Elite women start at CX after Dark in 2012. © Velo Vivid
by Joe Bellante
Hup hup! Registration on BikeReg.com closes Tuesday (October 29th) at 11:45pm EST for the Cincy3 CX Festival (11/1-3), 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, Anderson, Nash, Mani, Powers, Berden, Johnson, and Trebon racing alongside the regional talents of Drew Dillman, Josh Johnson and Ryan Knapp. With big UCI C1 and C2 points at stake, plus equal $12,500+ weekend purses for both elite men and women, the battles will be hard fought in Cincinnati. See the complete list of pre-registered pros here at BikeReg.com.
The Toyota Cincy3 CX Festival presented by Cincinnati Cyclocross, United Dairy Farmers, Reece-Campbell, Inc., and Zipp features 3 days and 3 different venues in the Cincinnati Metro area. All three courses have new twists this year. The weekend is also shared with OVCX as the 7th, 8th and 9th races in the Ohio Valley Cyclocross Series. Already, the festival-style weekend boasts over 1250 registrations.
Day 1 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.
Friday venue at Cincy 3
Saturday, it’s the C1 Cross After Dark Lionhearts International 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, the festive Heckle-Hill and other creative illumination.
Saturday venue at Cincy 3
Harbin Park, the home of cyclocross in Cincinnati for 19 years, closes out the Cincy3 Festival on Sunday p/b Reece-Campbell and United Dairy Farmers. A new course layout promises easier parking plus more wooded sections. As always, 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. A food and beer garden will be on hand to facilitate comfortable spectating of the exciting UCI event!
Sunday venue at Cincy 3
In its 10th anniversary season, the Zipp OVCX Series, including the MudFund Derby City Cup and Cincy3 UCI weekends and a date of Cross After Dark, will continue its focus on maximizing the growth of regional cyclocross through great courses, competitive fields, and good times. Find the complete schedule and registration links online at OVCX.com. Like OVCX on Facebook and follow OhioValleyCX on Twitter.
Trebon and Powers at Harbin last year at Cincy3.
