MABRA double-header heats series up

The first weekend in November will host a rare double-header race weekend, with rounds four and five of the seven race series taking place. On Saturday, November 3, the series heads to Maryland's Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area just across the Delaware-Maryland Border from Newark, Delaware for the Wayne Scott Memorial, in honour of the former promoter of the Fair Hill Cyclo-cross races. Still very much alive, Scott was forced by job requirements to relocate to South Carolina several years ago and is missed by the Delaware Cross Coalition who are organizing the race.

The following day, November 4, the series heads south to Leesburg, Virginia's Ida Lee Park for Squadra Coppi's annual "Tacchino Cicliocross". The Ida Lee Park is easily the most majestic venue on the BikeReg.com MABRAcross circuit. The hilly terrain and scenic views of the Catoctin Mountain range create a crowd-pleasing course for both riders and spectators that will be duplicate last year's successful event with minor changes.

These races will also see the introduction of the revised MABRAcross race-day schedule. Because of the huge growth being experienced by the BikeReg.com MABRAcross Series, the Category 3 & 4 Women will now have their own separate race starting at 9:00 am. For more information, including directions and pre-registration, on the Wayne Scott Memorial and the Tacchino Cicliocross, rounds 4 & 5 of the BikeReg.com MABRAcross Series, see BikeReg.com.

Series leaders Weston Schempf and Betsy Shogren have comfortable, though not safe, leads in the Elite Men and Elite Women divisions respectively. Seven riders are bunched closely behind Schempf, Steve Cummings, Michael Gallagher, Gordon Steven, Davide Frattini, Stephen Kincaid and Jeremiah Bishop. In the 35+ subdivision, Mark Gwadz is leading the series with a 'not-so-comfortable' lead ahead of Blair Saunders. This official jersey category has seen a big jump in attendance making this race a hotly contested race throughout the MABRAcross series.

Like the men, there are a bunch of women close behind points leader Shogren. Defending champ Lisa Vible, Jessica Hill, Jennifer Maxwell, Carolyn Popovic, Sheldon Libbey, Heidi von Teitenberg, and Erica Yozell are all within striking distance of the lead. Other leaders in the Championship Jersey divisions are: Randy Root (1/2/3 age 45+), Nunzio Dibiasi (Masters 55+), Ethan Townsend, who promotes the next race in the MABRAcross series (category 3/4 men), Sam O'Keefe in U18 Juniors, Justin Mauch in U16 Juniors, Steven Wahl in category 4 men and Terri Spanogle in category 3/4 women.