North American UCI 'cross season gets underway on both coasts

The North American Cyclo-cross season will kick off this weekend with double race weekends on both coasts of the USA. The North American Cyclo-cross Trophy series commences in Washington state with the FSA Star Crossed on September 19 and the Rad Racing GP on September 20.

Heading up the men's field will be 2007 'cross worlds silver medalist Jonathan Page, US champion Ryan Trebon and past national champion Jeremy Powers and Tim Johnson (Cannondale / CyclocrossWorld). Stepping into the elite category this year will be current U23 National Champion Nick Weighall (California Giant).

The women's field will see the return of six-time national champion Alison Dunlap is coming out of retirement for Star Crossed and will be contending against British champion Helen Wyman and last year's winner, Sue Butler.

Page and Dunlap will be hosting a free 'cross clinic at the site of Saturday's race. The free clinic will be held at the King County's Marymoor Velodrome in Redmond from 5:30 - 6:45 PM on Friday, September 18th. No sign up or registration required.

On the east coast, the MAC Powered by SRAM series will begin on September 19 with the Nittany Lion Cyclo-cross race at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania. The series heads south the following day to Baltimore, Maryland for the Charm City Cyclo-cross.

Starting their series title defences during the weekend will be C3-Athletes Serving Athletes teammates Wes Schempf and Laura Van Gilder. Schempf was the most successful racer in the Mid-Atlantic last year, winning both the MAC and MABRAcross season titles. Van Gilder, meanwhile, starts 2009 as the defending champion of both races as well as the defending series winner.

For more information about these or other MAC Powered by SRAM events , see www.MidAtlanticCross.com or go directly to both races' registration pages on BikeReg.com.