VERGE MAC’S GARDEN STATE WEEKEND

Press Contact Information: Mid-Atlantic Championship Cyclocross Series (MAC)

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 2, 2007; Conshohocken, PA, USA: The chase for the prestigious Verge MAC Championship moves to New Jersey on November 10 and 11 for a double-header of UCI cyclocross racing in “the Garden State”. The weekend kicks off Saturday, November 10, with the high-speed sandy chutes, sand pits and infamous “Amphitheatre of Pain” of the Beacon Cyclocross. The following day, Sunday November 11, the Pro-Am and International racers travel up the New Jersey Turnpike to the HPCX in Jamesburg.

“There was a major push last year to get these two races back onto the same weekend,” says Verge MAC Media Director Ken Getchell. “Cyclocross is booming in New Jersey, like everywhere else. It only makes sense to schedule the state’s two biggest races together to make them as attractive and economical as possible to pros, and amateurs, who need to travel long distances to get to New Jersey.” The additional incentives provided for the first time this year by SRAM to the top finishers in the Elite division Verge MAC points chases is also expected to generate increased interest with seasoned pros.

On the pro-am side of the program, both races will be points events for the college teams of the powerful Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference, with the collegiate program running concurrently with the regular Verge MAC classes. In fact, Sunday’s HPCX race will be a fund raiser for the 2006 conference champions (and race co-promoters), Rutgers University Cycling Team. Proceeds from the race will assist the Scarlet Knights when they travel to the U.S. National Championships. "For the past few years the National Championships have been in Rhode Island and travel has been relatively simple and inexpensive,”. says Mark Vareschi, Rutgers Cycling Cyclocross Program Director. “However, moving a team of collegiate riders from New Jersey to Kansas, in the midst of final exams, presents a whole new level of difficulty and expense. We're excited that Race Director Craig Callan and the Highland Park Hermes have generously offered the HPCX race as a benefit for us. No one has quite the commitment to cyclocross that Rutgers does. What other collegiate teams help promote 'cross races where Tour de France veterans like Chris Horner show up?"

Fund raising of another sort takes place at the Beacon Cyclocross on Saturday, where the entire food concession has been turned over to volunteers for the Beacon Animal Rescue. The Beacon Animal Rescue, which is not associated with race sponsor Beacon Cycling & Fitness, rescues domestic animals that are about to be euthanized in shelters.

More information about Verge MAC’s Garden State Weekend, including pre-registration and driving directions, can be found at BikeReg.com.

Schedule (both days):

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 age 35+

1:30 pm International Race, The Elite International Women, powered by SRAM

2:30 pm International Race, The Elite International Men, powered by SRAM

-0-