2008 AMBC Calendar Announced

USA Cycling has announced the American Mountain Bike Challenge Race Calendar (PDF), which are kinda mid-major races sanctioned and supported by USA Cycling (unlike the NMBS which is separate). Here's the press release:

"USA Cycling announced today the 2008 American Mountain Bike Challenge (AMBC) calendar.  The 26-race calendar features several new events and again provides off-road cyclists with the opportunity to qualify for the 2008 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships at Mount Snow Resort in Vermont.
 
Beginning March 8 with the Spa City Extreme Six-Hour Mountain Bike Race, a marathon event in Hot Springs, Ark., the 2008 AMBC stretches seven months before concluding with the Piney Hills Classic in Ruston, La. for the third consecutive year, on October 25-26. Eleven of the 26 races on the AMBC will double as a part of the 2008 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Cross Country Calendar." (Via www.usacycling.org)

The only California races are the 20th Annual Keyesville Classic (March 15/16, 2008) and the Idyllwild Spring Challenge (May 3/4, 2008) which are both in SoCal.