Mt. Hood Cycling Classic
Good Morning Northwest Racers!
The Mt. Hood Cycling Classic is back and bigger than ever. For 2009 we are bringing back the classic courses that you love and we are bring back the CAT 4 men's field and CAT 3-4 women's field. Racing starts June 3rd for the Pro 1-2 Men and Pro 1-3 women with the Panorama Point Prologue. Masters 35+/45+ men will start the next day at the Cooper Spur Circuit Race, Thursday June 4th at 9:05 a.m. and the remaining categories will begin that afternoon at 2:00 p.m. Here are just a few of the exciting things on tap for 2009.
· Race will be a 5 day 5 stage format for the Pro 1-2 Men and Pro 1-3 Women. 4 days and 4 stages for the rest of the categories.
· After much deliberation we have arranged to include the most epic and spectacular time trial in the country (the pros' words last year not mine) in the Scenic Gorge Time Trial.
· New Wy'East Road Race course that starts and ends at Mt. Hood Meadows (with the exception of the CAT 3-4 women)
· New CAT 3-4 Women's Wy'East course that will challenge you but not decimate you.
· CAT 3 women get the option of racing with the Pro's or the 4's
· Shirts, pint glasses, killer swag, yeah it's all back.
· $20,000 in prize money and merchandise on the line.
Some things to note. The Pro 1-2 Men and Pro 1-3 Women's race will be run under USA Cycling sanctioning and will have rolling enclosures provided for full road access. The rest of the categories will be sanctioned under OBRA. I am getting a ton of emails from teams and riders from across the U.S. that have this event marked on their calendars. Looking at early numbers and indicators we anticipate a huge turnout for 2009. This is your warning. Do NOT wait until the day before registration ends to sign up. We do not hold spots we do not reserve spots and we will strictly adhere to our field limits. Historically the Pro 1-2 Men's field fills up 3-4 weeks out and the CAT 3 men fill 6-7 weeks out but we also anticipate that the CAT 4 men's field will fill as well. Registration is now open. Get signed up to assure your spot. Also as many of you have found out in the past lodging is maxed in Hood River and up at Cooper Spur. Book early to assure you are not commuting in from The Dalles. Website is now up and info posted at www.mthoodcyclingclassic.com. Check it out and a cool video Sal Collura shot and edited from last year's event. We look forward to seeing all of you at the starting line in 2009!
Sincerely,
Chad