Recap/Results

The cyclocross dust has settled at George Davis Softball Park, and the 2025 Capital City Cross delivered in spades - fierce racing, new categories, and fun for all ages.

Highlights & Firsts

• Juniors & Kids Races: As always, juniors and kids raced free, giving young riders a taste of cyclocross fun.

• Cat 5 Beginners & Clinic Tie-In: The Cat 5 only race tied into the early season beginner clinic - a perfect bridge for new racers.

• New Master 65+ Category: A welcome addition that brought more inclusivity to the masters field.

• Singlespeed Showdown: Saturday’s “Find Your Speed” race brought grit and glory, capping off the day with intensity.

• Handlebar Race Debut: On Sunday, riders put their feet to the course - but had to carry handlebars the entire lap. Entry was $5, half the pot went to Des Moines Street Collective, the other half to the winner. 

RESULTS

• SAT - USA Cycling Results
• SUN - USA Cycling Results

PHOTOS & VIDEO

• Podium Photos - Coming soon!

• Mable Media - Dave Mable did a GREAT job capturing the moment all weekend!
Like his photos? Buy him a coffee, or make a donation on Venmo at @David-Mable.

• SAT PHOTOS
• SUN PHOTOS

Have a gallery of photos you'd like us to share?  email Scott at Biker@BIKEIOWA.com with the link!

VIDEO - Master's Race - Sunday

Sponsors & Support

Huge thanks to our event partners:

• Christopher’s Fine Jewelry / Christopher’s Rare Coins  - Men's & Women's Cat 1/2/3 Race Sponsor for Sat & Sun! 
• Stew Hansen Collision Center - Ensuring ALL Juniors RACE FOR FREE and covering the USAC officials expenses for Sat & Sun!
  
• Hildreth Construction Services - All Junior Prizing for Sat & Sun!
  
• Cumming Tap - Men's 3/4 races
• Serena Harris Realtor - Men's & Women's Cat 5 races - Both days!
• SingleSpeed Brewing Co. - "Find Your Speed SingleSpeed Race" - Sat!
• KEG 1 / Iowa Beverage, el Bait Shop, SingleSpeed Brewing Co. (BIKEIOWA Racing Team support)

Venue & Experience

George Davis Park offered more than flat softball fields - course designers wove in a great flow that offered flowing hooks, punchy climbs and descents, barriers, and technical sections that kept racers and spectators on their toes. Spectators were treated to multiple vantage points, cowbells, and non-stop action.

What’s Next

• Points from Capital City Cross fed into the 2025 Singlespeed Cyclocross Series, continuing the season-long chase for top honors.

• The series heads into more Iowa venues - expect more grit, more rivalry, and more fun.

 For the rest of the cyclocross races and practices, check the BIKEIOWA.com/CROSS

Description

Cyclocross

Distance - timed event

Pedal into the Heart of Central Iowa’s Cyclocross Scene.

Since 2008, Capital City Cross has been a cornerstone of the Central Iowa Cyclocross scene, igniting the local cycling community with energy, competition, and camaraderie. This annual event continues to attract cyclists of all ages and abilities from across Iowa and beyond, offering a vibrant and inclusive racing experience that showcases the best of our region's cycling culture. Read our new Feature - Iowa Cyclocross: A Thriving Scene in the Heartland.

REGISTER ONLINE

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UPDATES

• 9/24 - Be sure to bring your own handlebars for Sunday's Handlebar Race - Make sure the bar-ends are capped!! You can also buy some in advance for $10 at the Des Moines Street Collective.
• 9/23 - New Race Sponsor! - Serena Harris Realtor - Men's & Women's Cat 5 races - Both days!
  
• 9/19 - New Race Sponsor - Hildreth Construction Services - All Junior Prizes for Sat & Sun!
• 9/18 - New Race Sponsor! - SingleSpeed Brewing Co. - SingleSpeed Race & Beer Sponsor - Sat
• 9/18 - New Race Sponsor! - Cumming Tap - Men's Cat 3/4 races - Both days!
• 9/14 - New Race Sponsor! - Stew Hansen Collision Center - Ensuring ALL Juniors RACE FOR FREE and covering the USAC officials expenses for Sat & Sun!
• 9/12 - New Race Sponsor! - Christopher’s Fine Jewelry / Christopher’s Rare Coins - Men's & Women's Cat 1/2/3 races for Sat & Sun!
  
• 9/3 - chose Des Moines Street Collective as recipient for Handlebar Race proceeds.
• 8/18 - Registration opened
• 8/18 - Facebook Event created
• 8/18 - Announced FREE Sat Kid's Race and Juniors Race for FREE - Both days! 
• 8/18 - Announced Singlespeed Race on Sat and Handlebar Race on Sun!
• 8/18 - Added discount for 2nd race of the day
• 8/17 - Added Men's & Women's Master's 65+ category
• 5/27 - USAC Permit filed
• 3/31 - Event posted

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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

With USA Cycling sanctioning, the event promises high-caliber racing and national recognition, drawing elite riders chasing national ranking points. Over two days, cyclists of all ages and abilities will compete in a series of fun and challenging races.

• Day 1 - Saturday, September 27, 2025
  
  
• Day 2 - Sunday, September 28, 2025
  
  

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PROMO VIDEO

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VENUE

George Davis Softball Park (it might sound boring and flat, but it's not)

BEGINNER FRIENDLY
Haven't raced before? This is a perfect place to see if you like cross. Show up early to get a little practice. Better yet, show up at the Tuesday night practices and try it out! You don't even need a special bike. Mountain bikes and fat bikes work great. All you need is: two wheels, a brake on each wheel, a freewheel, and handlebar ends that do not point forward or up. Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.

