S9E07 Bradford Namur and Kortrijk, preview of Antwerp, Zolder, Koksijde and Gavere

    In Episode 7 of Season 9 Neil, Xan and Matt jump into a mega few weeks of  cyclocross goodness. Neil reports back on Hunsworth National Trophy with its December mud, cracking course, and great atmosphere. They mention the parking nightmare that unfolded - oof. Neil also reports back on his local racing at a very old classic venue, and compares notes with Xan who was bringing in a top 6 at Kortrijk and getting a solid amount of TV-time for her stripy jersey and shiny new Van Rysel bikes. They review Namur with what was some frankly goose bumpy racing that has to go down as one of the most impressive men's and women's races for some time. With the return of Neff being a treat, Pieterse a treat², and Van der Poel a treat³ we had skills, personality, battles, and power galore. Xan gives the insight into how it was on the ground, especially those bits where Nys and Van der Poel were... on the ground. They give a bit of a PSA regarding bar width ready for rule changes and then preview the upcoming bunch of races coming from Antwerp, Koksijde, Gavere, Zolder. SO MUCH to look forward to. Neil wonders... will the Koksijde results compare to 2015 when it was: (daddy) Nys, Van Aert, Van der Poel, Van der Haar, Sweeck, Meeusen, Aerts. 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 Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield @crosscastneil is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne @mattfixerpayne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees @xancrees races for OGT USE.

    1h 12m
  5. The Crosscast S9E06🎈EPISODE 100🎈Tabor & Flammanville review; preview of Tong Trophy, Cabras & Namur

    12/03/2025

    The Crosscast S9E06🎈EPISODE 100🎈Tabor & Flammanville review; preview of Tong Trophy, Cabras & Namur

    It is Crosscast Episode 100.  Thanks to all of you who have been here since the start, and we've loved collecting listeners over the years. In Episode 6 of Season 9, Neil, Xan, and Matt cast their minds back to a frozen Tabor which turned out to be a classic.  Great racing, incident-packed action and skills and power both on display.  Xan talks us through her race with her cracking start meaning that missed the early melee while the race settled down.  The men's race had so many great performances, marking ingredients that could give us a super season. They also think back to Flamanville which was a total contrast to Tabor, and tricky in lots of different ways.  They talk through how both Nys and Mason have matured markedly for this year. In the Laatste Ronde, they preview Round 5 of the National Trophy that will come from Tong / Bradford / Hunsworth (choose your title) as well as Cabras / Sardinia / Terralba (choose your title) World Cup with its microscopic start list, and Namur that will be awesome because it always is. Neil bumbles through an attempt to explain why he really likes Kortrijk, and Xan nails it in one go! 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 Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield @crosscastneil is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne @mattfixerpayne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees @xancrees races for OGT USE.

    1h 18m

About

Neil Mansfield, Matt Payne, Xan Crees and special guests talk about World, European and UK cyclocross. Follow us on @TheCrosscast @CrosscastNeil @XanCrees and @MattFixerPayne. And give us a like on Facebook and Instagram.  Support us at https://buymeacoffee.com/crosscast. Neil Mansfield 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. Matt Payne 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. Xan Crees is a double British Elite Women's champion, having taken titles in both gravel and cyclocross.  Now racing the pro-circuit as an elite, she has been a cyclocrosser at heart since she was a youth.  With first hand experience of pretty much every course out there, and knowing how to win UCI races, she brings the insight of a pro-athlete. The music is by Steep and used under a CC license.

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