USGP Lakewood Race Preview
US Gran Prix of Cyclocross, Race #5 - Lakewood
November 18th, 2006
Fort Steilacoom, Lakewood, Washington
This is a great article from the official race website:
History of the Race
The Rad Racing Cup of Cyclo-cross was the brainchild of Rad Racing's Jim Brown. The race was developed to bring a professional level cylco-cross race to the Pacific Northwest, and to help raise money for Rad Racing NW Junior Cycling.
The dual purpose of the event was to draw the best riders from around the nation to compete in a world class UCI sanctioned cyclo-cross event and give West Coast racers a local race at which they could have a fair chance at qualifying for National Team selection.
In 2003 the event drew former World Champion Erwin Vervecken from Belgium, thus taking cyclo-cross to a level of competition never before seen on the West Coast of the United States. In 2004 International cyclo-cross star and Italian National Champion Danielle Pontoni competed in the Rad Racing Cup of Cyclo-cross further elevating the importance of this race in US Cyclo-cross. In each year of existence, the Rad Racing Cup Cyclo-cross has attracted the top US racers to the event making it a vital component of the US cyclo-cross calendar.
In 2004 the event was awarded UCI Category 1 status making it the highest UCI ranked cyclo-cross event in the US. In addition to the elevated status with the UCI, USA Cycling and The US Gran Prix selected our event as one of six US National Series (USGP). This new concept from USA Cycling drew the best riders from all over the country to the races as they competed for positions on the World Championships Team which was selected from the US National Series results.
In 2005 the event was once again a UCI Cat-1 race, and stop #2 in the USGP of Cyclo-cross. The tough course at FT Steilacoom did not disappoint and the Elite men's race was one of the most exciting in recent memory with Mark McCormack taking the win.
The event has also helped to bring national and international attention to the host club "Rad Racing NW". Rad has benefited in many ways by hosting this race, first and foremost it has been a generator of cash revenue for the program. Secondly there has been significant national and international press on the event which has driven web traffic to the Rad Racing website increasing its reputation as one of the top junior programs in the country. Thirdly the event has brought the best of the best together, Rad team members have had the chance to compete against the best junior riders in the country right in their back yard, they have also had the chance to see and meet some of the best professional riders in the world.
The Race
The race venue is located at beautiful Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood, Washington and has been a mainstay course of Seattle's cyclo-cross scene for 15 years. The course consists of 30% pavement and 50% dirt with a long start/finish paved section where wind can be a factor in the race. There is a high content of sand in the soil and the course soaks up water very well, mud will not be a factor in this fast hard race. Top lap times in 2005 hovered around 7 minutes for Elite men.
The start/finish is straight tarmac, from the gun riders will travel 150 meters before the first soft right hand turn, the course winds around the barns and expo area and Pit #1 and then opens up to a fast paved section along the lake before tackling the courses toughest feature and crowd favorite.
The "Kona - Knapp Run-up" is 80 meters of thigh busting, steep run-up that is a huge hit with the fans. At the top of the run-up the climbing continues rolling up to the top of the park. This section is where Erwin Vervecken made his move to win the 2003 race and Adam Craig to win the 2004 race.
A high speed technical descent follows and winds around "the ruins" which features one hard hairpin corner to head back down to the central venue past Pit #2 and back to the start/finish.
The race drew 300 competitors and over 1500 spectators in 2004. In 2005 the number of racers increased to over 400 with riders from 18 states and 3 Canadian Provinces.
Expected National Riders:
Ryan Trebon, Barry Wicks, Mark McCormack, Adam Craig, Dale Knapp, Jesse Anthony, Geoff Kabush, Erik Tonkin, Jonny Sundt, Brent Bookwalter, Ann Knapp, and Wendy Simms.
Local Heroes: Dale and Ann Knapp
Presenting Sponsor: Seasoned Skewers - www.seasonedskewers.com
Supporting Sponsors: Kona, Crank Brothers, Adidas, Mavic, Shimano, Rudy Project, Ritchey, Voler, Fi'zi:k, Clif Bar, FSA, Thule, Schwalbe, Pryme, TUFO, USA Cycling Development Foundation.