SUPER SPECTATOR FRIENDLY
If you have never been to a cyclocross race, you are missing out! This is FREE entertainment at its best! There is action everywhere and you can watch the race from several vantage points! Kick back for an afternoon and watch cyclocross! Bring lawn chairs and park yourself, or walk about and check out the whole course.

CAT 5 ONLY RACE
New for 2025, a Cat 5 (beginner only) race that coincides with the Sept 9th Beginner Cyclocross Clinic.

FREE KIDS RACE

We’re excited to invite all the little future cyclocross stars to join us for a FREE Kid’s Cyclocross Race at 11:15am. This is a fantastic opportunity for kids under 9 to experience the thrill of cyclocross on a shortened course designed just for them. Each kid will receive their own race number, giving them the full race-day experience! It’s all about having fun and getting active. Just bring your bike, helmet, and a big smile! Please register sign the waiver by 10:15am. Register day of  for this race.

BEGINNER CLINIC - Tuesday, September 9th
BIKEIOWA will host a Beginner Cyclocross Clinic designed specifically for newcomers and riders looking to polish their skills before the season heats up. This hands-on evening will cover the basics: bike handling, cornering, dismounts, remounts, barrier techniques, and tips for navigating the varied terrain cyclocross throws your way.

SINGLESPEED RACE on Saturday, September 27th - BACK for 2025!
Wrap up your day at Capital City Cross with a blast in our Singlespeed Race - the final and fiercest race of Saturday! No shifting, just grit, grease, and glory as single-speed riders battle it out on the course.

HANDLEBAR RACE on Sunday, September 28th - NEW for 2025!
What is it? Inspired by this video, we challenge you to run one lap of the cyclocross course. The catch is you must hold onto a handlebar (with both hands) for the entire race! Hopefully hilarity will ensue. Entry is only $5 and the winner goes home with half the pot while the other half will go to a charity (Des Moines Street Collective). Bring your own handlebars. Make sure they have bar-ends!

PARKING

Plenty of parking at the venue - use the concrete parking lot near the softball complex. If it is dry, we can park on the non-curbed grass edge. Do NOT park on the grass if wet. Do NOT jump a curb to park on the grass.

FROM OUT OF TOWN?
You are closer to Altoona's amenities than Des Moines where there are plenty of great restaurants and hotels.

DIRECTIONS

Google it - George Davis Softball Park, 4980 NE 46th St, Des Moines, IA 50317

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FINE PRINT

• USAC permit - 2025-11125
• USAC license needed – A 1-day license can be purchased online when you register and day-of for $15 on top of the registration fee
  
• Online Registration link below. Day-of is $15 more for each race (waived for Juniors and Cat5)
• $10 for second race, same day, same rider
  
• Everyone must sign a waiver (BikeReg waiver is online when you register)
• Helmet required
  
• Restrooms - Kybos on site and the softball complex restrooms will be open on SUN
• Food & Drink - Bring your own. The softball complex concession stand (by softball complex) - Only open on Sunday - 10am to 5pm - Please support the venue. 
• Bike Wash - none - but there are several car washes within 2-3 miles of the venue.
  
• Questions? contact Scott - biker@bikeiowa.com

 

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THANKS TO OUR RACE SPONSORS

We couldn't host this RACE without sponsors!!

• Christopher’s Fine Jewelry / Christopher’s Rare Coins  - Men's & Women's Cat 1/2/3 Race Sponsor for Sat & Sun! 
• Stew Hansen Collision Center - Ensuring ALL Juniors RACE FOR FREE and covering the USAC officials expenses for Sat & Sun!
  
• Hildreth Construction Services - All Junior Prizing for Sat & Sun!
  
• Cumming Tap - Men's 3/4 races
• Serena Harris Realtor - Men's & Women's Cat 5 races - Both days!
• SingleSpeed Brewing Co. - "Find Your Speed SingleSpeed Race" - Sat!

Interested in becoming a sponsor?  email Biker@BIKEIOWA.com if interested!

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THANKS
Thanks to KEG 1 (formally Iowa Beverage) who sponsors BIKEIOWA with all the Miller Lite banners along the course and for el Bait Shop  and SingleSpeed Brewing Co. who sponsors the BIKEIOWA RACING TEAM.

WANT MORE CROSS?
Check out BIKEIOWA.com/CROSS for all events. news, etc. and Iowa Bicycle Racing Association (IBRA) for upcoming cycling events in Iowa.

Route

Course will be different for each day.

Join us for practice on Sept 16th to get a partial course preview!

Here are some videos from 2024

Sat - Master's Men - 1.5 laps
Sun - Master's Men - 1.5 laps
Sun - Men Cat 3/4 - 1.5 laps

View of Sept 10th 2023 practice and Video of a practice there Oct 2023.

Registration

REGISTER ONLINE

• Payouts & Prizes are some of the best in Iowa!
• Juniors race for FREE !
• Women's Races are discounted!
• Cat 5 Races are discounted!
• 65+ Men's Master's Races are NEW for 2025

Contact

Scott Sumpter

biker@bikeiowa.com

Jason Scholbrock

jaybrock17@yahoo.com