Rolling Thunder Cyclocross Race

ROLLING THUNDER 2022 - OCTOBER 22nd - 23rd

Venue

We are lucky to have Big Sky Brewing to be gracious enough to host us again! Big Sky Brewing has been very generous with their time, community involvement and sponsorship of many non-profits and projects around Missoula such as the International Snow Science Workshop, The International Wildlife Film Festival, Missoula Skatepark, Brennan’s Wave, United Way, Missoula Urban Demonstration Project, Garden City Harvest, Missoula Art Museum, Five Valleys Land Trust, MTB Missoula, and Cyclocross.

Across the street from Thunder Mountain, is Lalonde Ranch, owned by MIssoula County. We are fortunate enough to use this property for the event. Please no alcohol on County Property and no spectators around the historic buildings. The LaLonde Ranch is one of the last remaining historic ranches in the Missoula Valley. The historic ranch is located west of Missoula in the County’s Development Park just off of Airway Boulevard. The site is 6.81 acres and consist of a two story brick ranch house, two wooden barns and a log cabin believed to have been built in the 1870’s – among the oldest buildings in Missoula County. 

Registration Check/In:

• Thursday at MTCX 9am-6pm, Friday at MTCX 9am-9PM
• Day of Checkin will start Saturday at 10:00AM - 6:00PM and under the Drooling Moose Beer Garden in the backyard of Big Sky Brewery.
  
  • Checkin at least 60 minutes before each race or by 6:00 pm for Men's and Women Open night race 
• Online Registration will be open all day on race day.

Pricing

$35 per race. $40 late registration after Thursday Oct 20th. 

$20 for Junior Racing. $25 after Thursday Oct 20th.

Free Untimed Kids Strider and Pedal Bike on short lap.

Please Pre-Register by Wed Oct 20th to eligible for Rolling Thunder Call up! This also helps us tremendously.

SCHEDULE

You do not need to qualify for any categories. If you are unsure what to sign up for email me at cory@competitivetiming.com. 

Beginners and those that want to try cyclocross are absolutely welcome! Juniors (if a junior), Cat 4/5 (B), or Mountain Bike Baggies would be a perfect fit!

Single speeders can use a zip tie on their geared bike to prevent shifting. Let us know if you need help with this. 

We will combine starts if field sizes are small (example score Women 4/5 and 40+ separately but start on one gun)

Saturday

10:00 Check-in and reg open

10am - 10:30am - Course Inspection

10:30am -  Untimed Strider and Pedal Bike - 1 Short lap.

11:15am  - Junior 12  - 17 - 30 min
11:15am  - Junior 11 and Under - 30 min

12:15pm - Women Cat 4/5 (B) - 40 min
12:15pm - Women 40+ - 40 min
12:15pm - Single Speed Women - 40 min

1:30pm - Men Cat 4/5 (B) - 40 min
1:30pm - Single Speed Men - 40 min *separate start

2:15 pm - 3pm Course Inspection

3:00pm - Master Men 40+ -45 min
3:00pm - Master Men 50+ -45 min *separate start
3:00pm - Master Men 60+ -45 min *separate start

4:20pm - MTB baggies - 3 Laps

5:00pm -  6:00pm Course Inspection

6:00pm - Women Open Elite 1/2/3 (A) Sunset Race - 55 min

7:40pm - Men Open Elite 1/2/3 (A) Night Race - 55 min

Sunday

10:00 Check-in and reg open

10:00am - 11:00am - Course Inspection

11:15am  - Junior 12  - 17 - 30 min
11:15am  - Junior 11 and Under - 30 min

12:15pm - Women Open 1/2/3 (A) 40 min
12:15pm - Women Cat 4/5 (B) - 40 min
12:15pm - Women 40+ - 40 min
12:15pm - Women Single Speed - 40 min

1pm - 1:30 pm Course Inspection

1:30pm - Men 4/5 (B) - 40 min
1:30pm - Men Single Speed - 40 min 

3:00pm - Men Open 1/2/3 (A) - 40 min
3:00pm - Master Men 40+ - 40 min
3:00pm - Master Men 50+ - 40 min
3:00pm - Master Men 60+ - 40 min

MTB Baggies Race 

Back by popular demand - no spandex allowed (well okay, not a hard rule, we just don't want to see serious race suits on the podium) Tires must be 2"+ and suspension left open. Only 3 laps! Party in the front, business casual in the back! Costumes encouraged, fun vibes is mandatory.

