The MAC Powered by SRAM begins its 2009 campaign on September 19 and 20 with two UCI races. The Nittany Lion Cyclocross will kick off this year’s MAC experience at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center, better known as the T-Town Velodrome, in Trexlertown Pennsylvania on Saturday. The MAC faithful then head south to Baltimore Maryland for the Charm City Cyclocross the following day. With a week to go, Charm City has already set a new record for entries with three classes either already closed or within a dozen entries of selling out. Likewise, preregistration shows Saturday’s Nittany Lion Cyclocross is also on track for a record entry, though with a bit more space for racers who prefer to enter at the last possible moment. With double UCI C-2 weekends on opposite coasts, Eastern riders have the opportunity to pick up a few extra early-season points.
Starting their MAC Powered by SRAM season title defenses during the weekend will be C3-Athletes Serving Athletes teammates Wes Schempf and Laura Van Gilder. Schempf was the most successful racer in the Mid-Atlantic last year, winning both the MAC Powered by SRAM and BikeReg.com MABRAcross season titles. Van Gilder, meanwhile, starts 2009 as the defending champion of both races as well as the MAC Powered by SRAM season title.
Both races include a full schedule of MAC amateur classes in addition to the UCI Men’s and Women’s races. Both races will also have a large variety of food available, as well as adult beverages. At Charm City, local microbrewer Clipper City Beer will be running a beer garden right in the middle of the action and selling their highly acclaimed brews. For more information about these or other MAC Powered by SRAM events , see www.MidAtlanticCross.com or go directly to both races’ registration pages on BikeReg.com.
