*photos courtesy of Trek
Trek CX Cup: Where Cyclocross Culture Comes Home
Last weekend, the cyclocross world converged on an unlikely epicenter: Waterloo, WI. A small town that happens to be home to one of cycling's most iconic brands: Trek Bikes. The Trek CX Cup, held behind Trek Bicycle's global headquarters, isn't just the finale of North America's premier cyclocross series. It's a celebration of everything that makes cyclocross unique and special—a sport that doesn't take itself too seriously while delivering world-class athletic competition. Cyclocross is difficult to grasp, unless you're emerged in it.
The Race That Built a Festival
The very first Trek CX Cup was held in 2013 as more of a passion project among Trek employees. At the time, and for the first 4 years of the race, it was a stand-alone event, not associated with the USCX Cylocross Series. Even so, you could feel the potential this race had. Trek would even round up a handful of their world-renowned athletes to compete and build the energy. In 2017 Trek turned the race up a notch and became part of the USCX Cyclocross series. The Trek CX Cup now serves as the grand finale of the Trek USCX Cyclocross Series, the only 4-race UCI C1/C2 cyclocross series in North America. This designation places it among the highest levels of international cyclocross competition, attracting elite riders from around the globe. But what sets the Trek CX Cup apart isn't just the caliber of racing—it's the atmosphere.
Trek promotes the event as "more than a bike race—it's a whole weekend of fun," and they mean it. The weekend features great racing, live music, tons of giveaways and prizes from event sponsors, and an energy that transforms a corporate campus into a cycling carnival. Hyped-up crowds line the course, secret parties emerge in the wooded sections, and the line between spectator and participant blurs in the best possible way.
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*photos courtesy of Trek
World Class Competition in Trek's Backyard
The Trek CX Cup consistently attracts top professional talent from around the globe. Recent editions have showcased some of cyclocross's biggest names battling on Wisconsin soil.
In 2024, French rider Hélène Clauzel dominated the women's field with a perfect sweep of the entire Trek USCX Series, including both C1 and C2 races at the Trek CX Cup. Her eight-race winning streak was a masterclass in consistency and power. She faced fierce competition from Canadian standout Maghalie Rochette, the 2023 series champion and a UCI World Cup winner, who has become a fan favorite at the event.
On the men's side, Kerry Werner claimed his first USCX series title in 2024 with commanding performances at Waterloo, while Andrew Strohmeyer of CXD Trek Bikes proved the home team advantage with consistent podium finishes. Just recently in 2025, Eric Brunner secured a solo victory in the C1 race, while Rochette returned to the top step with her own commanding win. In years past, names like Mathieu van der Poel, Jens Voigt, Sven Nys, and Jeremy Powers have been seen on the course.
These aren't just domestic stars—they're riders who compete at the highest levels internationally, bringing World Cup experience and Olympic-caliber fitness to Trek's backyard. The level of cyclocross racing at the Trek CX Cup rivals events anywhere in the world, making it a must-see event for fans of the sport looking to see it at its best.
*photos courtesy of Trek
The Course: Where Geography Meets Challenge
The Trek CX Cup course embodies what makes cyclocross such a unique discipline. Spanning 3.2-kilometer laps, riders conquer flyovers, navigate off-camber turns, power up steep hills, and wind through technical wooded sections with thousands of screaming spectators keeping the energy turned up to 11 the entire way.
The terrain is part natural landscape, part human-made obstacle course—creating a race that demands versatility. Riders must be powerful climbers, skilled technical handlers, and strategic racers, all while managing their heart-rate over multiple laps at threshold intensity. It's a spectacle that's easy to appreciate even if you've never thrown a leg over a cyclocross bike.
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The Culture of Cyclocross
To understand the Trek CX Cup, you first need to understand cyclocross culture. Unlike the often serious, exclusive atmosphere of road racing, cyclocross embraces accessibility and celebration. Spectators attend the Trek CX Cup for free, removing barriers to entry and inviting the broader community to participate in the experience.
The Trek USCX Series philosophy emphasizes that each race venue serves as "a unique showcase of its region's geographical beauty and community culture." In Waterloo, this means celebrating Wisconsin's cycling heritage, Trek's role in building the modern bike industry, and the tight-knit community that's grown around both.
The sport's culture encourages cowbells, costumes, and creative heckling (the encouraging kind). Hand-ups—where spectators offer riders refreshments or encouragement at specific points on the course—become ritualized moments of connection. Fans are able to spectate sometimes just inches from the racers, creating an intimacy rarely found in professional sports.
*photos courtesy of Trek
Racing Where the Magic Happens
There's something poetic about holding a major cyclocross race at Trek's global headquarters. The building represents decades of cycling innovation, from the company's beginnings as a small Wisconsin cycling manufacturer to its current status as a global brand. When riders rail through corners and power over barriers within sight of Trek's design studios and testing facilities, it creates a unique connection between the sport's grassroots festival culture and its industry infrastructure.
This isn't just cyclocross happening near a bike company—it's the sport coming home to one of the places that helped build it. Trek's investment in hosting a free, accessible, party-style race at their headquarters demonstrates a commitment to cycling culture that extends beyond product development and marketing.
*photos courtesy of Trek
The Weekend Experience
A weekend at the Trek CX Cup has many aspects. Elite races showcase world-class talent and Olympic-level fitness. Amateur categories invite newer riders to test themselves on the same course the pros just conquered. Between races, there's music, food trucks, and sponsor tents offering everything from product demos to prize giveaways.
The wooded sections of the course become legendary for their atmosphere—dense crowds, creative decorations, and an energy that can lift struggling riders or unnerve those who weren't prepared for cyclocross's unique, enthusiastic support. By Sunday afternoon, when the final elite race concludes, both participants and spectators have shared a weekend where cycling's competitive nature and community aspect merged.
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Why the Event Matters
In an era when professional cycling sometimes feels distant and commercialized, the Trek CX Cup offers something different. It's a reminder that cycling can be both serious competition and a fun celebration with world-class athletes and weekend warriors sharing the same course and venue.
The Trek CX Cup represents cyclocross at its best: challenging, accessible, community-focused, and unapologetically fun. It's where the sport comes alive, where Wisconsin hospitality meets international competition, and for one weekend every fall, a small town becomes the center of the cyclocross universe.
Whether you're a seasoned cyclocross racer, a curious road cyclist, or someone who's never watched a bike race, the Trek CX Cup offers something worth experiencing. It's inspiring to witness Trek employee's clear passion for cycling spill out of their four walls and into this welcoming event for the community.
