The summer cyclocross race winner will be paid to fly Raleigh colors for the whole season.
by Kenton Berg
[Updated with prize package and values below]
A rare summer cyclocross event, presented by Raleigh and MFG Cyclocross, is coming to Washington state on July 21, and it presents a unique opportunity for an unsigned fast racer to land a pro contract from Raleigh this season. If you are purely a cyclocross racer and slowly building to peak in January for Nats? You just might want to add a late July peak to that summer plan and head out now for an interval session today.
According to Raleigh Marketing Manager and event brainchild, Brian “Sally” Fornes, the event is set to coincide with the end of the Raleigh dealer meeting in mid July. This affair of the dirt and grass will commence on July 21st at the Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum, WA. A quick 90-minute jaunt from Seattle, the resort is gearing up for an event atypical to its normal, more civilized affairs. The golf community, where the loudest noises usually heard are cries of “fore!” will soon be overrun with bikes, beer, cowbells and the cyclocross-faithful looking to get an early season fix.
With a number of details to still be sorted out, Fornes confirmed with Cyclocross Magazine that there will be a number of races throughout the day with prizes ranging from cold, hard cash to swag and other goodies. From the “Dealers” race, featuring contestants from some of Raleigh’s top dealers, to the “fast guys” race, the action will be hot, literally, as this high desert resort tends to see temps in the 90s at this time of year.
The biggest attraction and the unique aspect of this event, however, is the Pro-style contract being handed out by Raleigh to the winner of the “fast guy” race. Details are not finalized, but the opportunity to catch a free ride with new Raleigh carbon cyclocross bikes and more for the upcoming season may send some cyclocrossers into training overdrive a bit early.
In addition to the racing, Raleigh will have a fleet of demo bikes to test out, and you can plan on plenty of food and beer to be available.
Prize packages up for grabs:
Elite Prize List Breakdown
Cat |
Sex |
Place |
Prize Description |
Value |
| Elite | Men’s | First | Check Raleigh Racing Kit Prize Value |
$1,500 $300 $1,800 |
| Elite | Men’s | Second | Check Raleigh Racing Kit Prize Value |
$500 $300 $800 |
| Elite | Men’s | Third | Check Prize Value |
$250 $250 |
Top Elite Man without Contract |
||||
| “Contract with Raleigh” Prize | ||||
| Two Complete Raleigh CX Carbon Bikes with Shimano’s NEW CX groupo Travel Allowance Tech Support at USPG Raleigh Racing Kit Free Entries to Cross After Dark Prize Value |
$12,000 $2,500 $ – $300 $150 $14,950 |
|||
| Elite | Women’s | First | Check Raleigh Racing Kit Prize Value |
$1,500 $300 $1,800 |
| Elite | Women’s | Second | Check Raleigh Racing Kit Prize Value |
$500 $300 $800 |
| Elite | Women’s | Third | Check Prize Value |
$250 $250 |
Top Elite Woman without Contract |
||||
| “Contract with Raleigh” Prize | ||||
| Two complete Raleigh RX W bikes Travel Allowance Tech Support at USPG Raleigh Racing Kit Free Entries to Cross After Dark Prize Value |
$8,000 $2,500 $ – $300 $150 $10,950 |
|||
Singlespeed Prize List Breakdown
| Single Speed | Men’s | First | Gates Equipped Raleigh RX Carbon SS Frame Travel Allowance Check Raleigh Racing Kit Prize Value |
$2,500 $1,500 $250 $300 $4,550 |
| Single Speed | Women’s | First | Gates Equipped Raleigh RX Carbon SS Frame Travel Allowance Check Raleigh Racing Kit Prize Value |
$2,500 $1,500 $250 $300 $4,550 |
Total Prize Summary
| Total Elite Prizing | $31,600.00 | |||
| Total Single Speed Prizing | $9,100.00 | |||
| Total Prizing | $40,700.00 | |||
