CINCINNATI, OHIO – Hup hup! Registration on BikeReg.com closes Wednesday (October 31st) at 10pm for this weekend’s Cincy3 CX Festival, the oldest UCI race weekend in the Midwest. Race, mingle in the beer garden, get autographs and take pictures under the Cross After Dark Series lights with the biggest stars of cyclocross like Compton, Trebon, Nash, Berden and others. With big UCI points and selections for Worlds in Louisville at stake, plus a $10,000+ women’s and a $12,000+ men’s purse, the battles will be hard fought in the Queen City. See the complete list of pre-registered pros here at BikeReg.com.
The Cincy3 CX Festival presented by Cincinnati Cyclocross and United Dairy Farmers features 3 days and 3 different venues in the Cincinnati Metro area. All three courses have been redesigned since last year. Pit areas and bike washing have also been upgraded. The weekend is also shared with OVCX as the 6th, 7th and 8th races in the Ohio Valley Cyclocross Series. With a few mid-week showers courtesy of Hurricane Sandy, followed by dry days forecast for the weekend, we expect fast and tacky courses. Already, the festival-style weekend boasts 1249 registrations.
Day 1, the Cyclo-Stampede is a Friday afternoon and evening UCI-C2 affair at Devou Park in Covington, KY. The course, featuring some wicked steeps and off-camber, will reward those with daring and skill. The picturesque park, adjacent to downtown hotels, bars and restaurants also offers a spectacular hilltop view of the downtown Cincinnati skyline.
Saturday, it’s the C2 Cross After Dark Lionhearts International at Kings CX p/b Toyota and Siemens on a former golf course in the northern suburb of Mason featuring music, food, and a beer garden. With both elite races at night under the lights, the entire schedule starts later in the day making a long morning drive to the race from Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Tennessee doable. You won’t want to miss the LED light-up barriers (see You Tube video from designers Corey Green and Jaden Sempsrott here), the disco ball on the flyover and other creative illumination. In addition, Saturday is the USAC Midwest Juniors Regional Cyclocross Championships, and the annual OVCX Heckle-Off! See registration details at BikeReg.com.
Harbin Park, the home of cyclocross in Cincinnati for 18 years, closes out the Cincy3 Festival on Sunday p/b Reece-Campbell and United Dairy Farmers. One of only 10 first category (C1) UCI events in the country, Harbin always dishes out a tough finish to the weekend with an up-and-down grinder of a course that has left the world’s best riders completely spent at the finish. One of the largest women’s prize list payouts ($6558/25) in the world is featured once again to support the growth of women’s cycling. A food and beer garden will be on hand to facilitate comfortable spectating of the exciting UCI event!
