Red Zone Cycling Team
Organizers of the Tour de Louisville, Round 2 of the 2010 Zipp OVCX Cyclocross Tour presented by Papa John’s, have announced two last-minute upgrades to this Sunday’s race. Chip timing has been added and the Red Zone Junior Development Cycling Team will operate the official food concession at the race on October 3.
Awarded as USA Cycling’s best junior club of the year 2008, Red Zone is an outgrowth of the Kid’s Cross training programs in Louisville’s Champions Park. The club is juniors only, and comprised of boys and girls ages six to sixteen. Red Zone currently has riders leading the Zipp OVCX presented by Papa Johns point standings in four of the Tour’s six junior categories. According to Steven Webster, the Race Director for the Tour of Louisville, the food sales at next Sunday’s race will help Red Zone, “raise money to put Juniors on bikes, in races and also at national-level events.” The Chip timing will be provided by Louisville’s 2WheelSports Event Management and sponsored by BikeClicks.com/Team Louisville. According to Race Director Steven Webster, “we know you want to get in, race, and get out without hanging around for hours. And if that weren’t enough, you’ll be able to see your lap times get slower and slower on each excruciating lap. Chip timing like the pros, quick and accurate results and gobs of data to geek out over on Monday’s recovery ride with your CX buddies.”
Many people believe that chip timing, which is used extensively in very profitable charity 5K, 10K and marathon running races, holds even more potential for cyclocross. Normally associated with elite racing, the technology may have more potential for amateur races that have the added complexity of large fields and multiple classes. “Chip timing is the holy grail,” said Rob Campbell, one of the promoters at this past weekend’s Ed Sander Memorial Cyclocross.
For more information on Red Zone Cycling, see www.RedZoneCycling.com. Pre-registration for the Tour de Louisville on BikeReg.com closes at 11:00 pm on Wednesday, September 29.
