We are just a few days away from a big weekend in cyclocross. 

Downstaters will be flooding to Detroit for Mad Anthony, whilst the Northern Lower will descend on Petoskey for Northmen Cross. Both racers will have some serious firepower on hand as the CX season hits up and mountain bikers take to the barriers to make their final preparations for the Iceman Cometh.

Mad Anthony is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing events in the state, and organizers expect a huge turnout on Saturday. For the serious cyclocrosser, it’s a race that can’t be missed. No event has boasted large field sizes or developed such a cult-following as Mad Anthony.

But the Cross the Bay Series is going to get there, and soon. Race numero dos of the four part saga of ‘cross is this Sunday at Petoskey High School at high noon. After a star-studded field at Breezeway (including John Cowan, Jorden Wakeley, Chad Wells, Jason Lowetz, Ty Schmidt and John Leach, to name a few), the second edition may actually draw even more speed as a number of mountain bikers look to gain a little high-end fitness two weeks before the Iceman Cometh. It’s a program riders like Wes Sovis have returned to after using a KissCross event in 2011 to prepare for his first Iceman. The high intensity race at around 45 minutes makes it easy to get in a solid, tough test of fitness amid the last two weeks of heavy training.

kolo t.c. will have Northmen Cross coverage after the race, and will be looking for photos and updates from Mad Anthony into the late hours of Saturday evening.