SHOWTIME! CYCLING’S SPECTATOR SPECTACLE

ELITE BIKE RACERS BRING CYCLING’S “STEEPLECHASE” TO TOWN

Press Contact Information: Verge MAC Cyclocross Series

Ken Getchell, Media Director: kenmacpr@yahoo.com; 610-397-1950

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 20, 2007; Conshohocken, PA, USA: Cyclocross, the fast-growing and wildly entertaining combination of on-and-off-road bicycle racing returns to Lake Fairfax Park in Reston Virginia for the Capital Cross Classic on Sunday, December 2. The event, which is part of the prestigious Verge MAC International Cyclocross Series, will take place rain-or-shine at Lake Fairfax Park and spectator admission is free.

According to MAC Media Director Ken Getchell, cyclocross is a unique, and colorful, spectacle. “Cyclocross is off-road bike racing, but on much faster bikes and courses than mountain bike racing, and with all the color and drama of cycle road racing,” he said recently. “Visually, it’s sort of a mixture of stock car racing and steeplechase horse racing. What people usually remember most about cyclocross races are high-speed flocks of colorful racers and the obstacles that force the riders to jump off their bikes and carry them. Every course has at least one set of “planks”, 16” high wooden barriers that the racers must hurdle every lap before jumping back on their bikes at a full run. And it’s exciting because you can see so much of a cyclocross race that it’s very easy to follow the action.” Cyclocross is, apparently, also a forum for audience participation. “Yeah, it can get pretty noisy at some of the races what with the sounds of the bikes, the announcer, the music and the people cheering the racers. People can go pretty crazy making noise. My favorites last year were the middle-aged women at the race on the Granogue Estate standing on the side of a steep, muddy hill -- in heels, designer clothes and jewelry -- wildly ringing cowbells. They had these big, bemused smiles that practically screamed ‘I can’t believe I’m having this much fun’.”

Past editions of the Capital Cross Classic have been exciting affairs, with last year’s race being won by Switzerland’s Michael Muller. The explosive growth of cyclocross in America guarantees an even better race in 2007. Once the domain of athletes from The Netherlands and Belgium, where cyclocross is so popular that it’s shown on live TV and is the basis for “Reality TV” program, the highest levels of the sport are, for the first time, being infiltrated by Americans. At last year’s World Cyclocross Championships, Americans won three silver medals out of the four races. Much of the credit for that success can be traced to organizations like Verge MAC. Like NCAA collegiate athletics, American cyclocross is organized according to regional series, or “conferences” as they are known to collegiate sports fans. And, like the ACC or Big 10 collegiate conference, Verge MAC is recognized as a formidable organization. One of the richest series in America, Verge MAC is also one of a very few series in which every race is listed on the international calendar that determines start positions at the World Championships. As a result, Verge MAC has a history of drawing top racers not only from the U.S.A. and Canada, but also from throughout Europe. Its international appeal is such that Verge MAC races are covered by cycling news media throughout the world.

Racing begins with amateur divisions at 9:00 am. The triple-header of Elite/Professional racing begins at 12:15. See below for a full schedule of the days events. For more information, see http://www.potomacvelo.com/CapitalCrossClassic.htm or call (703) 725-9576. (Media inquiries, please call Ken Getchell at 61-397-1950)

Schedule, Capital Cross Classic, December 2, 2007

9:00 am Amateur Race, Novices and SupaFAN.com Juniors

10:00 am Amateur Race, age 35+ and 55+

11:00 am Domestic Race, Men

12:15 pm Domestic Race, Elite Masters

1:00 pm FREE Kids Race

1:30 pm International Race:

“The REI Classic for The Elite Women powered by SRAM”

2:30 pm International Race:

“The Elite International Men powered by SRAM”

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