After directing the CrossVegas cyclocross race for 11 years, Brook Watts is taking a step back from his many commitments. With Interbike moving to Reno this year, the race formerly known as CrossVegas was rebooted as RenoCross. On Tuesday, Watts sold the race to the Reno Cyclocross group that hosted the 2018 U.S. Cyclocross Nationals. Learn more in this release.
LONGMONT, Colo.—America’s biggest cyclocross race has a new owner. Brook Watts, president of Watts Marketing, announced the sale of RenoCross on Tuesday. The new owners are Reno-based RENOCX, LLC, a group consisting of Coby Rowe, the race director of the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships which took place in Reno in January 2018, along with Brian Armon and Darron Sturgeon who played integral roles in Reno’s successful event.
Watts commented, “RenoCross is in great hands with a passionate group who proved their race organizational skills with the best-run cross nationals this country has seen. I knew it was a great fit from the beginning.”
Coby Rowe and his Reno Cyclocross team are taking over the RenoCross race. photo: Bill Schieken
RenoCross will take place on Wednesday evening September 19, 2018 at Rancho San Raphael Park in Reno, NV after the second full day of the Interbike show, which is set to take place at the Reno Tahoe Convention Center. The event was previously held in Las Vegas as CrossVegas for the past 11 years and was a fixture on the international cyclocross calendar.
The race was the first-ever U.S. race selected for the UCI World Cup series. The Reno event is expected to continue to attract large crowds of spectators enjoying food and drink in a lively, night-time atmosphere watching some of the world’s best elite racers in the UCI C1 races, as well as amateur racers from the region and beyond.
Rowe said, “We are proud to be bringing this renowned event to the northern Nevada community and believe that our team is perfectly aligned to continue to make this a must-attend event each and every year for ’cross cyclists and spectators alike.”
Don’t expect Watts to ride into the sunset. He continues to serve as Race Director of UCI World Cup Waterloo and holds a position on the UCI Cross Commission in addition to the USA Cycling Board of Directors. Watts added, “I look forward to standing on the sidelines of the race as a ’cross fan after a dozen years of sweating the details.”
“Cyclocross Nationals proved that the Reno/Sparks/Tahoe community will completely embrace an event such as this. Locals love outdoor adventure and sports and the opportunity to welcome visitors to all our area has to offer. Our team is looking forward to embarking on new community partnerships and bringing this spectacular event to our hometown,” said Rowe.
RenoCross will be held at Rancho San Rafael Park in Reno this September. Junior Men 17-18. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © A. Yee / Cyclocross Magazine
For more on RenoCross, you can follow Reno Cyclocross on Facebook and on Twitter at @renocrosscx.
