US Cyclo-cross gets new series

Eight American UCI Cyclo-cross races have banded together to form a coast-to-coast series. The North American Cyclocross Trophy Points Championship will begin in September with the Redmond and Lakewood, Washingtotn races, and then move to the other coast for the Gloucester, Massachusetts events in October. The November Boulder, Colorado and Southampton, New York races round out the series. All eight races are UCI sanctioned.

The Trophy will have $7,000 in series bonuses, and is a done deal, according to RAD Racing GP's Jim Brown, "The series is made up of races with a proven track record. They are the classic cyclo-cross races in North America. The races are already on the UCI calendar, the financial backing for the series is already in place and the advertising has already been negotiated."

Brook Watts of the Boulder Cup emphasized that the plans have been completed. "This isn't one of those outrageous pie-in-the-sky plans that gets announced at InterBike and never materializes. I don't think anybody's ever put together a National Series (in America) made up completely of successful already-existing races. The plans for the North American Cyclocross Trophy aren't contingent on anything. It's ready to go right now. The series begins at the FSA Star Crossed on September 20, and it will have more prize money and more UCI points than any cyclo-cross series in North America."

Myles Romanow, promoter of cyclo-cross in the Hamptons detailed some of the prizes. "It's only July, and right now the series is already committed to race prizes in excess of $40,000 cash – plus appearance fees and an additional $7,000 in year-end cash bonuses for the top three season finishers in both the men's and women's divisions. That's all cash, not merchandise."

North American Cyclocross Trophy 2008 Schedule: