Duke and Mani compare their dollar hand-up haul at last year’s Midsummer Race. @Cyclocross Magazine
PARK CITY, UTAH – Registration has opened for the third edition of the Raleigh Midsummer Nights Cyclocross, to be held on the opening day of DealerCamp.
With a purse of nearly $5,000, this event will attract cyclocross stars from Europe and America to Snow Park Lodge, Deer Valley Resort, in Park City, Utah. The race is scheduled for Thursday, July 25.
“When Raleigh started the Midsummer we not only wanted to showcase our product, but to use the race as a means of introducing ‘cross to many of our dealers who may have never experienced one previously,” said Brian Fornes, marketing manager for Raleigh. “We’ve been proud to watch the Midsummer grow from a grassroots standpoint to an event that is attended by some of the best cyclocross talent on the courses today.”
“Cyclocross has become an important cornerstone of our brand,” said Chris Speyer, chief operating officer at Accell North America, Raleigh’s parent company. He noted that as cyclocross has exploded in popularity in America so too has Raleigh increased its offering to dealers. Raleigh offers more ’cross bikes at more price points than any other major bike line. “We see this event as a means to showcase not just our products, but also our team for the 2013 season.”
The timing should work well. Held just four days after the conclusion of the Tour de France, this race will serve as the unofficial start of the American cyclocross season. American cyclists have increasingly turned up their passion for cross shortly after the Grand Boucle ends.
“This race is as much about getting the riders suited up in new kits and on board their new equipment as it is about getting to the finish line,” noted Sean Condon of Eleven Event Services, which is promoting the event. “But with $1,500 to win a 50-minute event, we expect some of the best to attend.”
“Hosting this event is a thrill for us,” said Lance Camisasca of DealerCamp, which draws hundreds of retailers to Park City for two full days of test riding some of the best cycling equipment available. A public day concludes the event. “The race is just one component of our connection with cyclocross, which we see as critical to bike shops. We’ll be showing off some of the best new equipment and clinics on how shops can use cyclocross to grow their business.”
To register for the race, visit www.bikereg.com. For more information about DealerCamp 2013, please visit www.bikedealercamp.com.
Hosted by DealerCamp, the Raleigh Midsummer Nights Cyclocross is an Eleven Event Services production. With a combined 75 years of experience promoting, covering, and producing cycling events, the principles of Eleven Event Services have worked at the professional, major league, Olympic, and international level of sports. For more information on DealerCamp.
