Which country would you like to see on challengetires.com?
While many North American cyclocrossers have traveled to Europe to race, far fewer Europeans have based themselves in America for an extended block.
British Rider Helen Wyman was one of the first. In fact, the Chicane tread pattern was developed based on her experiences racing on North American tracks of “fast grass.” The minimal center pattern provides speed via low rolling resistance, whereas the aggressive side knobs ensure maximum control in the corners.
In recent years, two Challenge riders have raced the September/October UCI races in the United States: Netherlands’ Annemarie Worst and Switzerland’s Matteo Oppizzi. Worst competed in Rochester and Baltimore (Charm City) in the leadup to the 2022 World Cups in Waterloo and Fayetteville. Oppizzi routinely starts his season in North America before transitioning to Switzerland.
As a former U23 World Champion, European Champion, and World Cup Overall Winner, Worst probably needs no introduction!
Oppizzi is an under-23 rider who has competed at the World Cup level since 2021 and in the last two editions of the World Championships. He was 4th in the U23 category at the Swiss National Championships in 2023 and 2024.
Worst learned about racing in America via her boyfriend Vincent Baestaens, who did extended competition blocks in the United States in 2019 and 2021. “He always said to me that the races before the World Cups are really nice,” said Worst. “I wanted to have the experience and it was nice to travel together.”
Oppizzi’s family moved to Canada when he was 12. Having raced mountain bikes in Switzerland, Oppizzi began cyclocross as a junior in the Quebec Cup series. As a Swiss citizen residing in both Canada and Switzerland, racing on both sides of the Atlantic is logical and feasible. He races for the Swiss team Elite Fondations.
What’s the biggest difference between North American and European racing? Both Oppizzi and Worst say it’s the atmosphere.
“The environment is more friendly in North America,” says Oppizzi. “Everybody speaks to everybody. It’s not like in Europe where everyone is in their own camper, so even teammates might not get to talk.”
To illustrate the contrast, Oppizzi recalls celebrating American rider Tobin Ortenblad’s birthday in Baltimore.
“In Baltimore this year, it was Tobin ’s birthday,” said Oppizzi. “On the start line, everybody was singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to him. It was like two minutes before the start. You would never see that in Europe!”
For Worst, American racing felt free of expectations. When she races in Europe, she knows her competition and what result she should expect. “It was totally open and free and I didn’t expect a lot from myself,” said Worst. “I just wanted to race there before the season really started in Europe to get that race feeling.”
Racing in America reminded Worst of the smaller, national-level races in the Netherlands.” They are smaller and without any stress,” said Worst. “It’s more familiar. You talk to more people because everyone is really friendly and will help.”
A major challenge of the American race scene is the extreme distances between events. Worst and Baestaens likely drove more than 1500 kilometers. Since Oppizzi started the season in Roanoke (Southeast USA) before driving northeast to Rochester and Baltimore and then west to Waterloo, he traveled more than 2000 kilometers.
Fortunately, Oppizzi had the family to help with the driving. “I started my trip in Canada from my family’s house. My father came with me to help with the driving and to be my mechanic. Because of my family, I have all that I need: a car, tent, and pressure washer.”
Worst rented a camper van for the duration, traveling in it between cities. However, she also benefited from what the Americans call “host housing.” Race promoters find local families who are willing to open their homes to riders.
“Vincent knew a few host families from prior years,” said Worst. “This meant we didn’t have to organize hotels. It was also really nice because you could see how they live.”
Another difference between Europe and America are the parcours, or “courses” as they say in America.
“The parcours are more like park cross,” said Worst. “The courses are turny and technical, but they are sometimes also really fast. That is what I like about them.”
Oppizzi agrees with the park cross description: “In Switzerland, courses are just in a field. The grass is really bumpy. In the US, it’s a really complete course: some fast, some turny, some technical.”
One of the many challenges of racing abroad are equipment limitations. It’s costly to fly with many bikes and wheels, so riders typically make due with less material than at home. Oppizzi manages this by relying on the Challenge tires that best suit the continent. For North America, Chicane and Flandrien are his go to choices.
“With the Chicane, I love the grip in the corners,” said Oppizzi. “I think the Flandrien is best for wet races in America because the races are in parks with beautiful grass. The mud is slippery and doesn’t stick on the tires.”
At home in Switzerland and on the European continent, Oppizzi’s favorite treads are Grifo, Flandrien, and Limus. “If it is fast, I will use the Grifo because we have some technical and steep climbs and Grifo is better for this,” said Oppizzi. “In Switzerland we get deep, thick mud and need the Limus tread. I will use the Flandrien if it’s more slick.”
Asked to reflect on their trips, Worst and Oppizzi felt differently on whether they would repeat it.
Worst enjoyed the travel and racing with Baestaens, especially as he was nearing retirement. She also liked seeing how Americans race since they come to Europe during Kerstperiode. Four wins also netted her lots of UCI points, helping her start position.
“In the end, I don’t know if I want to do it again because it is a lot of traveling,” said Worst. “It costs a lot of money to do the races. You have to drive a lot of kilometers between races to only race short races, 50 minutes. It takes a lot of energy. I would return if races were closer to each other.”
For Oppizzi, who essentially resides on both sides of the Atlantic, starting the season in America makes good sense. He utilizes the American races to build form.
“My training plan was to use the American races to build form,” said Oppizzi. “You have to be careful not to be too in shape too early because the season is really long.”
Oppizzi is back in Switzerland and eager to take on part two of his season. In his second race back, he had a top-10 in the Swiss Cup.
Worst has returned to form following a COVID-19 infection and a late start to the season. She finished fifth in her first three races: Koppenberg, Lokeren, and Niel.
We wish our riders the best of luck for the remainder of the cyclocross season!
