WISSAHICKON CYCLOCROSS 2007: Beer, Band -- BIG!

Press Contact Information: Verge MAC Cyclocross Series

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

October 12, 2007; Conshohocken, PA, USA: The Philadelphia suburb of the Ludwig’s Corner Pennsylvania will experience the rush of Verge MAC International UCI cyclocross action on Sunday, October 21. Now in its third year at the Ludwig’s Corner Horse Show Fairgrounds, the Wissahickon Cyclocross has a proud history that predates the current location. In fact a young Ryan Trebon scored his first-ever UCI victory at this race in 2003.

The race is traditionally run on the same weekend as the UCI C1 Granogue ‘Cross just 25 miles to the south. The combination of history, money and UCI points is a potent one, and makes this weekend a traditional “can’t miss” for many Elite American racers. Indeed, Kelly Cline, the promoter of the Wissahickon Cyclocross, had already announced his intention to elevate his race to C1 status also. Unfortunately, as UCI rules do not allow for C1 events to be held on the same ay as World Cups, those plans were brought to a premature end when the finalized World Cup schedule was finalized.

With their history, reputations, the weekend combination of Granogue and Wissahickon was destined to become huge. That destiny has been amplified even further in recent years as the two races have consolidated their position as the traditional season-opening weekend for the powerful Verge MAC, which this year boasts an all-UCI schedule and backing from SRAM for the Elite International classes. But in this era of explosive growth in cyclocross, it all creates a happy problem for a meticulous planner like Cline. “It’s suddenly obvious,” he said recently, “that, right now, cyclocross is ‘the new black’. Even non-UCI races around here are getting 300 to 400 entries this year, so we don’t know how many more people are going to show up this year. This weekend has turned into a carnival that’s exceeded our wildest expectations.”

Adding to the carnival atmosphere is live music by alt-jam band Murder House and unguarded kegs of Yard’s Ale that are conveniently kept under a canopy next to the run-up. With planks to hurdle as they ascend the hill, the run-up slows the racers down in a pivotal spot, so that masses of people holding red plastic cups can either encourage or harass them. “It’s one of the noisiest places on the Verge MAC circuit” smiles Cline

The course itself at Ludwig’s Corner will be quite different from the previous day’s at the Granogue Estate. While Granogue is known for its big hills and trees, the Wissahickon Cyclocross takes place at a completely-exposed hill-top fairground where wind is the greatest natural barrier. The winding course incorporates a number of different surfaces and several off-camber turns.

For more information about the Granogue and Wissahickon UCI Cyclocross race weekend, including directions to the two events and pre-registration, see BikeReg.com.

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