As we first reported on Saturday, the US Gran Prix of Cyclocross (USGP) is officially moving its New Jersey stop to the higher altitude of Fort Collins, Colorado. The 2010 series dates have also been set. Full press release below:
US Gran Prix of Cyclocross Announces 2010 Dates and Venue Change
Series Moving to Fort Collins, CO, in November 2010
Organizers of the US Gran Prix of Cyclocross, (USGP) have released their schedule for the 2010 season and announced a change of venue for their November 2010 events.
The 2010 USGP kicks off on the weekend of September 25th and 26th as the Series returns for its second year to Sun Prairie, WI, for The Planet Bike Cup. The Series continues on to Louisville, KY, October 23rd and 24th for the Derby City Cup – to be run at the future home of the 2012 Masters and 2013 Masters and Elite World Cyclocross Championships.
In November the USGP moves to a new venue – Fort Collins, CO, on November 13th and 14th – before rolling to its traditional series final, the Stanley Portland Cup, in Portland, OR, on Dec. 4th and 5th.
“Our decision to move the Series to Fort Collins this year is very exciting. For the last several years a number of communities have expressed interest in bringing the USGP back to Colorado but until now we hadn’t found the right fit,” said Series Event Director, Joan Hanscom.
“Fort Collins is already home to USGP cyclocross superstars Meredith Miller, Georgia Gould, and new junior phenom, Skyler Trujillo, so we were very interested in learning more about their community,” Hanscom said. ” When I visited with them, I discovered Fort Collins has a very robust cycling community which has already embraced the event as their own. The venue is tremendous and the energy and support for the event from the City itself is just outstanding,”
Hanscom regretted the void that will be created by moving the race from New Jersey to Colorado, “We are obviously sorry to have lost our east coast presence in 2010 but after considerable searching we had been unable to secure a suitable home on the east coast for the Series this year. We will keep searching in earnest with an eye to adding a new east coast stop on the Series in 2011.”
Ben Miller, President of Northern Colorado Cycling Events (NCCE), a grass-roots cycling forum created by local cycling promoters and enthusiasts commented, “We could not be more happy to bring the USGP to Fort Collins. Last year, we formed the NCCE to coordinate competitive cycling events and to raise the stature of competitive cycling in Fort Collins.”
Miller explained that the idea to bring the USGP event to Fort Collins started with a simple conversation. “Meredith (Miller) approached me about the potential to bring a USGP event to Fort Collins, which made a lot of sense because so many great cyclocross talents call Fort Collins home.”
“I encouraged Meredith to let me bring this to the attention of the NCCE and we went to work to make it happen,” Said Miller. “We let Fort Collins and our cohesive cycling community sell itself to the USGP. The professionalism of the USGP was very apparent and made us comfortable and hopeful that we will host the USGP for the long term.” Miller concluded, “We are very much looking forward to our role of letting the USGP shine in Fort Collins.”
Tyler James of the Fort Collins Convention and Visitors Bureau expressed his enthusiasm for the event and hinted at what it means for the vibrancy of the City. “The Fort Collins community is so excited about this opportunity and we can not wait for race day. Fort Collins has always been a ‘bike friendly’ community and now we get the chance to host one of the most exciting bike races in the country.”
“We have a great location for the course and the word is spreading very quickly around town that come November, snow or shine, we’ve got some racing to do,” James continued. “The partnership that has been established with Fort Collins and USGP in such a short time is a testament to a great event and the willingness of the Fort Collins bike community to make this happen. This is the beginning of a long relationship that will put the USGP and Fort Collins on the racing map for many years to come.”
