Utah Championship Race on Saturday in St. George; Nevada Championship on Sunday in Beatty
November 17, 2016 – Thanksgiving weekend will see both the Utah and Nevada Cyclo-Cross Championships take place on Saturday and Sunday within 3 hours drive of each other.
On Saturday, November 26, the Utah Cyclo-Cross Championships will be held at Stahell Farm in St. George, Utah. Then on Sunday, November 27, the Nevada Cyclo-Cross Championships will be held at Spicer Ranch in Beatty, Nevada.
We asked Cimarron Chacon of GRO Races to tell us about the events.
“Both states are new to the USCA State Championship – both only in the 2nd year. The key was to find great locations where a new tradition could be built. In Utah, the venue is Staheli Family Farm. In Nevada, it is the Spicer Ranch. Both courses have a mix of gravel, packed dirt, soft sandy dirt and grass.
Video Teaser of Beatty, Nevada Course:
Cycling West: Tell us about the cyclo-cross scene in Southern Utah. How long has it been going on? Do you get riders from Utah and Nevada to race with the locals?
Cross began in Southern Utah in 2011 with the Southern Utah Cyclocross Series. At that time very few locals knew about cross. Initially there were more people from Las Vegas and Northern Utah than locals. The scene has really grown in recent years. The local crowd is very diverse, with many large families joining each week and everyone racing. Its all about being on bikes and having fun.
There is also a large group of racers from Las Vegas that used to travel to SOCAL for cross, that now add to our scene. Thanksgiving weekend has traditionally been the largest group of Northern Utah racers. Our weather is traditionally pleasant, and it is a great excuse to work off the turkey and get away from the relatives for a couple of hours.
Cycling West: Both Utah and Nevada’s state championships are on the same weekend. How did that come to be? Are these both USAC sanctioned?
Yes, they are both USAC sanctioned. GRO Races and Las Vegas Cyclery began working together over a year ago when we both learned the State Championship would be up for bid for 2016. GRO Race Consulting had been working on a trail development project in Beatty NV that we thought would be a perfect venue for a championship race. (See: https://www.cyclingwest.com/bicycle-news-headlines/cycling-utahs-july-2015-issue-is-now-available/ for a story on Beatty)
Organizer Steve Clause and I strategized that a double header weekend might be the perfect excuse for those traveling from northern climates to enjoy a full weekend of racing. The 2 venues are equi-distant from Las Vegas and only 3 hour apart. We have worked hard to collaborate all aspects of the weekend. We are even sharing the same timing system – which will stream live results each day.
Cycling West: Tell us about the Utah (St. George) race, both the venue and any festivities.
This venue is a working farm. Cows, horses, goats, and a relaxed vibe will be part of both. The venue is very family friendly.
Cycling West: Tell us about the Nevada (Beatty) race.
The Spicer Ranch will have space for camping at the venue after the race and those not racing can take off on the many mountain bike trails surrounding the Ranch. This is a working ranch, so there will also be cows and horses present. The owner of the ranch, Dave Spicer has been a key partner in making sure this Nevada race could happen.
Cycling West: Is there anything else that you’d like to add?
In addition to each State’s championship, this weekend is a unique opportunity to race against athletes that might not normally be in your regular racing crowd. In addition, how often can you go toe to toe on the same weekend with a worthy opponent? I imagine we will see many races where a racer will take a win at one venue only to be taken out at the next by a runner up.
Race Details:
November 26 — Utah State Championship Cyclocross Race, St. George, UT, State championship race on November 26. Held at Staheli Farm, Cimarron Chacon, 970-759-3048, [email protected], southernutahcyclocross.com, usacutnvcxstatechamps.athlete360.com
November 27 — Nevada State Championship Cyclocross Race, Beatty, NV, State championship race on November 27. Held at Spicer Ranch, Cimarron Chacon, 970-759-3048, [email protected], southernutahcyclocross.com, usacutnvcxstatechamps.athlete360.com, Course Map
