Fort Collins, CO, is home to some of the United State’s best cyclocross racers – including Meredith Miller, Georgia Gould and the up and coming Skyler Trujillo – and this weekend it hosts the third stop of the Greenware® US Gran Prix of Cyclocross on November 13 and 14.
The USGP New Belgium Cup features two days of amateur and professional bike racing highlighted with a battle for the top step of the podium as the hometown favorites take on the country’s top professional athletes in the marquee professional events.
Both the professional women’s and men’s fields are deep and promise thrilling racing each day. The women’s race will see national champion, World Cup winner and Colorado resident Katie Compton (Planet Bike-Stevens) taking on confirmed riders: Kaitlin Antonneau (Cannondale p/b CyclocrossWorld); Meredith Miller and Teal Stetson-Lee (Cal Giant-Specialized), USGP Series leader Georgia Gould, Katerina Nash and Amy Dombroski (LUNA), Maureen Bruno Roy (Bob’s Red Mill); Sue Butler and Amanda Miller (HUDZ Subaru). The men’s field will see Series-leader and current national champion Tim Johnson (Cannondale p/b CyclcorossWorld.com) and teammates Jeremy Powers and Jamey Driscoll dueling a strong field of pros. Among those seeking to break the Cannondale juggernaut’s vice grip on the top step of the podium are: Todd Wells (Specialized Factory); Ryan Trebon and Barry Wicks (KONA); Chris Jones and Zach McDonald (Rapha-FOCUS); Canadian Champion Geoff Kabush (Maxxis-Rocky Mountain); Adam Craig (GIANT); Jesse Anthony (Cal Giant-Specialized); Tristan Shouten, who is having a breakout season; Troy Wells and Brady Kappius (Team Clif Bar) and many more.
Series director Joan Hanscom says, “We are thrilled to see such depth in the professional field competing at the USGP. It’s always exciting to see America’s best racing head to head, and with this lineup fighting for home town bragging rights, it will just be that much more intense.” Hanscom continued, “But the New Belgium Cup is so much more than just top professional racing. We are incredibly fortunate to have the support of New Belgium Brewing Company. They have really embraced the race as their own and have been incredibly involved in planning and have come up with new ways to make this race into a fun, fun event for everybody including amateur racers, pros and spectators. There will be organized cruiser bike rides to the races, beer gardens, great food vending, all in addition to amazing racing – so come out and bring your cowbells!”
The New Belgium Cup weekend kicks off on Friday with two clinics for the public – The Clif Bar Kids Clinic for Juniors aged 10-16 and a Specialized clinic for adults. After the clinics, all riders are invited to a Number Presentation Party from 6pm to 8pm at the Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant, where they can pick up their race numbers and mingle with the top pros. Racing begins on both Saturday and Sunday at 8am with a full schedule of amateur racing before the pros take to the field beginning at 1:45pm with the professional women’s events, followed by the pro men at 3pm. Both days will feature an Expo chock full of bikes, gear and lots of great food and drink with several New Belgium beer gardens located throughout the venue. On Sunday night New Belgium will host an after-party where all are invited to come and enjoy a fun evening re-living the weekend’s races.
The 2010 Greenware® USGP New Belgium Cup takes place on November 13 and 14 at 5757 South College Ave in Fort Collins and features two full days of amateur and professional racing. The event is free to the public but there is a $3 per day parking charge. For more information about the New Belgium Cup and the USGP Series visit usgpcyclocross.com. Registration for all races is available on BikeReg.com.