Points and Sanctioning

Rolling Thunder is unsanctioned, but insured. No USAC license is needed.  All results will be submitted to CrossResults but unfortunately, USAC has gone away from using Cross Results for callup points at Nationals and back to their ranking system. We will still have a competitive field and you won't regret racing Rolling Thunder over chasing some USAC points. If it's points you're after, The Montana Cyclocross State Championships by MTCX on 11/12 and 11/13 will be USAC sanctioned 

Podiums

Top three in each race category will be on podium. Podiums will be recognized immediately after each race.

The Open Men and Open Women Race will be scored with all categories combined for a top 5 podium. 

Call Ups

Register by Wed before Thunder to ensure you are considered for a callup. At least 8 in each category will get a call up for the front line. We may call past 8 if time allows from rider rankings/criteria below. Once we are done calling, then everyone else can line up first come, first serve.

1. 1st Callup - Defending Thunder Champion (2019) for that category about to to race.
2. Next 6 - CrossResults.com Rider Rankings pulled no sooner than Wednesday before Thunder.
3. Next Riders - Wild Cards. Could be a Thunder legend, previous Thunder winner or special exception. If not, CrossResult Rider Rankings.
4. Rankings based on CX Results or First Come, First serve depending on time.

Sunday will be based on Sat Results.

Callups for the Thunder have been tallied. Follow this link and click on the appropriate tab in the spreadsheet. This will give you an idea of the front row. If you are registering late and didn't make the callup list, you will line up when we say everyone else line up after we call at least the top 8. If you registered before Wed when we advertised deadline for callup, then your name should be on the list. 

Parking

Please no parking in the Taproom parking lot. The taproom remains open to patrons. No parking at either gas station or Cymatic Fermentation Project. Please parallel park along Harrier off of Expressway Boulevard, at Stone Creek Lodge, along Trumpeter, or in the lots at 4g Plumbing or Missoula Property Management which is at the top of Harrier road on the hill. You can access Harrier Road off Expressway Boulevard since the lower, eastern portion of the road will be closed for the race. 

Team Tents

Please place team tents up on the curb (off the road) on the sidewalk on the south side of Harrier Road. This will allow a walking path for spectators between the tents and the finishing straightaway. The sidewalk will be great for trainers. Additional tents can be placed on the infield right behind Big Sky Brewing against the course or against the building. Make sure your tent is secured with sandbags or ground stakes. If unsure where to place tent, ask at checkin, or shoot us an email.

Course Pre-riding. 

While a race is occurring, please no pre-riding the course. There are  dedicated slots on the schedule for pre-riding. After each race, there should be 10 minutes where you can do some pre-riding.

Lodging

Stone Creek Lodge one of our sponsors is located right across the street with well appointed rooms, some rooms with kitchens. They are offering a discounted rate of $159 (plus tax/fee) for either a Single King or a Double Queen. Call 406-541-3600 and mention Rolling Thunder CX to book. They are also generously offering spill over parking once parallel parking along the road is full.

Please also hit up Keyvin Pollington's City Center Motel Keyvin is a strong supporter of Missoula Cycling.  City Center Motel is located downtown Missoula. 

What makes this race special:

16 years of best in the west CX racing! Year of the Lynx

Beer Garden presented by Big Sky Brewery.

Kid's Race and Junior racing. 

Women's and mens elite races are in the dark, we have lights on the course

Fans.

Professional course design.

Food and Beverage

The beer garden is sponsored by by Big Sky Brewery with beer, seltzer, and seltzer water.

Sonny's Original Cheesesteaks will also be onsite starting around 4PM.

COVID-19:

If you have had a known close contact leading into the event or have COVID-19 symptoms we ask you to please stay home. We will refund you 100%. 

FAQ

Have a questions, email cory@competitivetiming.com for any and all questions.

Q: I'm not a USA Cycling Member. Can I race and what category?

• Yes, this race isn't sanctioned by USAC so no license is required and you can race in any category based on your self selected ability. Fast Juniors are encouraged to race Cat 4/5 or even Open. 

Q: Can I race more than one race in the day? 

• Yes! Race as many times as you want Saturday and Sunday.

Q: Do I need a CX bike?

• No. Gravel bikes and mountain bikes work great! Just make sure if you have a MTB you take off any bar end extenders.

Q: What's the MTB Baggies race?

• For those mountain bikers without a CX bike and don't want to race against all the fast cx bikes. Mountain bikes are allowed in any of the races but this one specifically for MTBikes.