NorCal MTB Racing This Weekend: 24 Nov - 29 Nov, 2011

For those of you making your weekend plans, here is quick rundown of this weekend's MTB racing schedule for NorCal:

1. CCCX X-Fusion Enduro/"Super D" Series (11/27/11) [SD]

NorCal MTB Racing This Weekend: 10 Nov - 15 Nov, 2011

For those of you making your weekend plans, here is quick rundown of this weekend's MTB racing schedule for NorCal:

1. Cal Cycling Classic (XC / SuperD) (11/12/11) [XC, SD]
2. 2011 SF Bike Expo (11/12/11) []
3. Cal Cycling Classic (DS / ST) (11/13/11) [DS, STRX]

NorCal MTB Racing This Weekend: 3 Nov - 8 Nov, 2011

For those of you making your weekend plans, here is quick rundown of this weekend's MTB racing schedule for NorCal:

1. Stafford Lake CX Race (11/06/11) [CX]

NorCal MTB Racing This Weekend: 27 Oct - 1 Nov, 2011

For those of you making your weekend plans, here is quick rundown of this weekend's MTB racing schedule for NorCal:

1. 24 Hours of Gold (10/29/11) [24HR, 8HR]

NorCal MTB Racing This Weekend: 20 Oct - 25 Oct, 2011

For those of you making your weekend plans, here is quick rundown of this weekend's MTB racing schedule for NorCal:

1. Lagrange Fall Classic (10/21/11) [XC, DH, SD]
2. TBF MTB 50 Miler (10/23/11) [MA]

NorCal MTB Racing This Weekend: 13 Oct - 18 Oct, 2011

For those of you making your weekend plans, here is quick rundown of this weekend's MTB racing schedule for NorCal:

1. BetterRide MTB Skills Camp (10/14/11) [CLN]

SportsBase Online Closes

SportsBase Online, popular event registration, closes up shop ... I don't believe this affects any of our local MTB races:

One of the western United States’ leading event registration companies, SportsBase Online, closed up shop over the weekend — leaving numerous promoters empty handed long after their events concluded.

On Monday, SportsBase Online (SBO) issued a short statement apologizing to event promoters, but informing them that payment for the thousands of registrations the company has processed over the past few months would not happen.

“We regret to inform you that due to financial reasons Sports Marketing Concepts, Inc. DBA SportsBaseOnline will be dissolving as of October 15, 2011 and is ceasing operations,” the statement said. “We have explored every option to avoid this outcome to no avail. There are no funds available and no tangible or other assets owned by the corporation that could be monetized to make restitution or pay claims.

SBO sent another email Wednesday afternoon saying that at least some payments would be made soon.

The Northern California Nevada Cycling Association and Utah Cycling Association were each hit especially hard. Bill Nicely, NCNCA president, said in a statement to NorCalCyclingNews.com the SBO situation will put the hurt on local promoters. Nicely’s statement was released prior to the Wednesday email from SBO.

“This affected all races from Giro (de San Francisco on Sept. 5) forward on SBO. About 65k in reg fees as a loss in total. The BOD is deeply saddened by this loss and we are grateful to USAC for their participation in lessening the burden to our affected promoters.”

Via UPDATED: SBO shut down rattles promoters, owner promises to repay debts

 

UPDATE: this is SportsBase Online, NOT Sportsbasement as the headline typo originally said. Apologies to SportsBasement Online for the error.

NorCal MTB Racing This Weekend: 6 Oct - 11 Oct, 2011

For those of you making your weekend plans, here is quick rundown of this weekend's MTB racing schedule for NorCal:

1. Ridge Trail Festival 2011 (10/08/11) [XC, SD, STRX, DH, CLN]
2. Jughandle Juggernaut Race (10/08/11) [XC]

UCI Eliminates 4X/MTX, Introduces XCE, GE

The UCI (Cycling Worldwide Race Governing Board) has decided to eliminate Mountain Cross / 4X and introduce two new events: Cross Country Eliminator and Gravity Endurance:

Next year the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup calendar will undergo a facelift: the disappearance of four-cross and the official introduction of the cross-country eliminator (XCE) aim to keep the mountain bike discipline abreast of current trends.

