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Cyclocross news & racing round-up Part II for October 9, 2005

Edited 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

USGP News: FOCUS to Reward Fast Starters in 2005 U.S. Gran Prix

A fast start is always a good thing in a cyclocross race and in the 2005 Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross a fast start will also be a profitable thing. FOCUS Bikes, a German bike builder best known as sponsor for 2005 Cyclocross World Champion Hanka Kupfernagel, will sponsor the FOCUS First Lap Competition for all six stops of this years U.S. Gran Prix. Awarded in four race categories - Elite Men, Elite Women, Juniors, and Masters 35+ - the FOCUS First Lap Competition will award cash prizes to the leading rider through the start/finish area on each race's opening lap.

The fastest Elite Men and Women will net $100, while the Juniors and Masters stand to make $50 for the first lap "win." Racers will be placed through the top-three - earning 6,4, and 2 points - and a running points tally through the season will finish with four overall FOCUS First Lap Competition champions crowned at the season finale in San Francisco. Overall winners will receive a FOCUS cyclocross bike frame.

FOCUS Bikes was founded in 1989 by Cyclocross World Champion Mike Kluge. Kluge's numerous national and international championships include three world championship titles in cross, mountain bike world cups as well as an incredible 10 German championships and winner of stages in the major national grand tours.

U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross Comes to Portland as Round 2 of the River City Bicycles Cross Crusade

PORTLAND, Ore. The River City Bicycles Cross Crusade hosts the prestigious Crank Bros. U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross this Saturday, October 8, at Alpenrose Dairy in Southwest Portland, featuring the Cannondale Stumptown Cyclocross Classic. This UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) sanctioned race will draw the best American cyclocrossers from across the country, including former Olympians and World Championship participants, announced Cross Crusade Race Director Brad Ross.

Saturday's event doubles as the second race of the River City Bicycles Cross Crusade, the region's wildly popular cyclocross series. The Crusade kicked off its six-race season last Sunday at Hillsboro Stadium, attracting a record number of Cross Crusaders (670 racers). With an additional 100 or so professional and top amateurs expected for the Cannondale Stumptown Cyclocross Classic, overall entries at Alpenrose could top 800, making it the biggest cyclocross race ever held on U.S. soil.

Racing starts at 9 a.m. and continues all day, with the Elite UCI Women's and UCI Junior's race at 1:15 p.m., and the Elite Men's event at 3 p.m.

"This is the River City Bicycles Cross Crusades marquee event," explained Ross. "For any cycling fan interested in watching America's most talented cyclocrossers at speed, this is your chance. And for any cyclist looking to try cyclocross themselves, the Crusade offers a fun-filled opportunity, whether you're a beginner or an expert."

A number of Oregon riders will be favourites to grab part of the Cannondale Stumptown Cyclocross Classic's $8,000 purse, including 2004 Cross Crusade champion Barry Wicks and 2004 U.S. National runner-up Ryan Trebon, both of Corvallis; Portland's Rhonda Mazza, third in the 2004 U.S. Nationals; and Gina Hall of Ashland. Also expected is defending 2004 U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross champion Ann Knapp of Seattle.

Other nationally ranked riders expected to compete include Geoff Kabush of British Columbia, Mark McCormack of Boston, Ben Jacques-Maynes of San Francisco, Josie Beggs, of San Francisco, and more. The long running success of the River City Bicycles Cross Crusade - this is its 14th year - has firmly established the Northwest as the country's most popular region for cyclocross. Each round of the Cross Crusade offers 16 classes of competition, from elite men and women to masters and junior categories. Races vary from 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the class. The series, sanctioned by the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association, will pay out more than $20,000 in prize money plus merchandise.

Cyclocross bike racing is a specialized form of cycling competition, one 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. Cyclocross requires special techniques and fitness; dismounting the bike at speed, running, carrying the bike over barriers, shouldering it up hills, and maintaining speed through turns and over uneven, muddy terrain. Plus, the pace is frenetic, with little time to rest and less opportunity for "slipstreaming," as in road races.

The remaining River City Cross Crusade schedule is as follows:

  • Race 2 - October 8, Alpenrose Dairy (U.S. GP of Cyclocross)
  • Race 3 - October 23, Scouters Mountain
  • Race 4 - October 30, Halloween Cross Festival, Flying M Ranch
  • Race 5 - November 13, Barton Park
  • Race 6 - November 20, District Cyclocross Championships, Estacada Timber Park.

Verge Mid-Atlantic Cyclocross to compete against pancreatic Cancer

EVO-Cross, the season-opening race in the $30,000 Verge Mid-Atlantic Cyclocross Series takes place this Sunday, October 9, in historic Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The 2005 series is once again sponsored by Verge Sport, which manufactures of top-of-the-line cycling apparel for the U.S. market using unique European craftsmanship and design, and features the best cyclocrossers in North America.

This proceeds from this weekend's EVO-Cross race at the None-Such Farm in Buckingham, Pennsylvania will benefit the American Cancer Society and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, also known as PanCAN. Based in El Segundo, California, PanCAN is dedicated to focusing national attention on the need to find a cure for pancreatic cancer. PanCAN embraces the urgent need for more research, effective treatments, prevention programs and early detection methods.

