It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Colorado. The NACT Cyclocross series heads to Boulder this weekend for it's seventh and eighth rounds and will be welcomed by a few feet of fresh powder which has been falling since early this week. As you've no doubt heard by now, Sunday's venue has been forced to relocate. The new course may not be as good as Harlow Platts Park, but the racing should be even more dramatic given the idilic cyclocross conditions.
Men's series leader Jonathan Page will miss the weekend, giving way to a new leader when all is said and done. Trailing Page in the standings are the three riders from Cannondale/ Cyclocrossworld, Tim Johnson, Jamey Driscoll, and Jeremy Powers. With the way Johnson has been riding the last several weeks, even an average performance should put him in the jersey by Sunday afternoon.
Women's series leader Natasha Elliott is also expected to sit out this weekends races, meaning Sue Butler is in prime position to regain her lead in the NACT. Her biggest threat in the overall will be Alison Dunlap at 75 points behind.
Put on by the same promotor as September's Cross Vegas, the Boulder weekend will likewise serve as a season opener for many of North America's biggest names. On the men's side, riders such as Adam Craig, Carl Decker, Jonathan Baker, Zach McDonald, Adam Snyder, Russell Finsterwald and Danny Summerhill will make their first major appearances of the Fall. As for the women, Kelli Emmett and Kathy Sherwin kick off their '09 campaign.
Racing in the professional cycling mecca of Boulder will also bring out many of the sports big names for their one and only cyclocross appearance of the year. Keep an eye out for Alison Powers, Heather Irmiger, and Colin Cares on the race course, as well as a star studded group of spectators likely to include many of the city's cycling elite.
As for predictions, you know what to expect. Katie Compton is back in the US to face a very strong Katerina Nash. The C-dale squad will again do battle with the likes of Trebon, Kabush, and Jones. Beyond that, you'll just have to wait and see!
(We'll also be keeping an eye on the Mid Atlantic's UCI weekend as some of the USA's B-list superstars try and cherry pick some UCI points while the big boys are away.)
