US racers to flock to Granogue

When the MAC Cyclo-cross series starts its internationally-ranked series on October 20, nearly 500 racers will be chasing the Holy Grail of Mid-Atlantic dirt racing - the coveted Pink Flamingo trophy signifying victory at the legendary Granogue 'Cross. Held on the front yard of the sprawling hilltop estate of one of America's richest industrialists, the picturesque Granogue course is universally recognized as one of the best anywhere. From sticky mud to high-speed asphalt, the course has enough technical challenges to test the complete set of 'cross skills.

The race's history only adds to its legend. It was here last year that Katie Compton made her UCI debut. That debut culminated several months later in a silver medal at the World Championships for the affable Compton, who grew up just a few miles away and graduated from nearby University of Delaware.

On the men's side, it's easy to list the top elite riders who have competed at Granogue. "All of them, every year" laughs Verge MAC Media Director Ken Getchell. "Every domestic-based pro comes to this race every year. There are too many points, and there is too much prestige for them to miss it."

On October 20, the legend of will grow again as the racers from around the world compete with America's greatest cyclists -- and new names are entered into the history books as champions of the Granogue 'Cross. For more information about the Granogue 'Cross, including directions and pre-registration, see BikeReg.com. While there, don't forget to also enter the following day's Wissahickon UCI C2 Cyclo-cross, the second round of the 2007 Verge MAC Cyclo-cross Series.