Interview with Ontario CX Star Peter Morse

First in a series of interviews with some of the players in the Ontario Cyclocross scene, today we're talking with 3 time Provincial Cyclocross champion and '05 World Cyclocross national team member, Peter Morse

Peter races with the JetFuel Coffee Cycling Team and was 2nd in the 2006 O-Cup road series, which included a win at the K-W Classic.

So far in the '06 cross season, Peter has won the Valley Park race in Hamilton as well as the Durham (mud) Classic

Pic by Stephane

CXO: How did you get into CX?

PM: I started racing mountain bikes - Cross you could do on your mountain bike, so when mountain bike season was over, I saw all of the cross races available in the fall. It was just good fun - like mountain bike race, except in the fall. There was road guys with road bikes and I found out later that they were cross bikes, so it was a whole different kind of racing.

CXO: How old were you when you started?

PM: 19 or 20 - I started cross at about the same time.

CXO: What about now, do you race mountain bike still.

PM: I haven't raced mountain bike for 5-6 years - I did mountain biking for 10 years then I switched to road and I haven't done any mountain biking for a while. The summer is spent on the road, but cross is my "new mountain biking"

CXO: Is cross a focus?

PM: Not really, no - I have focused on it a lot, because I do well in it here in Ontario, but no, it isn't the only focus because I do okay on the road too. I like racing year around and trying to do well at all of the races.

CXO: So, you've raced cross outside of Ontario?

PM: Yeah, I've raced in the States, around Canada, I've done the Nationals Championships at least 5 times, maybe more. I've been to Europe racing and I went to the World Championships in 2005.

CXO: Wow, How was that?

PM: The worlds? The worlds race was very difficult. It was hilly and it snowed for a week, and it was all icy - Ice with snow on top. It was very sketchy, pretty much the hardest race I've ever done as far as bike handling. Plus - you've got 40-50000 people all watching you and you're on the JumboTron - you put one foot wrong, or make one wrong move and they all see it. They're all yelling at you - or it seems like they are anyway. Its big pressure, you could let it get to you. But anyways, its pretty hard

CXO: A favorite race?

PM: Nah, not at all, it was actually pretty bad. I was actually glad when I got pulled out. I got the chance to see Sven Nys win right from the finish line - it was a pretty neat experience.

The Europeans are all right into it, they get guys who make their whole career being a cyclocrosser and they don't even try in the summer, they just train for the winter. Around Christmas they have races every day - every day and they are all on TV, no commercials, live. A lot of fans go out to see them and as an athlete they give you start money to show up.

CXO: What about outside of worlds, did you do much racing in Europe?

PM: I did some local races that were like our races here, really grass roots level races and the bigger races in Belgium.

CXO: How are the grass root races compared to ours?

PM: They're like our races, except there are more guys who are good, so its more competitive. The top guys are a little better because they've been doing it for more years. Even the top amateurs are better than ours here, because they've been doing it their whole lives. They start when they're kids and they have so many races they can do. Their environment is even more conducive - where as our Winter is too harsh. We only have 2-3 months where we can do cross, They can do it for six months.

CXO: Cross in Ontario is bounded by weather extremes - assuming new promoters appeared and wanted to add more races - where should they go - do you think we should have more double weekends, start earlier, or go later?

PM: I'd say, add one or two at the end in December. December is okay - I think we could have a couple in December.

CXO: Did you race the last race of the year in '05, the Gears Cross?

PM:: Yeah, the snowy race, that was good - that was like the worlds I went to.

CXO: I'm not so sure... it was fun, but...

PM: Ok, Imagine that, then imagine the worlds, it's 10 times harder - there is ice, snow on top of that and hills and people ready to kill you.

CXO: Like a 100 people?

PM: No, there are like 60 in the worlds, the field isn't that big - there are more people here - in Gloucester, that is probably the biggest race I've done, there was over 100 guys. The cross races in Europe aren't over-run with people - I can place top 25 sometimes in a top Belgian race, because everyone drops out and you just have to finish. And you don't even finish, you get pulled, if you don't get lapped, you're doing pretty good - pros get lapped. Their laps are always 6 minutes for the leaders - races are always 10 laps. Its a short lap and you'd get lapped pretty quick, especially if you're not having a good day.

