The Mid-Atlantic Super Series will open its 2008 season with a unique take on mountain bike relays in Marysville, Pennsylvania, on April 6. The race will be "a combination of some other relay concepts we've borrowed and things we've cooked up over the years at other events," said promoter Mike Kuhn.
Every rider will be assigned a handicap start based on age and ability. Points will be awarded for each lap completed. A team consisting of elite male riders will start the relay with far fewer points than a team of beginners but will (likely) complete more laps and in doing so attempt to make up the points gap during the course of the race. Also unusual for MASS events is a tight and twisty 15-20 minute long lap time as opposed to one hour laps at most relays. Promoters hope to keep speeds high and the transition area bustling.
