Top pros to contest inaugural Gateway Cross Cup

Reigning US 'cross champion Todd Wells (Specialized) will contest the inaugural Gateway Cross Cup. (Image credit: Dave McElwaine/trailwatch.net)

Following the launch of the international professional cyclo-cross season at CrossVegas one week ago, many of the sport's top stars are preparing to compete at the inaugural Gateway Cross Cup on Wednesday, September 21 at Heman Park in University City, Missouri. A first for the region, 'crossers from across the United States and Europe will be competing for coveted ranking points that are up for grabs at this UCI C2-ranked event.

The field for the elite men's race at the Gateway Cross Cup will feature key American riders such as current US national champion and Olympian Todd Wells (Specialized), former national champions Tim Johnson (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld), Jonathan Page (Planet Bike-Blue Bicycles) and Ryan Trebon (LTS-Felt) as well last season's Gran Prix of Cyclo-cross and North American Cyclo-cross Trophy series champion Jeremy Powers (Team Rapha-Focus).

The UCI-sanctioned races kick off at 7:50 pm with the 40-minute elite women's race followed at 9:00 pm for the 60-minute elite men's race. Both the women's and men's events are the third stop on the inaugural Cross After Dark series, which concludes on Saturday, October 15 in Irvine, California, with Spooky Cross. The series began with CrossVegas in Las Vegas, Nevada, followed by last Saturday's StarCrossed in Issaquah, Washington.