Here, Wyman takes the win at Nittany Day 1. Keith Hower
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA—The Mid-Atlantic’s premier cyclocross series arrives for 2013 with new and returning sponsors supporting a 10-race season that includes a mix of the finest UCI race and grass roots races in the United States.
The series opens with Nittany Cross, a UCI 2 double header on September 7 – 8 at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Breinigsville, PA. Designed by East Coast cyclocross godfather Michael Yozell, the course boasts challenging off-camber berms, single track and tone of the best heckle crews west of Belgium.
The remaining races will be a mix of grass roots and UCI races, and many of the events offer pre-race training with local pros, kids’ races, live music and other fun activities. The UCI races are scored separately from MAC series. Race scoring, points information and other details are provided in technical guides on the MAC website and Bikereg.
In response to racer feedback, MAC promoters promise to deliver more challenging, technical course designs that cater to elite racers’ tastes and abilities. Expect 3-4 dismounts per lap over natural barriers and planks.
Teams and Athletes:
Jonathan Page will not be the only cycling luminary lining up at the MAC starts. The MAC has developed an international following with seven-time British National Champ Helen Wyman making the series her first stop on US soil.
C3/Twenty20 Cycling Co. look to defend their team title and have added Frances Morrison to their elite women’s roster. 2012 Elite Champions Ryan Dewald (SEAVS / Haymarket) and 2013 National MTB Champ (cat 1 25-29) Arley Kemmerer of C3/Twenty20 Cycling will be back to defend their titles. Expect teams like Guy’s Racing, Bike Line and Team Bicycle Therapy to challenge C3 Twenty20 in what has become an epic battle for the overall team win. It’s a special team that can earn a spot on the MAC Champions coffee cup.
Schedule:
- Race #1 Nittany Cross Saturday, September 7
- Race #2 Nittany Cross Sunday, September 8
- Race #3 Charm City Cross Saturday, September 21
- Race #4 Charm City Cross Sunday, September 22
- Race #5 Whirlybird Cross Saturday, October 12
- Race #6 Highland Park Cross Saturday, October 26 (tentative)
- Race #8 Fair Hill Cross Saturday, November 9
- Race #7 Highland Park Cross Sunday, November 10
- Race #9 Kutztown Cross Sunday, November 17
- Race #10 Limestone Cross at the Kiln Saturday, November 30 (tentative)
Sponsors:
MAC Series Director and Charm City Cross leader Kristopher Auer is excited about the return of sponsors Fuji Bikes and SRAM, as well as new sponsors Sommerville Sports, BikeReg and ProGold, all representing various aspects of the industry, including bikes, wheels, clothing, and registration services.
Fuji Bikes, who sponsor current US National Champion Jonathan Page, will raffle aluminum framesets at each race and provide the overall series winners with carbon framesets. SRAM will provide fencing, tape and other race infrastructure as well as swag.
Sommerville Sports will provide leaders jerseys for the various category leaders throughout the 2013 season. Additionally, they will provide a sponsorship package to the winner of the team division, which will include deep discounts on clothing. Sommerville Sports has deep roots in the cyclocross community. Early product testers included members of the Philadelphia Cyclocross School which included Swiss sensation Valentin Scherz, as well as Cyclocross Magazine’s Molly Hurford. Looking ahead, Sommerville Sports will sponsor 2013 US National Champion Jonathan Page for the next three years.
