Ohio Valley Cyclo-Cross History
While cyclo-cross racing in the Ohio Valley region goes back to the 70s (we'll try and chronicle this down the road), the beginnings of Ohio Valley Cyclo-Cross racing began with the 1998 Psychocross Series.
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History of Cyclo-Cross Racing
The following is from Wikipedia.org's article on Cyclocross
There are many stories about the origins of cyclo-cross. One is that European road racers in the early 1900s would race each other to the next town over from them and that they were allowed to cut through farmer's fields, over fences or take any other shortcuts in order to make it to the next town first. This was a way for them to stay in shape during the winter months and put a twist on road racing. In addition, riding off road in more difficult conditions than smooth pavement increased the intensity at which the cyclists were riding and improved their on the road bike handling abilities. Daniel Gousseau of France is credited as having inspired the first cyclo-cross races and organizing the first French National Championship in 1902. Géo Lefèvre, the originator of the idea for the Tour de France, also played a key role in the early days of the sport.
After Octave Lapize attributed his win in the 1910 Tour de France to his off season training in cyclo-cross the sport began to spread to countries bordering France. Belgium organized its first National Championship in 1910, Switzerland did so in 1912, then Luxembourg in 1923, Spain in 1929 and Italy in 1930.
Cyclo-cross proved itself as a sport extending beyond the boundaries of France when in 1924 the first international race, Le Critérium International de Cross-Country Cyclo-Pédestre, was held in Paris.
Like many international cycle sports, CX is administered by the Union Cycliste Internationale; although it wasn't until the 1940s, around 40 years after cyclo-cross' inception, that the UCI began its regulation and the first world championship was held in Paris in 1950.
Cyclo-cross began to become popular in the US in the 1970s and in 1975 the first US National Championship was held in Berkeley, CA
French Championships, March 1923
Photo from Le Miroir Des Sports, 08 Mar 1923 (www.blackbirdsf.org)
Cross Cyclo-pédestre de Choisy-le-Roi, Dec 1926
Photo from Le Miroir Des Sports, 14 Dec 1926 (www.blackbirdsf.org)