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USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Calendars unveiled for 09
The 2009 USA Cycling mountain bike calendar boasts higher cash prizes and a more logical travel schedule, the organization said Thursday.
The third annual USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Calendar includes 34 events; the calendar is intended to boost top tier events that have not traditionally been part of a national series.
The 19-event cross-country calendar kicks off with the Fontana United States Cup in Fontana, California, on March 20 and ends seven months later on the last weekend in October with the Piney Hills Classic in Ruston, Louisiana.
Over the course of the season-long calendar, athletes will accrue ranking points as they pursue overall titles in men's and women's individual and team categories - much like USA Cycling's National Racing Calendar model in road cycling.
Each of the 29 events on the cross country calendar is categorized according to the amount of overall ranking points available. Three category-1 events offer the most points - the Sea Otter United States Cup in Monterrey, California., the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships in Granby, Colorado, and the Mount Snow United States Cup in West Dover, Vermont.
The cross country calendar also includes two category-2 events, three category-3 races and 11 category-4 events.
The eight-event gravity calendar, which features downhill, 4-cross, super D and dual slalom events, will span five states. With similar category designations, there is one category-1 event and three category-2 events on the 2009 calendar.
The category-1 event will be the USA Cycling National Championships, July 16-19, and the category-2 events include the Chile Challenge in Angel Fire, New Mexico, May 23-25, the Blast the Mass in Snowmass, Colorado, June 27-28 and the Whiteface 5K Downhill on Aug. 30.
The ultra endurance calendar consists of 62-mile races, marathons, eight, 12- and 24-hour races. The seven-race calendar will once again kick off with the Mas O Menos 100K in Terlingua, Texas, on February 4th and wrap up at the National Mountain Bike Oktoberfest in Davison, North Carolina on October 24-25.
As in the cross country calendar, the gravity calendar and ultra endurance calendar will also crown overall champions at season's end.
For the complete calendar, click on the following links:
Cross Country
Gravity
Ultra Endurance
