US Marathon National Championships 2012: Preview

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Adam Craig (Rabobank Giant Offroad Team) is calling time on World Cup racing. In Val d'Isere, he was the top North American finisher(Image credit: Tour of Japan)

The 2012 USA Cycling Mountain Bike Marathon National Championships are set for Saturday, September 15 at Wanoga Sno Park in Bend, Oregon. In addition to the coveted Stars-and-Stripes jerseys, the top-five finishers in each of the professional men's and women's races will split a $1,000 purse.

The one-day event begins with the elite men at 9:00 am. The elite women will start five minutes later. Following those two groups, riders will contest the course in age groups. The event will also include non-championship, age-group races. The non-championship contests will start in three-minute intervals beginning with the 19-29 men at 9:15 am. They are followed by the 30-34 men, 35-39 men, 40-44 men, 45-49 men, singlespeed men and the 50-and-over men begin their race at 9:33 am. The non-championship women's races begin three minutes later as the 19-29 and 30-39 women begin their race at 9:36 am. At 9:39 am., the 40-49 and singlespeed females take the course and the 50-and-over are the last group to start at 9:42 am.