Government money for cyclocross? It does exist. Festival spokesman Ken Getchell described the Cincinnati UCI3 Cyclocross Festival’s award as “sizable” but declined to provide specific numbers. But their award shows that there’s help for promoters outside of corporate sponsorships in this tough economy.
August 24, 2009; Conshohocken, PA, USA: Organizers of the three day, $26,000+ Cincinnati International Cyclocross Festival on October 9, 10 and 11 have received a LIFT (Local Investment Fund for Touris) grant from the City of Covington, Kentucky. “The county and the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau Board are very excited about this event and understand the importance of having the cyclocross here,” said Assistant Director of Economic Development and Community Relations Department Manager Kathie Hickey of the announcement.
Registration for the three day festival of cyclocross racing is already open on a special BikeReg.com registration page.
The grant is just the latest commitment to America’s original 3 day UCI Cyclocross Festival from this city of 43,000 people located just across the river from Cincinnati. “From the start, the leadership of Covington has recognized the value and economic impact of hosting a major cyclocross event,” says Mitch Graham, Zipp OVCX Tour Director and Promoter of the Festival’s keynote event, the Harbin Park International presented by Bio Wheels and United Dairy Farmers. Co-organizer Nick Tinsler concurs, “When we first approached Covington about hosting a race, they offered Devou Park, one of the most beautiful city parks in America, for Friday’s Darkhorse Cyclo-Stampede. Then they offered the use of most of the park’s other facilities as well for ancillary services. And then they introduced us to the Radisson Cincinnati Riverfront hotel. The Radisson has since stepped up to partner with the Cincinnati UCI3 Cyclocross Festival to serve as the official race hotel and central hub for the weekend. They are providing special rates to racers, accommodations for the race staff and officials, and are even hosting a cocktail reception for the racers.”
The Cincinnati UCI3 Cyclocross Festival consists of three UCI races that are also part of the Zipp OVCX Cyclocross Tour:
· The Cincinnati UCI3 Cyclo-Stampede at Devou Park presented by Darkhorse Racing on Friday October 9
· The Cincinnati UCI3 Java Johnny’s-Lionhearts at Sunset Park in Middletown Ohio on Saturday October 10
· The Cincinnati UCI3 Harbin Park presented by Bio Wheels and United Dairy Farmers in Fairfield Ohio on Sunday, October 11
In addition to being part of the Zipp OVCX Tour, all three races are listed on the UCI International Calendar as C2 races. However, the weekend’s keynote race at Harbin Park has elected to pay a full C1 men’s purse of over $9,000. And, with all three races having also committed to paying the UCI women competitors according to the Gould Formula, the Pro Elite women will be racing for $10,000 of the total $26,000 weekend purse, which is believed to be the richest weekend prize purse for women’s cyclocross anywhere in the world.
For more information on the Cincinnati International Cyclocross Festival, see OVCX.com or register directly at BikeReg.com .
