NorCal Cycling News – Cycling and Racing in Northern California

This last weekend was a transition of sorts.  Cross, track, and crits all happening at the same time.

Sacramento Grand Prix

The exciting news is Mary Ellen Ash (Metromint) uncorked a big one (YEA!) to take the win at Projects Sport’s latest party for cyclists.   The bummer of it all is we got SoCal’d again by former US crit champion Rahsaan Bahati.  Podium Insight covered the action and has a great article up on the event

CCCX #1

Pro’s Andy Jacques Maynes (Bissell) and Devon Gorry (Rambuski Law) showed up to the first race of the season and used their road fitness to teach the early season hopefuls a think or two about how to prepare for early season cross.  The trick is apparently ride a lot of stage races…

Randoms

UCI Criterium Rule Changes

Looks like the UCI will start allowing criteriums in 2.2 stage races which could mean and upgrade for the big US events like Cascade, Mt. Hood, and Nature Valley Grand Prix.  While this is a great start, and will surely help move the needle on getting more UCI events in the US, there are some financial hurdles that will limit promoters like waving registration fee’s and providing housing allowances.   Still… at least it’s a possibility now so events like Utah can raise some more money and stay in business.  See full story on Cyclingnews.com

Single Speed World Championships

This freak show is going to be in Golden Gate Park.  What do you get when you mix Folsom St. Fair with a cross race?  You get The SSCXWC!

Best Press Release Ever

Sterling Cross, run my local coach Matt McNamara sent out a release with their cross roster.  It is well written and a nice write up but i gotta call out this great Rand Miller gem…I really wish he, Rand, was riding Cross Vegas.  That would be fun.

…the mens team includes talent and depth in the form of standout road riders Adam Carr and Rand Miller, both of whom made successful transitions to ‘cross last fall and look to be even stronger this season.