The final round of the MAC Powered by SRAM series will take place in the Washington, DC suburb of Reston, Virginia this weekend. The UCI C2 Capital Cross Classic will provide east coasters a chance to tune up their form before the US National Championships next week.
This year, nationwide outdoors retailer REI has once again sponsored the Women's Elite race, while SRAM has taken on the title role of the Elite Men's race. To assist riders that want to get one last hard effort into their legs prior to the National Championships, organizers of the Capital Cross Classic are once again offering a free shuttle to the track from nearby Dulles Airport.
While the Capital Cross Classic may be excellent preparation for the National Championships, most competitors look toward the event as the final and deciding round of the popular MAC Powered by SRAM Cyclo-cross Series. Tight races abound in the championship chases in many of the Amateur and Elite divisions; chief among them are the Elite Men.
Wes Schempf, series champion in 2006 and 2007, is currently atop the leader board and aiming for a three-peat. But close behind Schempf is the rider who beat him at last weekend's Pennsylvania State Championships, his C3-Sollay.com teammate Andy Wulfkuhl.
The top spots for the Elite Women's and Masters Titles are already decided. Laura Van Gilder (C3-Sollay) clinched her first cyclo-cross championship ahead of Diedre Winfield (Velo Bella).
On the Masters side, Roger Aspholm has secured the overall victory, but second place is up for grabs with no fewer than eight riders in mathematical contention for the runner-up spot, including Mark Kutney, who has wrapped up the 45+ crown.
Current point tallies for all classes are available on the MAC Powered by SRAM web site, www.midatlanticcross.com. More information on, and pre-registration for, the Capital Cross Classic may be found at BikeReg.com.