Rad Racing NW Junior Development
100% of the profits from the Rad Racing Cup of Cyclo-cross go directly to the Rad Racing NW Junior Development Cycling Team. Rad Racing NW was named 2003 USA Cycling Junior "Club Of The Year" and was also designated in 2002, 2003, and 2004 as a USA Cycling "Center For Excellence". Rad Racing is a 501(c)3 Non profit organization which is staffed 100% by volunteers.
Rad Racing Northwest began in 1998 with a small group of local racers with a desire to create a bike racing team where the focus is on kids, and only kids. They saw that the future of the sport depends on creating opportunities for kids to enter into bike racing and support them through the demands and expense of training, racing, equipment, and travel.
Bike racing is a sport demanding dedication to training and a healthy lifestyle. Blending the demands of a kid's everyday life with the dedication needed for bike racing can be a challenge in itself. The founders of the club created an atmosphere of family, support, and education for new and experienced racers we still hold today.
The current generation of kids has too many opportunities to be inactive: TV, video games, and computers, just to name a few. Many schools put physical education as the last priority by cutting the programs to help their budgets. Private organizations must step up and provide the opportunities for kids to learn to be physically active and to teach them the value of making it a part of their lifestyle throughout their life. Rad Racing Northwest is dedicated to forming a lasting love of athletics and instilling social and moral values to all of our kids.
Our mission is to teach young people life lessons through the sport of cycling, and to develop top level regional, national, and international junior cyclists. We provide a platform to help young people achieve their own personal goals in life and in competition. A healthy, drug free, structured environment with solid adult mentorship focused on teaching life lessons and skills through sport, is the largest piece of Rad Racing Northwest's mission.
Integrity, Goal Setting, Sportsmanship, Citizenship, Honesty, Leadership, Responsibility, and Wellness are among the skills we emphasize.
Check out all there is to know about Rad Racing NW at their website.
November 18th, 2006
Fort Steilacoom, Lakewood, Washington
This is a great article from the official race website:
History of the Race
The Rad Racing Cup of Cyclo-cross was the brainchild of Rad Racing's Jim Brown. The race was developed to bring a professional level cylco-cross race to the Pacific Northwest, and to help raise money for Rad Racing NW Junior Cycling.
The dual purpose of the event was to draw the best riders from around the nation to compete in a world class UCI sanctioned cyclo-cross event and give West Coast racers a local race at which they could have a fair chance at qualifying for National Team selection.
In 2003 the event drew former World Champion Erwin Vervecken from Belgium, thus taking cyclo-cross to a level of competition never before seen on the West Coast of the United States. In 2004 International cyclo-cross star and Italian National Champion Danielle Pontoni competed in the Rad Racing Cup of Cyclo-cross further elevating the importance of this race in US Cyclo-cross. In each year of existence, the Rad Racing Cup Cyclo-cross has attracted the top US racers to the event making it a vital component of the US cyclo-cross calendar.
In 2004 the event was awarded UCI Category 1 status making it the highest UCI ranked cyclo-cross event in the US. In addition to the elevated status with the UCI, USA Cycling and The US Gran Prix selected our event as one of six US National Series (USGP). This new concept from USA Cycling drew the best riders from all over the country to the races as they competed for positions on the World Championships Team which was selected from the US National Series results.
In 2005 the event was once again a UCI Cat-1 race, and stop #2 in the USGP of Cyclo-cross. The tough course at FT Steilacoom did not disappoint and the Elite men's race was one of the most exciting in recent memory with Mark McCormack taking the win.
The event has also helped to bring national and international attention to the host club "Rad Racing NW". Rad has benefited in many ways by hosting this race, first and foremost it has been a generator of cash revenue for the program. Secondly there has been significant national and international press on the event which has driven web traffic to the Rad Racing website increasing its reputation as one of the top junior programs in the country. Thirdly the event has brought the best of the best together, Rad team members have had the chance to compete against the best junior riders in the country right in their back yard, they have also had the chance to see and meet some of the best professional riders in the world.
