When Niels and I decided we would start a cyclocross development program in 2016, we did so with an eye towards developing young female elite riders from the Northwest, and helping them to bridge the gap from local to national success. As we went through the planning phases of the program, we realized there would be enormous value in creating a grassroots component to the team that would be open to all junior girls. The Northwest Women’s Cyclocross Project was born and we opened the grassroots team to all g
As the team has grown and evolved, we realized that we had created a really special space for young riders. We work hard to never make a rider feel more or less valued based on their speed, skills, or equipment. The Project has grown into what I believe to be a safe and nurturing space for all of our members.
In the last few years, the Project has, on a few occasions, been approached by parents of transgender youth, asking if their children could be part of our program. It was an easy decision to open the team to all transgender youth, and we have worked to shift the name of the team from Northwest Women’s Cyclocross Project to simply NWCX Project.