Seattle is promising a world-class weekend of UCI ‘cross racing to open up the season. Following Seattle’s Star Crossed race, racers will move to the next day to contest the Rad Racing GP in Lakewood, WA on September 21. The race boasts top national and international riders, an intimidating course, and great prizes for all categories.
Olympia, Wash. – Rad Racing NW is proud to host the Rad Racing GP of Cyclocross Presented By Kona and Full Speed Ahead on September 21st at Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood, Wash. This world-class cyclocross event will feature top riders from around the country in what has become one of the great races to open the U.S. cyclocross season each year.
Cyclocross, described by some as “the toughest hour in cycling,” is an on-road and off-road cycling discipline held on a looped circuit of approximately 1-2 miles. Cyclocross racers navigate mud, sand, pavement, grass, gravel, pasture and mulch. When the terrain is too steep to ride, riders dismount, shoulder their bikes and run.
The Rad Racing GP will be hosted by top junior development squad Rad Racing NW, a group dedicated to teaching young people life lessons through the sport of cycling and to developing top regional, national and international junior cyclists. One hundred percent of proceeds from the race will go directly to the Rad Racing NW Junior Development Cycling Team.
For the 2008 edition Kona Bicycles steps in as a major sponsor in 2008. “Rad Racing is one of our top programs, they are doing great things for junior cycling, we are proud to be associated with them and we are happy to support their efforts by sponsoring this top notch race,” stated Dan Gerhard of sponsor Kona Bicycles.
Max Ralph from sponsor Full Speed Ahead added, “Bringing UCI Cyclocross to the Northwest is very important to us, there is a deep tradition here in Washington with cyclocross, we feel an obligation to help perpetuate the tradition.”
Race Fans will watch over 400 top competitors, including 2007 US National Champion Tim Johnson, navigate the tough fast Steilacoom course which includes the “Kona – Knapp Run-Up, ” 80 meters of steep terrain that forces riders to shoulder their bikes and run. Johnson will also have to contend with former Steilacoom resident Ryan Trebon and his Kona Teammate Barry Wicks. Ryan Trebon won the US National Championships and the Rad Racing GP in 2006, his aim in 2008 is to repeat on both accounts.
Rad Racing GP joins Full Speed Ahead’s “Starcrossed” scheduled September 20th, as the opening 2 rounds of the newly formed North American Cyclcocross Trophy national series. The series joins the top cyclocross races from coast to coast in a series designed to attract top talent.
For more information on the Rad Racing GP and Rad Racing NW: www.radracingnw.org
For more information on the North American Cyclocross Trophy: www.nacyclocross.com
Rad Racing GP Sponsors: Kona, Full Speed Ahead, Redline, Fi’zi:k, Clif Bar, Schwalbe, Chris King, Herriott Sports Performance, Rudy Project, Voler, Pedros, Joyride Bicycles
