Published November 24, 2009 04:29PM
The Pro Mountain Bike Cross Country Tour is back for its second year with six races in 2010.
The Pro XCT will feature six UCI-sanctioned events in California, Alabama, Wisconsin and Colorado. In 2009, Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski was the series overall winner for the men and Catharine Pendrel took the top spot for women.
Along with top cross-country racing, the Pro XCT presented by US Cup aims to provide world-class athletes with a consistent stage on which to accumulate UCI ranking points and top prize purses.
The UCI points up for grabs at each Pro XCT event are crucial in helping the United States qualify the maximum number of mountain biking start spots for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, as well as start order at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships.
“The Pro XCT not only creates opportunity and increases exposure for our athletes here at home but it also helps ensure U.S. athletes the maximum opportunity for success on the sport’s highest stage,” said Marc Gullickson, of USA Cycling. “The UCI points these events offer directly dictate the number of start spots the U.S. will receive in mountain biking events at the 2012 Olympic Games in London as well as improve start order at the Mountain Bike World Championships annually.”
In addition to providing a sequence of international-caliber events where elite cross country racers can earn UCI points, the Pro XCT seeks to spotlight top American races, raise the level of competitive racing in the U.S., and recognize the best cross country teams and athletes competing on U.S. soil. In order for individual riders or teams to earn points toward the overall Pro XCT titles, they must be registered as a UCI Trade Team or as a USA Cycling Mountain Bike Domestic Pro Team. The Pro XCT will provide leaders’ jerseys to the top male and female rider in the overall standings, leaders’ number plates and a guaranteed cash purse for each race.