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Some of the world’s fastest off-road bicycle racers will be returning to Southampton this weekend for the annual Whitmores Landscaping Super Cross Cup at Southampton Youth Services. The event is cyclocross, “the steeplechase of cycling” and the fastest-growing sport in North America.
Cyclocross is a type of off-road bicycle race that combines the speed and spectacle of Tour de France style road racing with the rigorous skills of Olympic mountain bike racing. It is characterized by obstacles that require the competitors to carry their bike, which the fastest riders do at a full run. Cyclocross is the fastest-growing form of bicycle racing in America, and is believed to be the fastest-growing sport in North America.
And for North American cyclocross racers, the races in the Hamptons are among the most important, and richest, of the year. Admission is free, the events run in any weather and trackside picnicking and partying are encouraged. There will also be free kids race on Sunday.
The two-day event is part of both the East Coast-based MAC Cyclocross Series and the International North American Cyclocross Trophy (NACT) series of events. In the past, champions from throughout Europe, including World Champion Erwin Vervecken of Belgium, have traveled across the Atlantic specifically to compete in this two-day festival of speed, dirt and mud.
In 2007, German National Champion Malte Urban, Danish National Champion Joachim Parbo and Vervecken all competed at the Whitmores Landscaping Super Cross Cup.
Whitmores Super Cross Cup, as the first international cyclocross race to pay women racers more than their male counterparts, is credited with raising the profile and prize money for women’s cyclocross racing throughout North America and the world.
This year boasts an all-star field from throughout the United States and Canada, including full-time professionals, national champions and Olympians.
From New England will be the powerful Cannondale-CyclocrossWorld.com team with former world medalist and U.S. National Champion Tim Johnson, this season’s most successful racer Jeremy Powers, and former collegiate National Champion Jamey Driscoll.
Team Giant Bicycles is sending international mountain bike stars Adam Craig and Carl Decker from Oregon, as well as women’s stalwart Kelli Emmett from Colorado.
The “Twin Towers,” 6-foot-3-inch defending U.S. National Champion Ryan “Tree Farm” Trebon and his equally tall Team Kona Bicycles teammate Barry Wicks (who beat World Champion Vervecken here two years ago) will travel to the race from Oregon.
Olympian, multi-time U.S. Mountain Bike Champion and defending NACT champion Georgia Gould will travel from Colorado, probably with some of her team LunaChix teammates. Defending MAC Champion, U.S. World Cup team member and one of the most successful professional women road racers of all time, Laura Van Gilder of Pennsylvania will carry somewhat of a home-track advantage as a result of her relatively short drive from her home in the Poconos.
The weekend event serves as the finals of the NACT Series, one of the richest international cyclocross series outside of Europe. It will also be part of the Pro-Am MAC Cyclocross Series, drawing pro and amateur racers from as far away as Virginia for one of the most important race weekends of the season.
Approximately 300 elite and amateur competitors holding valid racing licenses, including world-class professionals, will descend on the SYS over the weekend. The event benefits the Hampton Velo Club—a local 501c3 dedicated to getting children involved in the sport—and Spokespeople of Eastern Long Island, whose purpose is to enhance the quality of life on eastern Long Island by promoting and facilitating road and trail cycling among citizens of all ages and all physical abilities for both recreation and transportation.
Race Schedule
The event will kick off on Saturday at 10 a.m. with the novice and amateur men taking the course first. They’ll be followed by the novice and amateur women, as well as juniors, at 11 a.m. At noon, the expert amateur men will race, followed by the elite age group (money) races for competitors ages 35+, 45+ and under 19. The first feature race for international professional women will take place at 2 p.m. followed by the second feature race, for international professional men at 3 p.m.
On Sunday, novice and amateur men will race at 9 a.m., novice and amateur women and juniors will race at 10 a.m., expert amateur men will race at 11 a.m., the elite age group (money) races will take place at noon, the kids free race will take place at 1 p.m., the pro women will race at 1:30 p.m. and the pro men will race at 2:30 p.m.
Kids Race
Spokespeople is sponsoring a free kids obstacle course Sunday, November 22, at the Southampton Town Recreation Center in conjunction with the Whitmores Supercross Cup Cyclocross race. Kids can be challenged by a unique bike course in a safe, car-free, fenced in area and the whole family can enjoy watching a professional bike race, which is part of the North American Cyclocross Trophy Series, with racers from around the world.
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