Seattle, WA – August 26th, 2010
StarCrossed p/b Stanley – A Brand of PMI has attracted an international field for 2010 as top riders from North America and Europe are starting to confirm attendance to race in the Shimano Men’s and Women’s Elite StarCrossed races. StarCrossed is part of the national cyclocross series, the North American Cyclocross Trophy Series (NACT). The NACT kicks off with StarCrossed on September 18th, and stays the weekend in Seattle with racing on Sunday at the legendary Rad Racing Gran Prix, this year hosted at a brand new venue, Lake Sammamish State Park.
Currently, international riders from France, Italy, Canada, Czech Republic, Belgium, and Switzerland have confirmed attendance at the 9th edition of StarCrossed. This includes National Champions Francis Mourey (France, Française Des Jeux), Katie Compton (USA, Planet Bike), Geoff Kabush (Canada, Maxxis-Rocky Mountain), and Katerina Nash (Czech Republic, Luna). Joining Mourey and Kabush on the start line for the Shimano Elite Men’s race is an impressive roster including Jonathan Page (Planet Bike, 2nd 2007Cyclocross World Championships), Christian Huele, (5-time Swiss Cyclocross Champion and defending StarCrossed Champion), Ryan Trebon (Kona, 2009 US Gran Pix of Cyclocross winner and 2-time US Cyclocross Champion), and Adam Craig (Rabobank-Giant, 2-time US Mountain Biking Olympian).
On the Women’s side Compton and Nash will be battling with Sue Bulter (Hudz-Subaru, 2008 StarCrossed Champ), Natasha Elliott (Garneau Club Chaussure Ogilvy, defending NACT Champion), and Wendy Simms (Kona, former Canadian Cyclocross Champion and StarCrossed winner) for the win.
The confirmation of Francis Mourey, a perennial top five threat on the Cyclocross World Cup, at StarCrossed shows the tremendous growth of the event and elite cyclocross racing in the United States. With the Cyclocross World Championships coming to United States in 2013, it likely that more Europeans will compete in top US cyclocross events to experience the travel and atmosphere in America.
“We are very excited to have Francis Mourey start his campaign to become the 2011 World Cyclocross Champion in our backyard at StarCrossed and Rad Racing GP. We can’t wait to see Francis racing for FdJ / Lapierre on US soil,” stated Tim Rutledge, Lapierre US Brand Manager.
“To finally have six-time US Cyclocross Champion, Katie Compton, at StarCrossed is also fabulous for us this year. Katie is simply one of the most successful US female cyclist in history with World Cup victories and World Championship medals on her resume,” stated Zac Daab, StarCrossed co-promoter. Between Compton and Katerina Nash the front of the women’s race will have two of the Cyclocross World Cup’s top women.
In addition to all the domestic and European racers making the journey to Seattle for the weekend, Jonathan Page will be opting to skip the UCI races on the East Coast, and fly directly from his home in Oudenaarde, Belgium, with his eye on the win at StarCrossed. Page is noted for American’s best-to-date finish at any Elite Men’s Cyclocross World Championship with his silver medal in the 2007 race. Page has proven he can crack the top-10 at World Cup cyclocross races year in, and year out, and will be looking to open his 2010 campaign with a strong finish at StarCrossed.
Beyond the Shimano Elite Women’s and Men’s races at 7 PM and 8 PM respectively StarCrossed festivities will include amateur races starting at 2 PM; Stanley’s Built for Life™ Road Tour; generous spectator door prizes supported by Raleigh; the Raleigh Single Speed race (automatic qualifier for Single Speed Cyclocross World Championships) and the Deschutes Beer Garden. The beer garden will begin serving at 3 PM from Woody, Deschutes Brewery’s mobile bar on wheels. Race fans will also be treated to the Nuun Hydration double-barrier course feature and the TRP Brake Zone Run-up.
StarCrossed sponsors include Stanley, Raleigh, Shimano, Nuun Hydration, TRP Brakes, Cascade Bicycle Studio, Clif Bar, De La Paz Coffee, NOS Energy Drinks, and The Sports Med Clinic. For more information please visit www.starcrossedcx.com and www.nacyclocross.com.
Low Pressure Promotions Contact:
Terry Buchanan, Low Pressure Promotions
terry@mfgcyclocross.com
www.mfgcyclocross.com
