LAS VEGAS, NV (BRAIN)—Organizers of CrossVegas and the USA CRITS Finals announced that they will each stage separate bicycle industry only races for the upcoming September 2008 Interbike International Bicycle Expo in Las Vegas.
CrossVegas' inaugural "Wheelers and Dealers" industry only cyclocross race will be held Wednesday, September 24 at the Desert Breeze Soccer Complex. The second annual USA CRITS Industry Cup, presented by Bicycling Magazine, criterium race will be held the following evening, Thursday, September 25 at the Mandalay Bay Resort.
"With two years of back-to-back competitive racing events, in tandem with the bicycle industry's trade event, Interbike and the industry are helping Vegas cultivate a culture of cycling," said Lance Camisasca, Interbike's industry consultant. "Now that the show will be held in Las Vegas for a few more years, we welcome CrossVegas and Swagger in making the city famous for great cycling events."
Both CrossVegas, LLC and Swagger, LLC are producing two separate large professional and amateur cycling races during the week of Interbike, as well as the industry only races for show attendees. The main events, CrossVegas and the USA CRITS Finals are intended to introduce Las Vegas locals and tourists to the sport of cycling, while the industry only races will be good clean fun for show attendees.
CrossVegas Wheelers and Dealers Race
Beginning at 6:30 p.m., the bicycle industry's "working class" will race for 30 minutes on the same Desert Breeze Soccer Complex course as the elite categories. All Wheelers and Dealers industry participants will race together, with winning times calculated to determine Top Male, Top Female, Media, Manufacturer, Retailer, Distributor and Cycling Advocate winners. Winners of each category will receive bragging rights and a commemorative CrossVegas medal.
"With the addition of the Wheelers and Dealers race and the shuttle buses from the Sands, CrossVegas is an even bigger part of the Interbike experience," said Brook Watts, co-promoter and marketing director for CrossVegas, LLC. "Nobody should show up at Interbike the day after the race and hear the words 'You should've been there.'"
The Desert Breeze Soccer Complex is approximately eight miles from the Strip and the Sands Convention Center, location of the Interbike trade show. Interbike will provide complimentary shuttle service from the Sands to the race location from 6 - 11 p.m., with shuttles leaving every 15 minutes (last shuttle from the race returning to the Sands will leave at 11 p.m.)
USA CRITS Industry Cup, presented by Bicycling Magazine
Returning for its second year, the Industry Cup, presented by Bicycling Magazine, will begin at 8:30 p.m. at the Mandalay Bay Resort. Industry Cup participants will race 40km on the same 1k course as the USA CRITS professional series finale, which serpentines through the Mandalay Bay parking area. Jerseys will be awarded to winners in each of the five categories: Manufacturer, Media, Retailer, Distributor and Pro Team Support Staff (mechanics, team directors).
"Last year's Industry Cup had some fierce racing with ex-pros, manufacturers, independent reps and shop owners and staff racing each other," said Ravi Rajcoomar, managing partner of Swagger, the country's leading producer of criterium racing and organizer of the Vegas CRITS. "This year I wonder if last year's racers and any newcomers are willing to put their money where their mouths are and show us who's the fastest."
The Industry Cup is open to 25 teams of four people. Individual riders who cannot field an entire team can be combined with other riders looking for a team. Champions in each industry division will be crowned on the podium in front of 25,000 fans.
The Mandalay Bay Resort is a short distance from the Sands Convention Center and show attendees are encouraged to show their support of alternative modes of transportation by riding their bike, walking, taking a bus or sharing a taxi to the event.
Industry participants for the CrossVegas and USA CRITS Finals Industry Cup must be full-time employees in the cycling industry whose primary income is derived from working for the company entering the event (not as a spokesman or spokeswoman), and be an amateur with a valid USCF Cat 1-4 license.
For more information about CrossVegas and the CrossVegas Wheelers and Dealers Race, go to www.CrossVegas.com. Registration fee for the industry only race is $45.00 per person, and is limited to 100 riders.
For more information about the USA CRITS Finals Industry cup, presented by Bicycling Magazine, go to www.finals.usacrits.com. Entry fees range from $75.00 for individuals up to $1,500.00 for teams with VIP benefits.
