USGP of Cyclocross moves finals to Bend

Bend, Oregon, may have lost the U.S. cyclocross national championships this year, but elite racing will return to central Oregon with the city hosts the final rounds of the U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross presented by Greenware.

The eight-race series, the premier run of UCI cyclocross races in North America, will this fall make return trips to Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, for the Planet Bike Cup, Fort Collins, Colorado, for the New Belgium Cup and Louisville, Kentucky, for the Derby City Cup. The Deschutes Brewery Cup will debut as the series finale in December, on the same course used for the national championships each of the last two years.

“Bend has established itself as one of the epicenters of North American cyclocross,” said USGP executive director Bruce Fina. “As a community, Bend has proven they can host world class cyclocross events and they have convinced us that they will be excellent partners for our organization, our racers and our sponsors.”

Organizers expect 800 riders for the series finale in Bend.

“Cycling is a big part of Bend’s culture and has emerged as an important component of our tourism strategy,” said Doug La Placa, President/CEO of Visit Bend. “Hosting the USGP is an honor for Bend and will provide a much needed stimulus to our regional tourism industry during an otherwise slow time of year.”

Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) and Georgia Gould (Luna) are the defending USGP series champions for elite men and women.

2011 USGP of Cyclocross
The Planet Bike Cup – Sun Prairie, Wisc.
September 24th and 25th

The New Belgium Cup – Fort Collins, Colo.
October 8th and 9th

The Derby City Cup – Louisville, Kentucky
November 12th and 13th

The Deschutes Brewery Cup – Bend, Ore.
December 10th and 11th