BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
CrossVegas’ inaugural "Wheelers and Dealers" industry-only cyclocross race will be held Wednesday, September 24th at the Desert Breeze Soccer Complex. The second annual USA CRITS Industry Cup, presented by Bicycling Magazine, criterium race will be held the following evening at the Mandalay Bay Resort.
Both CrossVegas, LLC and Swagger, LLC are producing two separate large professional and amateur cycling races during the week of Interbike, as well as the industry only races for show attendees. The main events, CrossVegas and the USA CRITS Finals are intended to introduce Las Vegas locals and tourists to the sport of cycling, while the industry only races will be "good, clean fun" for show attendees.
"With two years of back-to-back competitive racing events, in tandem with the bicycle industry’s trade event, Interbike and the industry are helping Vegas cultivate a culture of cycling," said Lance Camisasca, Interbike’s industry consultant.
"Now that the show will be held in Las Vegas for a few more years, we welcome CrossVegas and Swagger in making the city famous for great cycling events."
Beginning at 6:30 pm, the bicycle industry racers will race for 30 minutes on the same Desert Breeze Soccer Complex course as the elite categories. All Wheelers and Dealers industry participants will race together, with winning times calculated to determine Top Male, Top Female, Media, Manufacturer, Retailer, Distributor and Cycling Advocate winners.
"With the addition of the Wheelers and Dealers race and the shuttle buses from the Sands, CrossVegas is an even bigger part of the Interbike experience," said Brook Watts, co-promoter and marketing director for CrossVegas, LLC.
The Desert Breeze Soccer Complex is approximately eight miles from the Strip and the Sands Convention Center, location of the Interbike trade show. Interbike will provide complimentary shuttle service from the Sands to the race location from 6:00-11:00 pm, with shuttles leaving every 15 minutes.
Returning for its second year, the Industry Cup, presented by Bicycling Magazine, will begin at 8:30 pm at the Mandalay Bay Resort. Industry Cup participants will race 40km on the same 1k course as the USA CRITS professional series finale, which serpentines through the Mandalay Bay parking area. Jerseys will be awarded to winners in each of the five categories: Manufacturer, Media, Retailer, Distributor and Pro Team Support Staff.
"Last year’s Industry Cup had some fierce racing with ex-pros, manufacturers, independent reps and shop owners and staff racing each other," said Ravi Rajcoomar, managing partner of Swagger, the organiser of the Vegas CRITS.
The Industry Cup is open to 25 teams of four people. Individual riders who cannot field an entire team can be combined with other riders looking for a team. Champions in each industry division will be crowned on the podium in front of an expected 25,000 fans.
Industry participants for the CrossVegas and USA CRITS Finals Industry Cup must be full-time employees in the cycling industry whose primary income is derived from working for the company entering the event (not as "spokesmen"), and be an amateur with a valid USCF Cat 1-4 license.
