ALL SPRAY: Ryan De Lange makes a splash in the cyclocross at Upper Hutt.

DANYON Graham didn’t know about  the 2010 Cyclocross cycle racing series until a few days before the race.

So he was as surprised as anyone when he won the novice race.

Pictured at right, Danyon (17), who entered with a friend, says cyclocross is good for speed building because of the short course, which helps with his other bike sports, road cycling and mountain biking.

He plans to continue cyclocross racing, entering two more races in the series, which began in Upper Hutt last weekend.

The first day of racing – the Independence Day Race – attracted 60 riders to Trentham Memorial Park.

The sport is growing in popularity in New Zealand, with many competitors using bikes roughly resembling road racing cycles.

The race, consists of several laps of a short course, requiring the riders to dismount frequently, carry their bikes over obstacles and remount quickly and smoothly, without losing speed.

Event organiser Mike Anderson says cyclocross is hugely popular in Europe and America, attracting crowds of 10,000 at the bigger races in Portland, Oregon or Belgium, Holland, France.

Many professional road cyclists use cyclocross for training.

“Cyclocross is a very effective way to boost aerobic fitness, improve power, and hone bike handling skills,” he says.

The 2010 Cyclocross Racing Series runs over four weekends, with the next two races held on July 18 and August 1 at California Park, Upper Hutt.

The final race is at on August 15.

The first 60-minute race was won by Stuart Houltham.

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