CXO: Any interesting course features you've seen that that you liked, something different.

PM: One of the things I saw that was kind of neat were races in Belgium where you ride through a beer tent and there are guys drinking beer in there all rowdy

CXO: Blowing smoke in your face?

PM: Yeah, they will be - when you go to sign up for a race, the guys who take down your number are all smoking cigarettes and drinking beer, or some other little drink I don't even know what it is.

The best feature I saw, we rode right through a restaurant - a roll-up door was open - they had a little mat down and you ride right through. There were people sitting at bar stools and you rode right by them - they could hand you a drink - and then you go outside again.

CXO: Big goals for '06?

PM: I'll probably go for the Provincial championship. I like that one - I've won it 3 times.

CXO: Where is it again?

PM: Centennial, so I'd like that one.

CXO: How did you do there last year?

PM: Second. I've won Centennial once, but its a hard race, very hard with the hill.

Aurora I like too, so I hope to have a good race there.

CXO: What kind of support do you get from JetFuel?

PM: We're a road team, we get to go on some good projects do some big races in the States and around Canada. We have a lot of success on the road - won some races. They've had a team for many years and its always been successful - in one way or another and for cross they keep the support rolling for that too. Its good for me.

PM: Were they been behind you racing cross in Europe at all.

CXO: No - I wasn't with them then - this is my first year with them - we're mostly a road team, so that is were the support goes. Cross is a bit smaller its hard to get sponsorship.

CXO: Especially in Canada.

PM: Yeah, and the States and even Europe...

CXO: What about the top guys in the states? - but I guess they're all mountain bikers?

PM: Or road racers, they do cross on the side. There are no specialists that only do cross for a living

CXO: Except maybe Tim Johnson?

PM: No - he races Health Net, right? If he didn't have that road team, he wouldn't be a crosser unless he went to Europe.

Jonathan Page is the probably only North American who is a cross specialist, but even he comes and races in the States in the summer with Colavita. But I guess he's out with a broken collarbone.

CXO: After cross season - what's your winter plans.

PM: Just Ride - Just get ready for road season, it comes quick. I wish they had racing year round, but there are those 3-4 months where its cold.

CXO: Do you stay in Ontario for the winter?

PM: I've gone away a couple of times, but mostly stay in Ontario and ride in the cold. I don't care - I just put on extra clothes and ride my cross bike on the road with fenders on it.

CXO: Do the donut ride?

PM: Yup - donut ride, riding with some team mates during the winter.

Winter is good - it makes you kinda tough. There is wind, so it slows you down, always fighting the wind. There are tough conditions. You get pumped up because you can't wait for summer to come around - so when it comes you're ready - you're hyped.

CXO: Any suggestions for Ontario CX race promoters?

PM: I'd say ask the riders what they'd like to see in some races. Definitely ride the courses that you design, ride them and see if the course is enjoyable, and challenging - and if the course is boring, try to make them fun. Otherwise, I like most of the courses around here, I honestly do.

CXO: Favorite courses in Ontario.

PM: I'd probably say Aurora is good, I liked Centennial last year. And to tell you the truth that Durham one I like, that muddy Durham course, believe it or not.

CXO: Is it always that muddy?

PM: Yeah, pretty much always muddy there, but they've only had it 2 years in that configuration,

Everyone loves Aurora, so I don't want to jump on the bandwagon, but it is the best. Centennial is the hardest - Aurora is the most fun, but Centennial is the hardest with that hill - going up and going down - its hard both ways.

CXO: Yeah, I forgot about the downhill - that descent was hard.

PM: Plus the finish was right at the bottom of the hill, so you had to take risks.

CXO: Best result in a cross race?

PM: Aurora Provincials a couple of years ago when I won and beat Greg Reain. It was perfect - to me it was the best race.

Also the first race I won - Provincials, back in '96 in Sydenham near Kingston. Bill Fletcher's farm or something like that. This was the first cross race I ever won, so I was pretty pumped to win that

That and Aurora - they're tied.

CXO: Well, Pete, Thanks for your time and good luck!