The organization also provides patient and liaison services via a toll free number, 877-272-6226, and through it's website -- www.pancan.org. It is an effort close to the heart of race promoter Tammy Ebersole. "My brother, Todd Ebersole, died of pancreatic cancer at age 35 almost three years ago. PanCAN helped us with information and support," says Ebersole, "and really there is not a lot of publicity generated about pancreatic cancer. It's one of the most deadly forms of cancer and needs more focus by the medical community." One of the objectives of the race, with its international media attention, is to bring more attention to the work of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

A free cyclocross clinic starts the program at 9:00 am, followed by the full slate of MAC amateur and Elite classes. The Pro Double-Header portion of the program kicks off at 1:00 with a free kid's race, followed by the Elite events where reigning champions Ryan Leech and Betsy Schauer, both of Pennsylvania-based FORT/GPOA will start the defense of their Verge Sport Championship Jerseys. The complete schedule and race details can be found at www.BikeReg.com, the official online event registration site for the MAC Championship series. BikeReg.com can be accessed directly, or from the Verge Mid-Atlantic website at www.monkeyhillcs.com/mac/mac2005/.

Many of the racers in the Verge Mid-Atlantic Cycling Series are fueled and tuned by Honey Stinger Energy Gel and Cadence Performance Cycling Center. The Official Energy Food of the 2005 Verge Mid-Atlantic Cycling Series, Honey Stinger uses Pure Honey as the main source of carbohydrates because studies show that honey is low on the glycemic index and therefore provides a long, steady source of energy instead of a spike and crash caused by man made carbohydrates commonly found in other energy gels. Directed by Brian Walton, a 3-time Olympian, USAC Developmental Coach of the Year and winner of the first-ever Mid-Atlantic Cyclocross Series race, Cadence Performance Cycling Center provides cyclists of all levels with the Nation's finest range of performance oriented training and testing services to help riders of all abilities improve their cycling skills.

Spectator admission and parking will be free courtesy of None-Such Farms and the race's sponsor, Evolution Pro Bike and Ski Shop. Evolution is located less than a mile away from the races should anyone break any parts at the last minute. An extra bonus this year is that the EVO-Cross races coincide with None-Such Farm's Pumpkin Festival, which runs weekends from October 8 through 23. Activities include Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins, live Bluegrass music, hay rides and corn mazes -- among others. Other nearby attractions include the restaurants and shops of the aptly-named Peddlers Village boutique shopping village and the very eclectic New Hope shopping district, as well as numerous museums and historic sites.

Michelob ULTRA Gran Prix of Gloucester

Essex County Velo is proud to present the Michelob ULTRA Gran Prix of Gloucester, two days of world class cyclocross racing at Gloucester's Stage Fort Park on Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30, 2005.

Both Michelob ULTRA Gran Prix of Gloucester Races are part of the Crank Brothers US Gran Prix of Cyclocross.

Essex County Velo (ECV) will host two days of world class bicycle racing at Gloucester's Stage Fort Park on Saturday and Sunday, October 29 and 30. This race course was voted one of the top venues for challenge, dramatic waterfront location and event organization.

Part of the national series that will attract racers from across North America (and even some from Europe), these short intense races punctuated by slipping, sliding, jumping, even hill running while carrying the bike making them fan favourites. The fans celebrate with cowbells, horns and costumes making this a real Halloween celebration. This year, races for local kids, sponsored by Essex County Velo.

Former National Champion Tim Johnson of Middleton, fresh from a pro roadracing career in Europe and the US, is scheduled to return cyclocross, an event he used to dominate. "I can't wait to get back in front of the home crowd on what I consider to be one of my favourite races".

Other prominent Bay State racers include six-time National Cyclocross Champion Jesse Anthony. European racers will include Belgian Sten Raeymakers, who rides for Spaar Select, one of the top teams in European cyclocross.

Race Director Paul Boudreau of Salem says..."Our club members do a tremendous amount of work to make these races a success. Somehow, many of them still have the energy to race during the weekend!"

Visit www.gpgloucester.com for complete information.

Hot cross in the Windy City

The Chicagoland Cyclocross Cup is back—bigger and badder than ever. There will be six races between October and December, two in the city and four in the surrounding areas.

A great group of sponsors has come together to make this happen: Yojimbo's Garage, Zensah, Kenda, Clif Bar, Turin, Purple Extreme, Cambiatta, Pyro Apparel, and Torelli have contributed significantly along with SRAM, Scott, Redline, Giant, Blue and Raleigh.

The entry fee is only $20 for most categories ($25 for As and $15 for Juniors) and the races pay out to X places, so what are you waiting for? There are also 5 'cross frames offered up as racing prizes for the winners of categories and 3 available to the masses through various raffles.

The overall winner in each category takes home the Chicago 'Cross Cup Winners Jersey and the distinction of being the faster 'crosser in the Heartland.

Check out www.chicrosscup.com for the rest of the details.

The Chicagoland Cyclocross Cup schedule:

  • Race 1 - October 9, Carpenter Park (Carpentersville, IL)
  • Race 2 - October 23, Jackson Park (Southside, Chicago)
  • Race 3 - November 5, Revolution Cross (Northbrook, IL)
  • Race 4 - November 13, Challenge Park No. 1 (Joliet, IL)
  • Race 5 - November 19, Challenge Park No. 2 (Joliet, IL)
  • Race 6 - December 4, IL State Championship (Northside, Chicago)

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