New events announced for 2010 USA Cycling Pro XCT

Colorado Springs, Colo. (Jan. 5, 2010)—USA Cycling announced today the addition of a pair of races to the USA Cycling Pro Mountain Bike Cross Country Tour. With the inclusion of the Sea Otter Classic and the Mellow Johnny’s Classic, the Pro XCT calendar will consist of six UCI-sanctioned events throughout the United States, providing world-class athletes with a national stage on which to accumulate UCI ranking points and top prize purses.

“The 2010 Pro XCT will provide one of the best calendars of quality UCI mountain bike races we’ve had in many years,” stated USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson. “We are committed to our long-stated goals of providing athletes with consistent top-level competition opportunities, increasing exposure for mountain biking domestically and maximizing U.S. start spots at the sport’s highest stages; and the Pro XCT national calendar provides a sustainable platform to help accomplish these goals.”

Following the series kick-off at Fontana, the renowned Sea Otter Classic will serve as the second stop on the USA Cycling Pro Mountain Bike Cross Country Tour. Sea Otter’s elite/pro men’s and women’s mountain bike races on April 18 will operate at the UCI C1 level, offering maximum ranking points to top riders. The Pro XCT will then move south to Lance Armstrong’s renowned ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas as the Mellow Johnny’s Classic plays host to the third series’ stop. The Mellow Johnny’s Classic is set to take place on May 29. The nation’s professional cross country mountain bike series will then continue as planned with the Bump ‘N Grind in Birmingham, Ala. on June 5, the Subaru Cup in Mt. Morris, Wis. on June 26 and the series finale in Colorado Springs, Colo. on July 10. 

The UCI points up for grabs at each Pro XCT event are crucial in helping the United States qualify mountain biking start spots for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, as well as determining the start order at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. The men’s and women’s overall Pro XCT champions will also automatically qualify a spot on the U.S. squad for the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships.

In addition to providing a sequence of international-caliber events where elite cross country racers can earn UCI points, the USA Cycling Pro XCT will spotlight top American races and recognize the best cross country teams and athletes competing on U.S. soil. In order for individual riders or teams to earn points toward the overall Pro XCT titles, they must be registered as a UCI Trade Team or as a USA Cycling Mountain Bike Domestic Pro Team. The Pro XCT will provide leaders’ jerseys to the top male and female rider in the overall standings, leaders’ number plates and a guaranteed cash purse for each race.

 2010 USA Cycling Pro Cross Country Mountain Bike Tour:

March 27: US Cup Fontana – Fontana, Calif.

April 18: Sea Otter Classic – Monterey, Calif.

May 29: Mellow Johnny’s Classic – Dripping Springs, Texas

June 5: Bump ‘N Grind – Birmingham, Ala.

June 26: Subaru Cup – Mt. Morris, Wis.

July 10: Carmichael Training Systems International Classic – Colorado Springs, Colo. 

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#8	Jeff Stanners   January 16 at 5:16pm Big Bear? said: “What about the big bear race?!” I agree, it would have been nice to see a National race back at Big Bear. reply
#7	Tim   January 8 at 11:44pm How are these "international-caliber" events? Because a couple of Canadians show up? reply
#6	Jake Will   January 5 at 6:03pm You can give away free cars and people will still go to Downieville that weekend. reply
#5	Andy Bohlmann   January 5 at 5:59pm Hello, I am the race organizer of the July 10th Carmichael Training Systems Pro XCT race here in Colorado Springs. Pending UCI approval, this race will be a UCI C2 stage race from July 9-11. Lots of UCI points and a $10,000 cash prize list per UCI. Also, many improvements from this year. web site at http://www.sandcreeksports.com Thanks, Andy Bohlmann reply
#4	Nathaniel Williams   January 5 at 4:23pm I think that is a fair compromise, and I agree, this is much better than no series at all. The Texas race sounds cool. Hopefully attendance will keep growing and allow them to expand. reply
#3	Dave McElwaine From Trailwatch.net   January 5 at 2:56pm Given the upheaval due to the US Cup folks dropping out of Pro XCT, we are lucky to have any series at all, let alone one with all-UCI races. Personally I am happy to see the Austin, TX race but dread going back to Sea Otter. Hopefully some east coast races will be added in future years. reply
#2	Big Bear?   January 5 at 1:20pm What about the big bear race?! reply
#1	Hu?   January 5 at 12:23pm Still no love for the East Coast? WTF reply