MAC ends in double-header

Verge MAC brings down the curtain on its 2007 campaign with a "classic" double-header of UCI racing on the first weekend of December. Mike Hebe's Carlisle Classic in central Pennsylvania kick-starts the racing weekend on Saturday, December 1 and the traditional season-ending Capital Cross Classic brings international cyclo-cross back to the Washington, DC suburb of Reston, Virginia the following day.

One thing that has changed dramatically for the Pennsylvania leg of the weekend is the new venue at the Carlisle Fairgrounds. After outgrowing its former home in nearby Lower Allen Township, race promoter Mike Hebe has relocated his race to the Carlisle Fairgrounds, site of the some of the world's largest auto shows. The new venue not only provides more infrastructure and a centralized location, it also offers the racers a different kind of challenge. "The new course is fast," said race promoter Hebe. "It may be the fastest cyclo-cross course in America. But there are enough obstacles to mix up the action, and most of the course will be visible from the covered bleachers."

Two of the top contenders for the weekend's Elite Men powered by SRAM races will be Team RGM Watches Richard Sachs teammates Jon Hamblen and Justin Spinelli. Together, they swept the top of the podium at both of North Carolina's UCI races in November. One rider they will have to contend with, at least at Carlisle, is Davide Frattini. The Italian, who rides for the Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Lite pro cycling team, is on a two-race winning streak and will be looking to wrap-up the season title at Carlisle. But he'll only have one chance to clinch the title because conflicting obligations will keep him from participating in Sunday's race.