I pre-rode the NORBA Nationals cross country course today at Infineon Parkway. I wore the heart rate monitor so I could graph the altitude of the course. Click the image for a bigger picture. I started at the end of the feedzone which is a short climb up from the race track. It ends at the other side of the race track next to the pedestrian tunnel. This spot is show on the race flyer map. But the flyer’s map indicates it goes around the track. So they might have changed this section.

Portions of the course are going to be tough. There’s fresh cut trail that’s loose and sketchy. Especially with the off camber corners and short steep uphills. The rest of the course is rather flat and fast. There’s only one really steep hill but it’s only 40 yards long. The hardest part of it is the loose dirt and lack of more than two lines.

The only troubling parts of the course are the sections that double back on themselves. These sections have riders coming and going on the same stretches of trail but separated only by posts and plastic tape. This shouldn’t be a problem on the straights. But, on a few of the fast sketchy corners a rider could easily drift wide and into the oncoming lane. It will be wise to watch out for the those parts.

Wind may also become a factor on the back flatter section of the course. We will probably see lots of riders drafting. Otherwise, there’s not much else to make this course challenging, well except for the other racers. It will be fast.

Cheers!