He confirmed that the withdrawal of four-cross related only to the World Cup. The format will remain for the 2012 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Leogang, and registrations for four-cross races are still being accepted for the UCI international calendar. Peter Van den Abeele adds that the UCI is open to working with any organiser looking to host a UCI registered four-cross event during a World Cup weekend.

So why will we no longer see four-cross at the World Cup?

“Four-cross has proved more successful in some regions than others. This fact, coupled with the high financial costs and the environmental issues associated with the building of four-cross courses has led the UCI to make this decision. Four-cross competitions remain viable in a few World Cup venues but the lack of interest in others does not warrant continuing with this format in the World Cup series.”

Cross-country eliminator

Meanwhile the increasing popularity of the cross-country eliminator format has led the UCI to officially integrate it into the 2012 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.

Introduced in Europe two years ago, this format, suited to Olympic cross-country (XCO) specialists, sees four competitors race each other over a lap of around 1km. World Cup test events held in Dalby Forest (GBR) and Nove Mesto na Morave (CZE) last season were very successful, and in 2012 the format will be part of the World Cup events in Houffalize (BEL) Nove Mesto na Morave and La Bresse (FRA).

2012 will also see the crowning of the first XCE World Champion: this new format is being introduced to the UCI World Championships, and will be raced the day after the XCO event.

Development of gravity endurance events

Another flourishing mountain bike format is that of gravity endurance, which UCI Gravity Endurance Coordinator Chris Ball is looking to develop within the UCI by working with existing “enduro” events and riders.

His aim is to develop a discipline that will attract an increasing number of mountain bikers as it combines the physical endurance of cross-country riding with the technical difficulty and excitement of downhill racing.

The UCI invites organisers of current gravity enduro events to contact the UCI with a view to establishing a UCI Enduro Calendar from 2013. Enduro events can be in the form of multi-stage races, day races or mass start races.

Via Union Cycliste Internationale

 

NorCal MTB Racing This Weekend: 29 Sep - 4 Oct, 2011

For those of you making your weekend plans, here is quick rundown of this weekend's MTB racing schedule for NorCal:

1. 24 Hours of Whiskeytown (10/01/11) [24HR, 8HR]
2. Parkfield Classic (10/01/11) [XC, DS, STRX, DH, TRL]
3. Sierra Cup #7, Sawtooth Ridge Challenge (10/02/11) [XC]

2012 Mountain Bike World Cup: Windham Returns

The US retains it's only MTB World Cup venue:

On the cross country side of racing, the UCI confirmed that the 2012 World Cup will return to Windham, New York. The venue has twice previously hosted the World Cup. In its first year in 2010, it was a triple, featuring four cross, downhill and cross country. In 2011, it hosted downhill and cross country, but not four cross. 2012 will feature the same two events. The area was recently devastated by rains and flooding from Hurricane Irene and efforts are underway to rebuild.

2012 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Calendar

March 17-18: Cross country #1, Downhill #1 - Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
April 14-15: Cross country #2, Eliminator #1 - Houffalize, Belgium
May 12-13: Cross country #3, Eliminator #2, Nove Mesto Na Morave, Czech
May 19-20: Cross country #4, Eliminator #3, La Bresse, France
June 2-3: Downhill #2, Val di Sole, Italy
June 9-10: Downhill #3, Fort William, Great Britain
June 23-24: Cross country #5, Downhill #4, Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec Canada
June 30-July 1: Cross country #6, Downhill #5, Windham, New York, United States
July 28-29: Cross country #7, Downhill #6, Val d'Isere, France
September 15-16: Downhill #7, Hafjell, Norway

Via CyclingNews

USA Cycling announces 2012 Pro XCT Schedule

The Sea Otter Classic moves off the calendar ...