The Race
The race venue is located at beautiful Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood, Washington and has been a mainstay course of Seattle's cyclo-cross scene for 15 years. The course consists of 30% pavement and 50% dirt with a long start/finish paved section where wind can be a factor in the race. There is a high content of sand in the soil and the course soaks up water very well, mud will not be a factor in this fast hard race. Top lap times in 2005 hovered around 7 minutes for Elite men.
The start/finish is straight tarmac, from the gun riders will travel 150 meters before the first soft right hand turn, the course winds around the barns and expo area and Pit #1 and then opens up to a fast paved section along the lake before tackling the courses toughest feature and crowd favorite.
The "Kona - Knapp Run-up" is 80 meters of thigh busting, steep run-up that is a huge hit with the fans. At the top of the run-up the climbing continues rolling up to the top of the park. This section is where Erwin Vervecken made his move to win the 2003 race and Adam Craig to win the 2004 race.
A high speed technical descent follows and winds around "the ruins" which features one hard hairpin corner to head back down to the central venue past Pit #2 and back to the start/finish.
The race drew 300 competitors and over 1500 spectators in 2004. In 2005 the number of racers increased to over 400 with riders from 18 states and 3 Canadian Provinces.
Expected National Riders:
Ryan Trebon, Barry Wicks, Mark McCormack, Adam Craig, Dale Knapp, Jesse Anthony, Geoff Kabush, Erik Tonkin, Jonny Sundt, Brent Bookwalter, Ann Knapp, and Wendy Simms.
Local Heroes: Dale and Ann Knapp
Presenting Sponsor: Seasoned Skewers - www.seasonedskewers.com
Supporting Sponsors: Kona, Crank Brothers, Adidas, Mavic, Shimano, Rudy Project, Ritchey, Voler, Fi'zi:k, Clif Bar, FSA, Thule, Schwalbe, Pryme, TUFO, USA Cycling Development Foundation.
Rad Racing NW Junior Development
100% of the profits from the Rad Racing Cup of Cyclo-cross go directly to the Rad Racing NW Junior Development Cycling Team. Rad Racing NW was named 2003 USA Cycling Junior "Club Of The Year" and was also designated in 2002, 2003, and 2004 as a USA Cycling "Center For Excellence". Rad Racing is a 501(c)3 Non profit organization which is staffed 100% by volunteers.
Rad Racing Northwest began in 1998 with a small group of local racers with a desire to create a bike racing team where the focus is on kids, and only kids. They saw that the future of the sport depends on creating opportunities for kids to enter into bike racing and support them through the demands and expense of training, racing, equipment, and travel.
Bike racing is a sport demanding dedication to training and a healthy lifestyle. Blending the demands of a kid's everyday life with the dedication needed for bike racing can be a challenge in itself. The founders of the club created an atmosphere of family, support, and education for new and experienced racers we still hold today.
The current generation of kids has too many opportunities to be inactive: TV, video games, and computers, just to name a few. Many schools put physical education as the last priority by cutting the programs to help their budgets. Private organizations must step up and provide the opportunities for kids to learn to be physically active and to teach them the value of making it a part of their lifestyle throughout their life. Rad Racing Northwest is dedicated to forming a lasting love of athletics and instilling social and moral values to all of our kids.
Our mission is to teach young people life lessons through the sport of cycling, and to develop top level regional, national, and international junior cyclists. We provide a platform to help young people achieve their own personal goals in life and in competition. A healthy, drug free, structured environment with solid adult mentorship focused on teaching life lessons and skills through sport, is the largest piece of Rad Racing Northwest's mission.
Integrity, Goal Setting, Sportsmanship, Citizenship, Honesty, Leadership, Responsibility, and Wellness are among the skills we emphasize.
Check out all there is to know about Rad Racing NW at their website.
posted by maddog202020 at 6:31 AM
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