usa cycling cyclocross nationals 2009An estimated 1,600 racers are set to compete in the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships which are slated for Dec. 10-13th in the heart of Bend, Oregon’s Old Mill District. The competitors will vie for Stars-and-Stripes jerseys across 30 age and ability categories.

The big guns will throw down on Sunday, Dec. 13th in the elite finale. The men’s field includes Bend’s own reigning national champion Ryan Trebon (Kona), mountain bike Olympian Adam Craig (Giant), multiple cyclocross national champion Tim Johnson (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com), former U23 national champion Jamey Driscoll (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) and former world championship medalist Jonathon Page (Planet Bike).

The best female cyclocross racers are also set to drop the hammer on the 13th. The elite women competitors include USA Cycling Cyclocross National Calendar leader Maureen Bruno-Roy (MM Racing p/b Seven Cycles) and current UCI World Cup leader Katie Compton (Planet Bike) who will be gunning for her sixth consecutive national title. The deep field also includes criterium expert Laura Van Guilder (C3 Sollay) and Olympian Mary McConneloug (Kenda-Seven Cycles).

The event will kick off with non-national championship “B” races at 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 10th and will continue through the elite women’s and men’s contests beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Dec. 13th. Click here to view a PDF of the complete race schedule.

Late registration will be available on site alongside packet pick-up in the heart of the Old Mill District at 450 S.W. Powerhouse Drive, Suite 429 near REI and upstairs from Helly Hansen. The hours for late registration and packet pick-up will be as follows:

  • Wed. Dec. 9: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 – 8:00 p.m.

  • Thurs. Dec. 10: 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

  • Fri. Dec. 11: 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

  • Sat. Dec. 12: 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

  • Sun. Dec. 13: 7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

The MyLaps Sports Timing ChipX timing system will be used for demonstration purposes in select races throughout the event including masters races on Friday and Saturday as well as the elite men’s and women’s contests on Sunday. More information on the system’s functionality and transponders will be available at packet-pickup.

Several special events will also run in conjunction with the 2009 USA Cycling cyclocross National Championships, including the USA Cycling Cross Nats Blow Out Bash on Friday, Dec. 11th. The event’s official party will begin at 6:00 p.m. at the Midtown Music Hall located at 51 NW Greenwood Ave. and is free for all! All competitors showing their USA Cycling license along with valid photo ID will receive a free beverage. Festivities will include live entertainment, giveaways, bike art and more. Click here for a complete schedule of all non-racing events.

USA Cycling will also offer four free educational seminars in conjunction with the USA Cycling cyclocross National Championships. The sessions are open to anyone, and USA Cycling certified coaches will earn 0.1 CEU for each session attended. Each session will take place next to REI (the same location as registration and packet pick-up), and will last about an hour. For more information about these sessions and their presenters, click here.

For more information on the event including rules, course map, call-up procedures and more visit http://www.usacycling.org/events/2009/cxnationals/.