cactus cupAs we previously reported, the Mountain’s Edge 2008 Cactus Cup is scheduled for September 19th – 21st, 2008 in Las Vegas, NV. The latest incarnation of this venerable event sticks with the tried and true Cactus Cup formula, combining a three-day festival and a mountain bike stage race.

The latest news is that the Cactus Cup is offering a total prize purse of $25,000, and a percentage of registration fees payback pool to all male and female categories, which include Pro, Semi-Pro (men’s class only, no women’s class available), Expert, Sport and Beginner.

“The percentage of entry fees payback-awarded to registered racers creates a prize pool so that larger, more competitive classes have larger cash purses. Each class has a guaranteed prize list with a varying percentage of entry fees added to this guarantee,” explains Ravi Rajcoomar, managing director for Swagger (the company putting on the race). “While the top levels have a chance to win money, we created incentives for those new to racing, who are in the Beginner category, so they can reinvest in their own cycling.”

Registration is now open at www.cactuscuplasvegas.com. The stage race and optional omnium format (where racers compete in individual events and are assigned points for performance) for Expert through Beginner categories includes the Exploration Peak Time Trial, Super D, and the Cottonwood Cross Country. The Fat Tire Criterium is only available as a part of a full stage race registration.

Expert, Sport and Beginner categories are offered in the following age groups: 18-and-under, 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54 and 55+ (based on USA Cycling racing age classes). Age classes with fewer than 10 entries will be combined with the closest lower age group (55+ and 18-and-under excluded).