Seattle, WA – Low Pressure Promotions, LLC of Seattle, WA released the details to the newly formed Rapha-Focus Gran Prix today, with an event date confirmed for Sunday, September 18th, 2011 at Lake Sammamish State Park in Issaquah, WA. Registration is now open on BikeReg.com.
“The newly formed Rapha-Focus Gran Prix takes the place of the long-standing Rad Racing GP and will continue the tradition of amateur and UCI Elite cyclocross racing the day after StarCrossed presented by Stanley, a brand of PMI,” said Low Pressure Promotions co-founder Zac Daab. “We are extremely excited to host back-to-back racing days at Washington State’s premiere Lake Sammamish State Park in Issaquah, right at the foot of Lake Sammamish.”
“Jim Brown’s Rad Racing GP has been a staple in the cyclocross community for many, many years,” said Daab. “The Rad GP has showcased some of the world’s best cyclocross talent, and helped develop young rising cyclocross stars. We are thrilled that both Rapha and Focus Bicycles have stepped up to support cyclocross with the continuation of this traditional cyclocross date.”
The Rapha-Focus Gran Prix will play host to Seattle’s MFG Cyclocross series race number two with MFG’s standard, non-sanctioned categories racing in the early part of the day. The Rapha-Focus GP will conclude with the same UCI Elite talent coming to Seattle for the weekend, which includes Belgian two-time cyclocross World Champion Bart Wellens of the Telenet-Fidea cycling team; French national cyclocross champion Caroline Mani; and former US National cyclocross champions Ryan Trebon and Jonathan Page.
“We love the depth and quality of cyclocross events Seattle produces every year,” said Rapha North America’s General Manager Slate Olson. “The Pacific Northwest is a stronghold for the continued growth of cyclocross and we have been fortunate to be partners with MFG Cyclocross for past three years as they’ve built something special in Seattle. The chance to be part of this stellar weekend with a UCI2 race is exciting.”
Team Rapha-Focus, in it’s second season of professional cyclocross racing, is comprised of 2010 USGP series winner Jeremy Powers, 2009 Cross Vegas silver medalist Chris Jones, and 2010 Cyclocross D1 Collegiate National Champion Zach McDonald. Team Rapha Focus will complete domestically and internationally at cyclocross events around the world.
The Rapha-Focus GP will open the on-course Deschutes Beer Garden at noon, and Deschutes Brewery will serve beer from their good times on wheels mobile bar, Woody. The Deschutes Beer Garden is strategically placed next to the race course, and will provide spectators a front row seat as racers navigate their way over the Rapha-Focus barriers, in team-issue colors of Team Rapha-Focus.
The tentative race day schedule for the Rapha-Focus GP includes:
9:30 am-1:45pm: MFG Cyclocross Race #2
2:45 pm: UCI Elite Women
3:45 pm: UCI Elite Men
For more information on the Rapha-Focus GP:
www.mfgcyclocross.com/series-information/rapha-focus-gran-prix/
