July 16/08 1:12 am - American `Cross Series Announcement

Posted by Editoress on 07/16/08
 

Big Bucks And “The Trophy” For American 'Crossers
Myles Romanow, American Cyclocross Series, www.nacyclocross.com

America's Most Famous Cyclocross Events Form New International Series

American Cyclocross just got bigger and richer, and America will never be the same. So say the promoters of eight of the biggest and well-known international cyclocross races on the American calendar, who have dropped a bombshell by forming an eight-race, coast-to-coast series with $7,000 in year-end cash bonuses. The North American Cyclocross Trophy Points Championship is scheduled to begin this fall and includes such notable races as FSA Star Crossed, Rad Racing GP Presented by Kona and FSA, Gran Prix of Gloucester, Boulder Cup, and the Whitmore's Landscaping Super Cross Cup. All eight races are UCI sanctioned and already appear on the 2008-2009 UCI calendar.

Promoters of the series stress that this is a concrete, guaranteed-to-happen series. According to RAD Racing GP's Jim Brown, “The series is made up of races with a proven track record. They are the classic cyclocross 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 Boulder Cup puts it a little more colorfully, “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 cyclocross series in North America.”

Money and international prestige are the foundation of the NACX Trophy, which was conceived from the start as a professional series. “Top racers are interested in two things, money and points; and we've got more of both of them than anybody else in North America,” said Myles Romanow, long time promoter of cyclocross in the upscale Hamptons. “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. And we also offer more UCI points than any other series in America. The Trophy offers more UCI points than any series in the world outside of Europe.”

Cyclocross in America has experienced extraordinary growth in the past decade. Nobody has had such long-standing and close-up perspective of that growth as Paul Boudreau, promoter of the Gran Prix of Gloucester in Massachusetts. Affectionately nicknamed the “New England Worlds”, Gloucester has become one of those venues, like Wimbledon or Augusta, which defines its sport. When asked how he expects the NACX Trophy Series to benefit his race and the sport in general, Boudreau just shrugged and replied in typically minimalist New England fashion, “The classic races. The trophy. The prize worth winning. How could it not be great?”

For more information on the North American Cyclocross Trophy, contact Series Spokesman Terry Buchanan at 425-503-2333 or Media Coordinator Ken Getchell of SpectaSport LLC at KenG@SpectaSport.com.

American Cyclocross Trophy 2008 Schedule:

September 20:
FSA Star Crossed presented by Gerk's Ski and Cycle - “The Twilight Floodlit Cyclocross Party”
King County's Marymoor Park, Redmond Washington (C2)

September 21:
Rad Racing GP presented by Kona and FSA - “The Kona Knapptime Run-up”
Ft. Steilacoom Park, Lakewood Washington (C2)

October 10-11:
Gran Prix of Gloucester - “The New England Worlds”
Stage Fort Park, Gloucester Massachusetts (C2/C2)

November 1-2:
Boulder Cup - “The High-Altitude Classic”
Harlow Platts Park, Boulder Colorado (C2/C1)

November 22-23:
Whitmore's Landscaping Super Cross Cup - “The Hamptons”
Southampton Youth Services Park, Southampton New York (C1/C1)