IRON CROSS TO HOST PRE-RACE WORSHIP LED BY MIKE REINHART

October 9, 2007, Conshocken, PA, USA: A familiar name to cycling enthusiasts will be taking on a new role at this weekend’s Iron Cross in the Michaux Forest near the historic town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The 50 mile race, touted as America’s longest cyclocross race, will host a 7:30am non-denominational worship service lead by Mike Reinhart prior to the start of the day’s racing action. Mike began public speaking in 2001, the year after his daughter Nicole died in a tragic cycling accident. Mike and his wife Pam had been part of Nicole's cycling career since she started racing at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania. Nicole was a rising star in the world of cycling, and was at the top of the sport as captain of team Saturn when tragedy struck. Just 24, Nicole was gone in an instant as the result of a fall.

This is the first time that the race’s promoting organization, Yellow Breeches Racing, has held a service prior to one of their races, and it is a welcome addition according to announcer Ken Getchell. “The economic reality is that you have to race on Sunday. But for people of faith like myself, we miss the opportunity to worship. Major auto races of all kinds have long had chapel services on Sunday mornings; I hope it becomes a tradition at many bike races as well.”

For more information on the Iron Cross Weekend, which also includes traditional cyclocross and running races, see http://www.yellowbreechesracing.org/ironcross/

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