There are not many events that could get nearly 1,200 people to Seattle’s Woodland Park on a cold, rainy Sunday in November. But the MFG Cyclocross Woodland Park Gran Prix pulled it off, with hundreds of cyclists ready and willing to get covered in mud in the name of cyclocross.

The sport of cyclocross occupies a unique niche in the cycling world. Races span multiple mile-and-a-half laps on a course that is anything but straightforward. Sunday’s course featured steep hills, sharp turns and even obstacles that forced riders to dismount unless they were skilled enough to hurdle them. Mike McGuffin, the operations manager at MFG, shared his perspective on designing the course.

“The key thing about cyclocross design is that you want to disrupt the rider’s rhythm,” McGuffin said. “They have to make a sharp turn or they have to get on and off their bike or do a really sharp uphill.”

McGuffin has been involved with cyclocross since 2011, when he traded Ironman triathlons for cycling. The Woodland Park race is a highlight of the year and has been held at the park for 15 years.

“It’s such a big event and it’s such a history that we have to live up to here,” McGuffin said. “We’re so proud to have over 1,000 racers here.”

Erik Olson, the co-founder of Off Camber Productions, works to put on the races every year. Part of the reason the race is so big is because it appeals to a wide range of competitors.

“What we’ve really focused on is providing nice venues and good courses for the advanced racers, but then being very welcoming toward beginners and children,” Olson said.

It is tough to find a place willing to host cyclocross races, which muddy up the course with their large winding pathways. Olson and McGuffin both mentioned their gratitude to Seattle Parks and Recreation for giving the event a home.

“There’s a long tradition of cyclocross in the Pacific Northwest,” Olson said. “We’ve had national championships here, UCI races, and high-level professional racers that have come here. So it’s kind of a cultural thing.”

Cyclocross culture is fascinating in itself. Participants dress up in unicorn costumes, dinosaur suits and other flashy outfits knowing full well they will be coated in mud and sweat. Stanley Goto raced in a banana suit, matching the energy of fellow cyclists in the single-speed category.

“This is the best race to dress up for because you’re already kind of dressing up if you’re in Lycra… but then you take it a step further,” Goto said.

Goto identified a certain type of person who is drawn to cyclocross.

“It’s like all the granola types of Seattle,” Goto laughed.

Conditions in the park were rainy and cold, with firepits dotting the spectator areas to keep everyone warm. Everyone seemed more than prepared for these conditions; they welcomed how the rain enhanced the muddy conditions on the course. Getting muddy is just a part of the tradition.

Another less official tradition of the Woodland Park Gran Prix is partying. Andy Abel and Greg Watlington, brothers-in-law who showed up to the race in Hawaiian shirts with a tandem bike, had been to multiple events but never raced before.

“Out of all of the different types of cyclists, cyclocross folks are the most fun. It’s the best party. Usually, there’s drinking and yelling and stuff,” Abel said.

The two purchased the tandem bike they went on to race with at Walmart in the days before the race. Abel had never ridden a tandem bike before, but their family is made up of cyclocross enthusiasts who always attend the event.

Casual categories like the single-speed, tandem and unicycle groups make it easy for folks to participate in a lower-stakes environment than the Category 4 races which feature professional cyclists.

“It’s a very open community. It’s very laid back but doesn’t take itself too seriously,” Watlington said.

Even with so many people in attendance, MFG Cyclocross is always encouraging people who have never participated before to give it a try. Any bike is allowed as long as it is safe to ride; no number of wheels is too few, no number of riders is too many.

While the 2024 season has come to an end with this event, the six-event series will return next fall. Keep an eye out for information on the 2025 MFG Cyclocross series on their website and keep an eye out for a segment on this event in episode nine of Campus Currents, coming soon on our YouTube channel.