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Cyclocross News & racing round-up for October 2, 2005Edited by Steve Medcroft Welcome to our regular round-up of what's happening in Cyclocross. Feel free to send feedback, news and gossip to mtb@cyclingnews.com
Liberty Mutual brings Cyclo-Cross Nationals to New EnglandLiberty Mutual Group, a leading global insurance provider with headquarters in New England, ha signed on to be the title sponsor of the 2005 U.S. National Cyclocross Championships in Roger Williams Park in Providence, Rhode Island from December 9-11, 2005. Promoters expect to host nearly 1,400 competitors to this three-day event, where national champion jerseys will be awarded in 25 categories. Each day's final race will be a featured event, with collegiate men racing Friday, pro-elite men on Saturday, and pro-elite women on Sunday. Sunday will also feature the Liberty Cup, a non-championship invitational event for men. For the past three seasons, the "Cross Nats" have been held on the West Coast, in seasonably wet and muddy conditions. While the weather in December in Rhode Island may be fickle, riders can expect colder and faster conditions. "We had an extensive search for a venue that lasted more than a year," said Tom Stevens, race director. "After looking at seven venues, we picked Providence. We feel this park will provide the best course for both riders and spectators." The 2005 U.S. National Cyclo-Cross Championships is a production of the New England Cyclo-Cross Committee. For more information, visit www.cyclocrossnationals.com.
California Giant Strawberries and Specialized sponsor elite ‘cross teamCalifornia Giant Strawberries of Watsonville, California and Specialized bicycles and components of Morgan Hill, California are teaming up to sponsor 2005 National Champion Justin Robinson and Specialized Engineer/Pro racer Andy Jacques-Maynes for the 2005/06 cyclocross season. Both Justin and Andy will be riding the new Specialized S-Works Tricross cyclocross framesets. In addition to California Giant Strawberries and Specialized, sponsors of the team include Weyerhaeuser paper products, Bullion Stil custom furniture, The Spokesman bicycle shop and other strawberry production related sponsors. Beginning in October, Justin and Andy tackle a full Northern California schedule of races, the 6 Crank Brothers U.S Grand Prix cyclocross races as well as the National Cyclocross Championships in Providence, Rhode Island.
Over $30,000 up for grabs in Verge Mid-Atlantic Cyclocross SeriesSeptember 26, 2005, Conshohocken, PA: The Verge Mid-Atlantic Cyclocross will pay nearly $30,000 in cash prizes during the 2005 campaign. When the various merchandise prizes are added, the total prize list for the 2005 series will easily exceed $30,000 -- making the Verge Mid-Atlantic Cyclocross Series a major objective for the fastest cyclists in North America, and the World. Reigning champions Ryan Leech and Betsy Schauer, both of Pennsylvania-based FORT/GPOA will be defending their Verge Sport Championship Jerseys. For two-time champion Schauer (2003 and 2004), the pressure will be intense as the California-based Velo Bella Women's Pro Cycling team have announced their intention to compete in the majority of the Verge Mid Atlantic Races. Competitors can easily pre-register for all events at www.bikereg.com, the official online event registration site for the MAC Championship series. Bikereg.com can accessed directly, or from the series' own website at www.monkeyhillcs.com/mac/mac2005/. All Verge Mid-Atlantic Cyclocross Series events are run rain or shine, and many will include free "kids races" and "cyclocross clinics". For more information, see www.monkeyhillcs.com/mac/mac2005/ or call Ken Getchell at 610-397-1950 2005 Verge Mid-Atlantic Cyclocross Series Schedule:
2005 Fort/GPOA Cyclocross TeamFort Frames USA and the Greater Pittsburgh Orthopaedic Associates (GPOA) are pleased to present the 2005 Fort/GPOA cyclocross team. In 2004, the powerhouse team claimed one national championship title and picked up three silver medals at the national championship event in Portland, Oregon. Besides their dominating performance at Nationals, the team also won three Mid-Atlantic Championship Series titles and racked up fifteen wins throughout the season. Based in the Mid-Atlantic region, the Fort/GPOA team will once again feature Betsy Schauer and Ryan Leech, both current reigning champions of the 2004 Verge Mid Atlantic Championship Series. Schauer, the runner-up in the collegiate event at Nationals, heads up the elite women's team and will be joined this year by teammate Erika Miller. Leech will be heading up a men's elite team that includes the 2004 B category national champion Weston Schempf and newly acquired elite rider Greg Wittwer. Schempf and Wittwer were both 2004 Verge Mid-Atlantic series champions with Schempf winning the B category title and Wittwer picking up the U23 title for the second consecutive year. Veteran riders Mike Yozell, Greg Ferguson and Gunnar Shogren will lead the master's team as well as compete in several elite races. Both Yozell and Shogren won silver medals in their respective Masters category at the 2004 Nationals and Shogren has multiple national titles under his belt in both cyclocross and mountain bike racing. Look for the team at the Verge Mid-Atlantic Championship Series (MAC), Verge New England Series, and national and state championships. The team will be riding Czech-made Fort Frames with the financial backing of Greater Pittsburgh Orthopaedic Associates (GPOA). Dr. Mike Rytel, a GPOA surgeon, is also a member of the Fort/GPOA team.
