1-11-07 // Events: 2007 USA Cycling Mountain Bike Calendar

We should remind our readers that USA Cycling is fazing out the acronym NORBA, along with USCF, USPRO, NCCA, etc... This change is basically cosmetic; the organization is the same, only the name has changed—according to USA Cycling.

Colorado Springs, Colo. (January 11, 2007)—After unveiling plans for a new season-long mountain bike initiative last October, USA Cycling announced today the 53 races that comprise the inaugural USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Calendars.

With over $200,000 in prize money on the line, the calendars encompass all disciplines of competitive off-road cycling and are divided into three primary categories – cross country, gravity and ultra endurance.

The new USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Calendars were specifically designed to provide a more accessible opportunity for top-level events in the United States that have not traditionally been part of the national series model. The new concept is compatible with a variety of event models and provides professional and elite-level athletes with consistent, top-quality racing opportunities across all disciplines of mountain biking.

Geoff Kabush Alan Davis

Consisting of 29 events across 17 states, the cross-country calendar kicks off March 25 with the Chickasaw Trace Classic in Columbia, Tenn. and stretches six months to the last weekend in October when the Piney Hills Classic XIV in Ruston, La. concludes the calendar. In between, notable events such as the Sea Otter Classic and the six National Mountain Bike Series (NMBS) races from USA Cycling’s previous national series model are included.

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. Five category-1 events offer the most points – the Sea Otter Classic, the Snowshoe MTB Festival in West Virginia and the NMBS stops in Phoenix, Park City, Utah and Banner Elk, N.C.

The cross-country calendar also includes three category-2 events, seven category-3 races and 14 category-4 events.

With the introduction of the 2007 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Calendars comes the opportunity for athletes to accumulate UCI points at eight calendar events. All five category-1 events are on the UCI calendar in addition to the three category-2 events – The Greenbrier Challenge in Frederick, Md., the NMBS stop in Fontana, Calif. and the Maplelag MTB Spring Opener in Callaway, Minn. Those eight events, plus the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships in West Dover, Vt., offer athletes nine opportunities to gather UCI points on American soil in 2007. The procurement of UCI points is the primary factor in determining how many start positions the United States will receive at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Carl Decker chased by the Sea Otter short track field Alan Davis

The 18-event gravity calendar, which features downhill, 4-cross, super D and dual slalom events, will span 11 states. With similar category designations, there are six category-1 events and 12 category-2 events. Category-1 events include the Sea Otter Classic, the Chile Challenge in Angel Fire, N.M., the Blast the Mass in Snowmass Village, Colo., the Mountain States Cup races in Telluride and Keystone, Colo. and the Rock MTN G3 Series Race in Angel Fire.

The ultra endurance calendar, which consists of 62-mile races, marathons and 12- and 24-hour races, includes six events.

As in the cross-country calendar, the gravity calendar and ultra endurance calendar will also crown overall champions at season’s end.

An important element in the creation of the separate calendars within the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Calendar framework allows for events that have a stronger presence in one particular discipline to be a part of the national calendar.

For the PDFs of the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Calendars, click on the links below:

Cross Country

Gravity

Ultra Endurance