Keene Pumpkin Cross

Welcome to the 12th Annual Keene Pumpkin Cyclocross Race on Sunday, November 8th.  The event is held at the Surry Mountain Recreation Area just outside of Keene in Southwest NH.  The race is on Surry Mountain lake with beautiful  hillside vistas and plenty of parking at the center of the course.  The wildly popular course has a paved starting grid, run-ups, sand, barriers, a woods loop single track section, and and many fast flowy sections.  The course requires a great balance of bike handling and fitness but is not too challenging for juniors or novice racers.  

Keene Pumpkin Cross is the 2026 Championship for Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference (ECCC) CX race series bringing collegiate racers from all over the Northeast.  

The NESCX Single Speed Series returns again to NH for the 7th race of the series.

The race is also a Junior friendly event with a separate junior field & start time, 3 cub junior age groupings for both boys & girls, a longer 15-18 race, and ½ price entry fees.  

We host a Kids Fun Race!   Bring out your younger non-racing kids (typically 10 or under) to enjoy a few laps on a smaller section of the course.  The kids will race for approximately 10 minutes allowing the older & stronger kids to get in a couple laps while the strider bikes get in one lap.  Their are no placing or podiums but everyone gets a treat at the end.

The race proceeds support the local Keene High School Nordic Ski Team.  The majority of the race leadership and volunteers are athletes, parents, and friends of the local high school Nordic skiing community.  

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Detailed Venue and Registration Information

• Venue will open at 7:00am
• Pre-registration opens at 8:00am
• Day of Registration is available with a $10 Day of fee
• Our schedule and categories are set up to encourage racing multiple events & single speed.  Second race entries are available for an additional $10.  
• Novice one-day licenses may be purchased with your registration for $15 and are valid for a single day of racing.  Experienced one-day licenses must be purchased on-line through USA Cycling.
• Masters Fields are  open to all categories
• The 3 Mens Masters fields and Cat 5 women will have separate starts separated by 1 minute
• All USAC rules apply - USAC approved helmets are required
• Payouts for Men/Women 1/2/3 Races:  $250/3 deep
• Pre-registration ends Friday, October 3rd at 10:00pm.  
• Callups will be based on crossresults.com for all pre-registered riders. Day of Registrations will be staged in back.

Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference (ECCC) Cyclocross Series:  If you are a current full-time student at an ECCC school, you are eligible for competition in the series. To be eligible for collegiate scoring, riders must register under their proper collegiate team name and race in their collegiate team kit.

Course:

The course evolves every year but has proven to be a popular track over the past several years.  The course is typically 2.5K in length requiring a balance of technical skills and pedaling fitness.  Nothing is too challenging for juniors and novice riders.   We run the course clockwise with a paved start, nice flowing hill section, 2 run ups, 1 technical descent, a fun wooded single track section, one set of barriers and a lot of sand.  A little bit for everyone…. There is a 2-sided pit but no water access for bike washing.  

The course will be set between 10am and 2pm on Saturday.  Please feel free to come help with course set up.  Course pre-ride will be available Saturday after 2pm.  Please park at the entrance above the gate to the venue -  even if gate is open.  We will lock the gate when we leave and don't want cars trapped behind the locked gate.

Food:

• We will have Mama T's food truck from Brattleboro, VT at the event all day.  They will be providing and breakfast and lunch foods along with coffee and treats.  

Directions to event:

From 91 (from Western MA or coming South):

Exit at Brattleboro (Exit 3) for 9W toward Keene.  Straight through roundabout.  Continue on Rt.9 headed West until Rt 9 & 10 & 12 combine and turn left.  Make left turn.  At Y - stay on Rt 12.  Take 1st exit (Maple Ave).  Right at bottom of ramp.  At roundabout, take 2nd exit (Rt 12A) toward Surry.  Race will be at Surry Dam Beach.  Turn right at Surry Dam Beach (venue) sign after a few miles.

From 12N (from Eastern/Central MA):

When entering Keene, Rt12 will merge with Rt10 - turn left at stoplight. Follow signs to stay on Rt12. Will turn right at stoplight in a few miles.  At Y, stay on Rt12 (left).  Take 1st exit (Maple Ave).  Turn right at bottom of exit.  At roundabout take 2nd exit onto 12A North toward Surry.   Race is at Surry Dam Beach.  Turn right at sign into Surry Dam Beach (venue) in a few miles.

From Rt9 South ( from Concord/Central NH toward Keene):

Before entering Keene, take Rt 12 North exit (follow signs).  Take 1st exit off of Rt 12 (Maple Ave).  Turn Right at bottom of exit.  At roundabout, take 2nd exit onto Rt12A toward Surry.  Follow for several miles to Surry Dam Beach (you will see sign). Turn right at sign into Surry Dam Beach (venue).