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MTP Tacoma gets muddy at cyclocross
Elisse LaRoche
On a perfectly rainy Pacific Northwest weekend, five Major Taylor Project (MTP) high school students woke up before dawn to ride bikes harder than they’d ever ridden them before. It might have been the last cyclocross race of the season, but it was a first time experience for our students – and possibly the most muddy they’ve ever been.
Cascade’s MTP students and staff were honored to participate in The Woodland Park Gran Prix, which is one of the largest cyclocross events in the nation. Racers lap through the park with steep hill climbs, tight hairpin turns, and treacherous obstacles along the muddy course while tightly packed together.
Despite an intense 40 minute sprint through the mud, the students’ determination never waived; as proof from a Lincoln high senior who boasted, “it was good until I fell. Then after, it was great again!”
Another student, a senior from Mount Tahoma high school, was equally unperturbed by the terrain. “My favorite moment was from the race itself, and even when I fell and got muddy, it was super fun!”
Events like these are an important way for us to give students from Pierce County an opportunity to leave their neighbourhood and explore the wider world of cycling. It is also an excellent way to introduce students to the incredibly supportive and diverse cyclocross community, who welcome racers of all ages and abilities.
A favourite moment from the race shared by students, aside from the sweet relief of crossing the finish line and finally being able to rest, was how supportive the spectators were: cheering them on and handing out doughnuts and gummy worms along the course.
The whole day would not have been possible without MFG Cyclocross. They not only put on the event, but also hooked us up with a sweet parking spot, free registration, and unlimited high-fives! The encouragement and camaraderie the students experienced at the race will help mold them into future cycling mentors.
The Major Taylor project reaches 200 youth annually in middle and high schools in central and south King County and in Pierce County. Our club locations and recruitment efforts are intentionally established to reach students of historically marginalized backgrounds where we work together to build community and autonomy and to have fun. Typically, MTP students focus on biking for transportation, but thanks to funders like the Names Family Foundation, interested students had the opportunity to expand their bike horizons.
If you would like to support The Major Taylor Project, please consider making a gift at cascade.org/donate.
Another student, a senior from Mount Tahoma high school, was equally unperturbed by the terrain. “My favorite moment was from the race itself, and even when I fell and got muddy, it was super fun!”
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