US ProXCT finale may get earlier date

The finals of the US ProXCT elite cross country races, now scheduled for Saturday, September 26, may be moving up a few days on the calendar. Organizers are considering shifting the finale of the seven-race series to be run in conjunction with Dirt Demo at Interbike on Tuesday, September 22.

"We're pursuing the change aggressively and we have support from major industry teams," said Ty Kady to Cyclingnews on behalf of series organizers. "But nothing is definite yet. We still have to sell it to the organizers of the Dirt Demo." Kady expects to know for certain by about June 15, so racers and team support personnel may want to hold on finalizing travel plans. The Dirt Demo is the outdoors, test portion of the Interbike Trade Show.

Kady outlined several reasons for the change, despite the fact that the new date comes only a few days after the previous weekend's UCI World Cup final round. First, many of the mountain bikers will be trying to make the cyclo-cross USGP in Wisconsin on the weekend of September 26-27, and the new date would enable racers to do both events. Those not racing 'cross would also be able to finish their USProXCT series before standing on their feet for several days at the Interbike trade show.

On the flip side, some riders and support personal may have already made travel arrangements with the original date, and those returning state-side from the World Cup in Europe will have overcome the jetlag with just three days in between events.

Regardless of whether the elite ProXCT finals move, amateurs will still race on September 26 as originally scheduled.