Cyclocross racing comes to Winnipeg

WATCH: Manitoba cyclocross racers ride around The Forks in preparation for the Canadian Cyclocross Championships.

WINNIPEG – Cyclocross: a mix between road racing and mountain biking that includes running up stairs and jumping over obstacles while carrying your bike.

“It keeps me up at night and it wakes me up in the morning, I love it.” said Winnipeg cyclocross racer, David Coughlin.

Hundreds of racers from across the country will be at The Forks this month for the Canadian Cyclocross Championships. The racers will be competing for a chance to qualify for the World Championships in the Czech Republic held in February.

One of those racers will be David Coughlin, who was one of the first Canadians to move to Belgium, where the sport is huge, to train and compete in professional cyclocross events.

“I go to bed at night and I have the course playing out in my brain,” said Coughlin. “I’m going through the corners, I’m thinking of my lines, thinking of places I could maybe dismount or get ahead to have an advantage.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I go to bed at night and I have the course playing out in my brain," said Coughlin. "I'm going through the corners, I'm thinking of my lines, thinking of places I could maybe dismount or get ahead to have an advantage."

WATCH MORE: A cyclocross racer’s view of the forks, GoPro style

Manitoba’s top racer will be looking to be one of the first Canadian women to make it to Worlds.

“Its going to be the best opportunity that I have to do well and really impress a lot of people,” said Anna Schappert, the no.1 ranked women’s cyclocross racer in the province.

The races range from 30 minutes to an hour and the course will be marked off around The Forks from October 24th to 26th.

PHOTO GALLERY: A behind the scenes look at Global News’ shoot with Manitoba cyclocross racers.