Rolling Thunder Cyclocross Race

ROLLING THUNDER 2021 - OCTOBER 23rd - 24th 

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 that is visible from Interstate 90. 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:

• Checkin will start Saturday at 9:00AM - 6:00PM and Friday 4-6PM 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
  • Weekend pass only need to checkin once. 
• Online Registration will be open all day on race day. Please register on your phone. 

Pricing

$35 per race. $40 late registration after Thursday Oct 21st. 

$20 for Junior Racing. $25 after Thursday Oct 21st.

Free (donations welcome) Untimed Kids Strider and Pedal Bike.

$80 Weekend Pass. Included Thunder Legend Mug! That allows you to race as many times as you want. Checkin only once.

Pre-Register by Wed Oct 20th for a pair of free MTCX sock and 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

• 9:00am - 10:15am - Course Inspection
• 10:15am -  Untimed Strider and Pedal Bike - 1 Short lap.
• 11:00am  - Junior 13  - 17 - 30 min
• 11:00am  - Junior 12 and Under - 30 min
• 12:00pm - Women Cat 4/5 (B) - 40 min
• 12:00pm - Women 40+ - 40 min
• 1:15pm - Men Cat 4/5 (B) - 40 min
• 2:00pm - 2:45pm Course Inspection
• 2:45pm - Master Men 40+ -45 min
• 2:45pm - Master Men 50+ -45 min *separate start
• 2:45pm - Master Men 60+ -45 min *separate start
• 4:20pm - Single Speed Men - 40 min
• 4:20pm - Single Speed Women - 40 min *separate start
• 5:40pm - MTB baggies - 3 Laps
• 6:00pm - 6:35pm Course Inspection
• 6:45pm - Women Open 1/2/3 (A) Sunset Race - 55 min
• 8:00pm - Men Open 1/2/3 (A) Night Race - 55 min

Sunday

• 10:00am - 11:00am - Course Inspection
• 11:00am  - Junior 13  - 17 - 30 min
• 11:00am  - Junior 12 and Under - 30 min
• 12:00pm - Women Open 1/2/3 (A) 40 min
• 12:00pm - Women Cat 4/5 (B) - 40 min
• 12:00pm - Women 40+ - 40 min
• 12:00pm - Women Single Speed - 40 min
• 12:50pm - 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! We are starting full suspensions first with hard tails and rigids to follow. Tires must be 2"+ and suspension left open. Only 3 laps! Party in the front, business casual in the back! Which bike will prevail?!

National Points

Rolling Thunder is unsanctioned and no license is needed but for the competitive racers you still will earn points for Nationals. All results will be submited to CrossResults which is the platform USAC Nationals will use to determine callups. 

Podiums

Top five in each race category will podium with prizes and/or medals to at least the winner. Podiums will be recognized ASAP 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 Monday 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 Monday 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 and still may be adjusted upon extraneous circumstances based on point number three below (ie if Lars Van Dar Haar or Ellen Van Loy decide to show). 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 the gas station or hotel. Please parallel park along Harrier off of Expressway Boulevard, 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. 

Tent Areas will be marked and reserved ahead of time. 

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

Please hit up Keyvin Pollington's City Center Motel. Keyvin is a strong supporter of Missoula Cycling.  Once that fills we recommend Stone Creek Lodge across the street from Big Sky Brewery who have also been a supporter of Rolling Thunder.

What makes this race special:

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

Beer Garden presented by Big Sky Brewery. Portion of donations to MTB Missoula.

Kid's Race and Junior racing. 

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

Better your nationals call up with results submitted to CrossResults

Anyone ability wise can race in the night Open race

Professional course design.

Food and Beverage

The beer garden is sponsored by Wild Rockies Landscaping and beer, seltzer, and seltzer water donated by Big Sky Brewery with all the beer donations split with MTB Missoula and ultimately back to you in the form of public trails. Wild Rockies Landscaping will match the MTB Missoula Donation so stay thirsty and bring some cash!

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

COVID-19:

We support your decision to wear a mask and we stand behind vaccines as being one of the most important things we can do as a community to help stop the spread of COVID. With that said, Missoula and Montana does not have a mask mandate nor a vaccine mandate. We will try to keep call-ups to less than 5 minutes on the line to prevent a close contact. Feel free to wear a mask during this time or any other time at the event and keep your physical distance if you wish. We support you. Our Cycling Community has a higher vaccination rate than the general public but even so, you are attending an event during a pandemic and you are assuming a risk. 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 for $80. Be a Thunder legend. 

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.