The second weekend of the USGP of Cyclocross rolls into Mercer County Park on November 17th and 18th where the racers will face both a course desinged by CyclocrossWorld.com's Stu Thorne and the always-strong fields of the Mid-Atlantic region. For those wanting an extra dose of actitivty, the race weekend will also feature a 5K Run presented by the Running Company with proceeds benefitting the Young Survivial Coalition (www.youngsurvival.org). Once again Clif Bar will present it's Kids' Clinics with Danny Summerhill, Ben Turner and National Team Coach Geoff Proctor on Friday from 3:30 - 4:30 pm.
Course designer, CyclocrossWorld.com's very own Stu Thorne, says about the Mercer venue:
This is a course for the powerful racers. The first turn after the start will be critical and it leads into a long, slow grind into the false flats on far-side of the course. The sand pits - three in a row - are long and favor the strongest, technical riders. On the final lap, the race could turn on a strategic run through the pits. The pit is located fairly close to the finish and right before the fly-over. The person who gets a good bike change in the pits would be positioned well for the last trip over the fly-over, into the technical section along the lake into the final gravelly turn onto the long up-hill sprint to the finish.
In general, with the fly-over, sand and grass there is more than enough on offer on this course to make it very interesting! Throw in the strong winds coming off the lake and we're in for a great weekend of racing.
As New Jersey’s capital county, Mercer County is a center for commerce and culture in the Garden State. Located midway between New York City and Philadelphia in New Jersey’s center, Mercer County’s 13 municipalities are home to more than 350,000 people in 226 square miles in the heart of region with 10% of the US population all within a 75-mile radius.
The transportation infrastructure in Mercer County is also excellent. Key corridors along the New Jersey Turnpike in Mercer County are considered the most lucrative commerce centers in the state. In addition, Interstates 95, 195 and 295, as well as state highways routes 1, 29, 31 and 130 make Mercer County more attractive. Mercer County also offers access to commuter rail services, a light rail system and the Trenton-Mercer Airport.
With a highly skilled and educated labor pool we’re also home to Princeton University, Rider University, The College of New Jersey, Thomas Edison State College and Mercer County Community College. The county holds some of the states greatest cultural and historic sites with Revolutionary War battle sites in Trenton and Princeton.
Recreation and entertainment are abundant with first-class parks, four public golf courses, the Trenton Titans professional hockey team and the New York Yankees AA-affiliate, Trenton Thunder at Waterfront Park. Sovereign Bank Arena is ranked among the best performing venues of its size in the world.
With a strong economic base and a record of job creation, Forbes recently ranked Mercer County as 21st on the list for businesses to locate.
Mercer County’s excellent schools, tourist destinations, and diverse, well educated workforce make our county a great place to live, work and play.
http://www.newjerseyvisitorsnetwork.com/mercer/
http://www.njrestaurants.com/mercer.html
The Mercer Cup Headquarters Hotel:
The Nassau Inn
Ten Palmer Square
Princeton, New Jersey 08542
609.688.2649
Rate - $149 Per night
ref – USGP
Cut off Date for rate – October 12
Additional Area Hotels:
Lakeside Conference Center and Hotel (soon to be Wyndham)
900 Scudders Mill Rd
Plainsboro, NJ 08536
609-936-6517
Rate - $129 per night, includes breakfast
ref - US Gran Prix of Cyclocross.
Cut off date for rate – October 31
The Comfort Inn
3702 US Route 1 North
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
609-896-3700
Rate – $79.00
Ref – USGP
Cut off date for rate – October 16
From the North/ New Jersey Turnpike
Take I95 South/ NJ Turnpike to exit 8 towards Hightstown/Freehold
Keep Right at the fork to continue toward Franklin St / Route 33
Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Hightstown/ Route 33 W/E Windsor and merge onto Franklin St/Route 33
Turn left at North Main Street
Turn slight right at Mercer Street
Turn slight left at US 130 S
Turn right at Church St
Continue on Edinburg Windsor Rd./ Windsor Rd Continue to follow Windsor Rd
Turn left at Old Trenton Rd
The Park will be on you right follow signs to the Marina and parking
From the South/ Philadelphia
Take I95 North towards Trenton
Continue on I295 S
Take exit 65A on the left for Sloan Ave E
Merge onto Sloan Ave
Continue on Flock Rd
Turn left at Edinburg Rd
Continue on Old Trenton Rdd
The park will be on your left follow signs to the Marina and Parking
From Princeton/Route 1
Exit onto CR 533 South/ Quakerbridge Rd
Turn left at Hughes Drive
Turn left at Edinburg Rd
Continue on Old Trenton Rd
The park will be on your left follow signs to the Marina and Parking
|
