Team Cow is a unique team hailing from Des Moines.
By Travis Coltrain
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The Cyclocross World Cup had many teams present, some spectators and others participating. However, none could quite own up to the uniqueness of Team Cow.

Team Cow is a 25-member squad hailing from Des Moines. It got its name because of the numerous dairy farmers and one cow-semen salesman on the team.
“None of us are competitive; we are recreational riders,” Cow team member Pat Coughlin said. “We just like cycling; we’re a RAGBRAI team, but this is a big deal. The World Cup has never been to Iowa, so we wanted to come out and watch it.”

Team Cow has attended many races over the years; however, the Midwest Tandem Rally is one of the members’ favorites. PCoughlin and wife Gabrielle are almost exclusively tandem riders themselves. (A tandem bike is a bike meant for two people to ride.

“We helped put that on; I was on the chair of the committee,”Coughlin said. “Normally, tandems are the minority, so it’s great to go to a rally in which there are hundreds and hundreds of them.”

Team Cow came out on its trusty bus, Sir Loin the Magnificent that was painted like a cow and filled with cow merchandise. It even featured a cow’s skull on the front of the bus.”

You can find more information on the Cow Team and Sir Loin at teamcowiowa.com.