Elite Women: Betsy Schauer, Erika Miller Elite Master: Mike Yozell, Gunnar Shogren, Greg Ferguson, Master: Mike Hebe B's: Chris Mayhew, Jay Downs, Jeff Guy, Colin Sandberg B Masters: Mike Rytel, Denny Dansak For more information about the team and its sponsors, please visit Fort/GPOA Team, Fort Frames USA and GPOA
Cyclo-Cross hits Toronto!For the first time in over a decade, a Cyclocross event is taking place right in the heart of Toronto. The October 2nd event will start at the Phil White Arena in Toronto. Proceeds from the event will be given to both the Victoria D'Agostino Children's Benefit Fund and Toronto Parks & Recreation. For more information on participating or volunteering, please visit www.zmcyclefitness.com.
Corner Cycle Coonamessett Eco Cross moves to October 8thThe 3rd annual Coonamessett Cross race has been moved to October 8th. The course, on a 12-acre private farm on Cape Cod, is a fast mix of dirt, grass and sand, with three short running sections. With races for all ages and categories, competitors will pass through the Buzzards Bay Barrier Blast each lap cheered on by fans enjoying cold refreshment courtesy of Buzzards Bay Brewing. In addition to an expanded cash prize list, thanks to Corner Cycle Cycling Club, the race will also offer merchandise from Endurofit, Ritchey, High 5, Corner Cycle and Buzzards Bay Brewing. Competitors can register at: www.bikereg.com
Cyclocross Season Shifts into High Gear with River City Bicycles Cross CrusadePORTLAND, Ore. The 2005 River City Bicycles Cross Crusade - the largest participatory cyclocross racing series in the world - kicks off its six-race schedule this Sunday, October 2, at Hillsboro Stadium, announced Cross Crusade Race Director Brad Ross. The Hillsboro Stadium Cross Crusade will feature more than 500 riders from Oregon and Washington in 16 classes of competition, from elite men and women to masters and junior categories. The series, sanctioned by the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association, will pay out more than $20,000 in prize money and merchandise. This is the 14th annual River City Bicycles Cross Crusade, firmly establishing the Northwest as the country’s most popular region for cyclocross bike racing a specialized, cycling competition that requires riders to race on a closed-loop circuit, over grass, pavement, gravel, and mud, with barriers and steep run-ups mixed in for additional challenges. While the Cross Crusade begins at Hillsboro Stadium this Sunday, the series’ marquee event is the Cannondale Stümptown Cyclocross Classic at Alpenrose Dairy in Southwest Portland on October 8. In addition to being round two of the Crusade, the event doubles as the first race in the UCI internationally sanctioned Crank Bros. U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross. The Stümptown Cyclocross Classic will draw the best American riders from across the country, as well as a number of European stars. They will be competing for more than $8,000 in prize money. Last year’s Stümptown Classic was won by former World Champion Danielle Pontoni of Italy. Oregon is home to several of America’s top cyclocross racers, including defending Category A Men Cross Crusade champion Barry Wicks and 2004 U.S. National runner-up Ryan Trebon, both of Corvallis. The women’s Cross Crusade field will be headed by Portland’s Rhonda Mazza, third in the 2004 U.S. Nationals; and Gina Hall, of Ashland. Trebon, Wicks and Mazza all represented the U.S. in last year’s World Cyclocross Championships in Germany. In addition to the series title sponsor River City Bicycles of Portland, the Cross Crusade is also supported by Cannondale, Sellwood Cycle Repair, Russ Auto Group, Health Net, and a host of others. The Cross Crusade is organized and promoted by Club Vivo, Portland, OR.. For complete information on the River City Cross Crusade, visit www.crosscrusade.com. Racers can register in advance at www.athleteslounge.com. Learn more about the Cross Crusade and all types of bicycle racing in Oregon at www.obra.org, site of the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association. Complete River City Cross Crusade schedule:
Cyclocross racing in central IowaThe Des Moines Cyclocross Mafia presented by www.All9yards.com and Ralph Henderson Properties is back for it's fifth year of race promotion with four A, B and C category ‘cross races in Iowa. The promoters will be hosting the Iowa State Cyclocross Championship on Sunday, October 30 and the Iowa Cyclocross Championship Series Finale on Sunday, November 13. The race series is a non-profit venture to support the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, Iowa Chapter. Over $2,000 was donated to the Crohns and Colitis Foundation of America, Iowa Chapter in 2004! Des Moines Cyclocross Mafia race schedule:
For more information, check out www.crossmafia.com.
2005 Bay Area Super Prestige Cyclo-Cross SeriesWith the San Francisco 49'er football stadium in the background, the 2005 Bay Area Super Prestige Cyclo-Cross series will kick off its 2005 season this Sunday, October 2 with the opening round of the Northern California classic. Returning to the sandy former landfill of Candlestick Point, riders in 12 different categories will be chasing ground squirrels away from their favorite barricade sections and short run-ups for the first two rounds in 2005. The final two races will return for the fourth season to the spiritual home of 'Cross on the San Francisco Peninsula-Coyote Point Recreation Area. New for 2005 is the "Ritchey Neutral Pit", a big part of Pilarcitos Cyclesports customer service goal for a "0" DNF race day. Ritchey is providing five wheelsets that will be available to any racer reaching the pit located at the most distant end of each course in the series. The 2005 Bay Area Super Prestige Cyclo-Cross Series schedule:
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