USA Cycling announced today the 2012 edition of the USA Cycling Pro Mountain Bike Cross Country Tour (Pro XCT).  In its fourth year, the Pro XCT will feature six events at which world-class athletes will race for UCI ranking points and prize purses.  

• Mountain bike season will unofficially kick off in the U.S. at Lance Armstrong’s ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas as the Pro XCT makes its first stop with UCI C1 event, The Mellow Johnny’s Classic on March 3.   Top-level mountain biking will continue in March with a pair of US Cup Triple Crown races.
• After a successful first appearance on the Pro XCT in 2011, the US Cup Triple Crown – Bonelli Park has been upgraded to a UCI C1 level event and will again be an important stop on the tour on March 10.
• It will be followed up by UCI C1 and fourth-year Pro XCT event, the US Cup Triple Crown – Fontana on March 24.
• After a two-month hiatus, the tour will stop in Southern Colorado. Making its Pro XCT debut will be the brand new UCI C2  Ute Valley Pro XCT in Colorado Springs on June 16.
• The penultimate event on the Pro XCT will be the ever-popular Subaru Cup, part of the well-established Wisconsin Off-Road Series (WORS), on July 14 in Mt. Morris, Wis. This fan favorite will again operate at the UCI C1 level.
• For the second year in a row, the Missoula Montana XC will close out the season-long calendar as a UCI C2-level event near downtown Missoula on August 4.

For more information about the Pro XCT, please visit its webpage: http://www.usacycling.org/proxct.

Via USA Cycling announces 2012 Pro Mountain Bike Cross Country Tour

NorCal MTB Racing This Weekend: 22 Sep - 27 Sep, 2011

For those of you making your weekend plans, here is quick rundown of this weekend's MTB racing schedule for NorCal:

1. Tara Llanes Classic (09/24/11) [DH]
2. Whiskeytown Classic (09/25/11) [XC]

2011 Parkfield Classic

Okay, I am a bit late on this one but it is well worth heading down to SLO:

The 2011 Parkfield Classic will be held October 1 and 2, 2011 in Parkfield, CA (directions). The annual two day event will feature:

• Cross Country - Saturday Morning 8am - Cross Country - Burly, lung busting, screaming fire-road course mixed in with some sweet singletrack. We're sending people off at 8:00 AM again this year. Distances: Beginner: 9 miles, Sport: 15 miles, Pro/Expert: 24 miles.
• Dual Slalom - Saturday Afternoon 12pm Dual Slalom Qualifiers and Head to Head races. This year's DS is the same fierce course as last year keeping riders fighting for the win all the way down the hill. You can see more pictures of the new slalom course here!
• Observed Trials - Saturday Evening 6pm Observed Trials Demo-Brand new to the Parkfield Classic, we will be having an unofficial observed trials competition and demonstration this year. Come show off your precision riding skills on this awesome course. Several sections will be offered, each with a beginner and advanced line. Judging will be done by your fellow riders. Rules on bike setup will be relaxed, so mods and stocks will compete together.
• Short Track - Sunday Morning8am Short Track Cross Country-this year's course will be the same as last year's combining blazingly fast singletrack with some interesting technical sections, brute strength and skill rolled in to one race.
• Downhill - Sunday Morning/AfternoonDownhill Practice: Crack-o-Dawn to 10:30am11 am Downhill - Sweet Glorious Single Track. What else can you say.Single Run format. Bypass options are given for most obstacles. Expert course different than Sport course. Riders are encouraged to wear protective gear as necessary. All riders must ride within safe limits! We'll be wrapped up with DH by 3, so that folks with a long drive ahead stay safe.

More details at http://cpslowheelmen.org/parkfield/Parkfield.html

NorCal MTB Racing This Weekend: 15 Sep - 20 Sep, 2011

For those of you making your weekend plans, here is quick rundown of this weekend's MTB racing schedule for NorCal:

1. Folsom Cyclebration (09/17/11) [XC, TT, STRX]
2. Bloody Rose MTB Hillclimb (09/17/11) [HC]