The Other (Cooler) Super Bowl [WSJ]


Jeremy Powers during the Men's elite race at the 2012 U.S. Cyclocross National Championships.

The chicken wasn't wearing any pants.

Jeremy Powers couldn't help but notice. Powers is one of the elite cyclocross racers in the world, the U.S. national champion in 2012, and a couple years back, he was in the middle of a race—he thinks it was Portland, Ore.,—pedaling his bike, pushing that red needle of exhaustion, when he became aware of an exuberant, feather-costumed fan running alongside him.
"A dude with a chicken outfit on and no pants," Powers said.
Welcome to cyclocross.
Yeah let's talk about cyclocross. I know the Super Bowl is Sunday, but I've already had enough of that overhyped barn dance, and so have you. There's another Super Bowl coming this weekend, not to New Orleans, but to Louisville, Ky., and in a strange way, it's more significant, because on Feb. 2 and 3, Louisville is hosting the UCI Cyclocross Elite World Championships, the biggest moment for a small but fast-growing sport in this country.
I am also 1,000% sure the cyclocross race will have better beer and more cowbell.

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