We already reported on Belgian cyclocross superstar Bart Wellen’s plans to start his season in the US. Now, it appears that in addition to StarCrossed and the Rad Racing GP, Wellens and teammate Rob Peeters will be adding even more US cyclocross racing to their itineraries.
Bart Wellens is adding even more dates to his US cyclocross schedule. (Roubaix World Cup file photo) © Joe Sales
June 8, 2011 (Louisville, KY): Organizers of the US Gran Prix of Cyclocross announced today that Telenet Fidea superstars Bart Wellens and Rob Peeters will race the Planet Bike Cup in Sun Prairie, WI on September 24th and 25th.
Wellens, a two-time World Champion and two-time Belgian National Champion along with Peeters, winner in Zonnebeke in 2010/2011, are traveling to the US to kick off their 2011/2012 campaigns and to do a reconnaissance trip to Louisville, KY in advance of the 2013 UCI Elite World Cyclocross Championships.
USGP founder Bruce Fina said, “For me, both personally and from a sporting perspective, it’s very exciting to see Bart racing in the US again. The last time he was here he was the reigning U23 World Champion and he came to race for our team, CCB International, in Massachusetts. He came for about six weeks as part of an exchange program that later saw Tim Johnson spending the winter with him in Belgium. I am sure he will enjoy his time here again this season.”
Fina continued, “The Planet Bike Cup has featured some top European talent in the past – Erwin Vervecken, Francis Mouray, Tim Van Nuffel, Christian Huele, Rene Birkenfeld – have all raced here in pursuit of some early season form and points. We have long lobbied for these teams to come and take advantage of the great racing on offer in the US in the early season. We are seeing more and interest in that every year. Surely the 2013 World Championships in Louisville have something to do with that – and we are excited to have the opportunity to show this Belgian delegation around Louisville as part of their time in the US this year.”
