2005 Bay Area Super Prestige Cyclo-Cross Series

With the image of the San Francisco 49'er football stadium looming 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 favourite 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 on the shores of SF Bay. Starting off the weekend, Saturdays "Bianchi 'Cross" will be the celeste-flavoured event on December 3 followed by the classic CCCP (Cyclo Cross @ Coyote Point) on Sunday that traces the edge of the water in the 75 yard-long season highlight on the beach.

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.

"If you flat on your first lap and spares are back at the S/F line, that's a complete 'No Fun' race day", according to Tom Simpson, race co-director. "We want all our customers to have a fighting chance to finish every race they start." And especially cast medals featuring the BASP logo will be waiting on the podium for the top three finishers of each event.

The 2005 Bay Area Super Prestige Cyclo-Cross Series is scheduled as follows:

Round 1: October 2nd - Candlestick Point
Round 2: October 23rd - Candlestick Point
Round 3: December 3rd - Coyote Point-Bianchi 'Cross
Round 4: December 4th - Coyote Point (CCCP)