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The Crosscast

The Crosscast

By: Neil Mansfield Matt Payne Xan Crees and guests
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About this listen

Neil Mansfield, Matt Payne, Xan Crees and special guests talk about World, European and UK cyclocross. Follow us on @TheCrosscast @CrosscastNeil @XanCrees and @MattFixerPayne. And give us a like on Facebook and Instagram. Support us at https://buymeacoffee.com/crosscast.
Neil Mansfield is the host of the show and the cyclocross uber-geek. He races for Grity Race Team and his family all love cross. He has been podcasting since 2015 and over-analysing racing using spreadsheets for a lot longer. He helps Caroline (Mrs M) run Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel. Find out more at https://linktr.ee/crosscastneil.
Matt Payne is the voice of British cyclocross having been on the mic for all of the big races for years. He is a professional commentator regularly heard at raceside, and also on TV and streamed coverage for all cycling disciplines. He has long experience of professional race promotion, but also a passion for grass-roots opportunity from being the brains and voice of e-Sports to UCI commentary, to organising local league races.

Xan Crees is a double British Elite Women's champion, having taken titles in both gravel and cyclocross. Now racing the pro-circuit as an elite, she has been a cyclocrosser at heart since she was a youth. With first hand experience of pretty much every course out there, and knowing how to win UCI races, she brings the insight of a pro-athlete.


The music is by Steep and used under a CC license.

© 2026 The Crosscast
Episodes
  • The Crosscast S9E09 National Champs incoming! Irvine and Kerste Periode Part 2
    Jan 8 2026

    In Episode 9 of Season 9 Neil, Xan and Matt look back on their highly committed many hours of cyclocross watching, racing, working and commentating with a look back on the second half of the Kerste Periode. They send comiserations to those riders crashing out for the end of the season and hope for quick recoveries.

    They look back on the final round of the National Trophy that came from Irvine. It was a magnificent event, that proved very popular amongst those who made the trip to Ayrshire. Neil gives the details of his race and reports back on the overalls.

    In the Laatste Ronde they look forward to the National Championships that are due to come from South Shields in the UK. They review the course, and the front runners for the elite men and elite women. They also discuss the live coverage that will be provided on YouTube.

    They also touch on other key National Champs including a mini preview of the Ireland course.

    Support the show

    --
    To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps!

    You can watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@TheCrosscastCyclocross

    Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield @crosscastneil is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne @mattfixerpayne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees @xancrees races for OGT USE.

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    1 hr and 27 mins
  • The Crosscast S9E08 Middle of the Kersteperiode 2025 sand and fast conditions out there
    Dec 28 2025

    In Episode 8 of Season 9 Neil, Xan and Matt extract themselves for 'cross duties to chat through the Kerste Periode with some stunning racing. After giving birthday greetings to Xan and Neil, they look back on the A to Z of Antwerp to Zolder, the sand of Koksijde and Hofstade and the missing mud from Gavere.

    With new stars starting to shine for mid season from Del Grosso and Fouquenet we have a new crop of riders ripening nicely. Despite this we still have the literal case of Brand and Vanderpoel winning everything that they enter... can they keep it up?

    Looking forwards there is a ton of racing to keep up with, from Dendermonde to Baal and the classic of Zonhoven just a few days away.

    They also give some preview and insight into the final round of the National Trophy 25-26 which is due to come from Irvine.

    Support the show

    --
    To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps!

    You can watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@TheCrosscastCyclocross

    Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield @crosscastneil is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne @mattfixerpayne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees @xancrees races for OGT USE.

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    1 hr and 20 mins
  • The Crosscast S9E07 Bradford Namur and Kortrijk, preview of Antwerp, Zolder, Koksijde and Gavere
    Dec 18 2025

    In Episode 7 of Season 9 Neil, Xan and Matt jump into a mega few weeks of cyclocross goodness. Neil reports back on Hunsworth National Trophy with its December mud, cracking course, and great atmosphere. They mention the parking nightmare that unfolded - oof. Neil also reports back on his local racing at a very old classic venue, and compares notes with Xan who was bringing in a top 6 at Kortrijk and getting a solid amount of TV-time for her stripy jersey and shiny new Van Rysel bikes.

    They review Namur with what was some frankly goose bumpy racing that has to go down as one of the most impressive men's and women's races for some time. With the return of Neff being a treat, Pieterse a treat², and Van der Poel a treat³ we had skills, personality, battles, and power galore. Xan gives the insight into how it was on the ground, especially those bits where Nys and Van der Poel were... on the ground.

    They give a bit of a PSA regarding bar width ready for rule changes and then preview the upcoming bunch of races coming from Antwerp, Koksijde, Gavere, Zolder. SO MUCH to look forward to.

    Neil wonders... will the Koksijde results compare to 2015 when it was: (daddy) Nys, Van Aert, Van der Poel, Van der Haar, Sweeck, Meeusen, Aerts.


    Support the show

    --
    To support the show pop over to https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crosscast to make a donation towards our hosting fees - every little helps!

    You can watch us on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@TheCrosscastCyclocross

    Follow us on Insta and Facebook, and share to your networks! Neil Mansfield @crosscastneil is part of Grity Sustainable Sports Apparel @gritykit, and Matt Payne @mattfixerpayne runs Full Speed Events @full_speed_events. Xan Crees @xancrees races for OGT USE.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 12 mins
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