FSA Star Crossed and Rad Racing GP kick off UCI cross season

Press Release

FSA Star Crossed & Rad Racing GP Kick-Off UCI Calendar with Champions

Full Speed Ahead Star Crossed amplified by Redline, the nation’s first twilight cyclocross race, is returning on September
19th to King County’s Marymoor Park in Redmond, WA. Star Crossed kicks
off the US ‘cross season for the 8th consecutive year under the bright
lights of the Marymoor Velodrome. This year Star Crossed will be the
first UCI Cyclocross race in the US and the first race in the North
American Cyclocross Trophy (NACT) which includes ten races in five
cities in the US and Canada. With the growing popularity of cyclocross
in the United States and the already proven formula of great racing, a
spectator-friendly course, a beer garden along with tasty eats, and
DJ-spun music should mean another fun-filled day for spectators and a
successful and record breaking year for this event.

FSA Star Crossed partners with Rad Racing Gran Prix on September 20th to
complete the first weekend of the NACT. While FSA Star Crossed has been
know as a party with a bike race, Rad Racing GP has been pure classic
cross since 2002 with its 80 meter run-up and storied roster of champs
including Erwin Vervecken, Danielle Pontoni, Christian Huele, Ryan
Trebon, Alison Dunlap, and Tim Johnson. Jim Brown and his Rad Racing NW
junior development program have presented cyclocross on the legendary
Steilacoom course for the past 7 years. Rad Racing GP provides a great
contrast to Starcrossed with high speeds, tactical racing, and brutal
run-up.

Already confirmed for FSA Star Crossed and Rad Racing GP are current US
National Cyclocross and NACT Champion, Ryan Trebon (Kona) and 2007 World
Cyclocross Silver Medalist, Jonathan Page (Planet Bike). FSA Star
Crossed and Rad Racing GP 2008 champs Jeremy Powers and Tim Johnson will
again team up for Cannondale / CyclocrossWorld to defend their
respective titles in 2009. Also joining Power and Johnson from
Cannondale / CyclocrossWorld is Jamey Driscoll, silver medalist at last
year’s US National Championship. Christian Huele (Rendementhypo),
current Swiss Cyclocross Champion, will also make his return to the
Pacific Northwest in an attempt to gain double wins at these pair of
races as he did in 2007.

In the women’s category five-time US Cyclocross Champion, Alison Dunlap
(Luna) will make her return from retirement at FSA Star Crossed. Meeting
Dunlap at the start line will be 2009 Star Crossed winner and Single
Speed World Champion, Sue Butler (Monavie-Cannondale) and British
National Cyclocross Champion and #8 in the World, Helen Wyman (Kona).
2008 Rad Racing GP winner, Wendy Simms will be spending the weekend
cheering for her husband in the Master’s races as she is soon expecting
a newborn baby.

Long time sponsor Full Speed Ahead has returned to the event as title
sponsor “Star Crossed has been a fixture in the northwest cyclocross
scene and it keeps getting bigger and better. It’s a great kick-off for
the national season. They have created a great vehicle to get our name
and our new products out in the spotlight for the season,” states Max
Ralph, Marketing Manager FSA.

Redline Bicycles will be pumping up their support of Star Crossed this
year with full support of a venue-wide sound system to keep the crowds
fully informed throughout the night as well as kicking in generous
prizes for racers and spectators alike. “Redline is once again pleased
to be a sponsor of Star Crossed. As a leader in cyclocross bicycle
innovation, being part of Star Crossed has always been a great place for
us to showcase our products to current and future cyclocross racers,”
said Tim Rutledge of Redline Bicycles.

Also coming aboard this year are Herriott Sports Performance as title
sponsor of the Elite Women and Cascade Bicycle Studio as title sponsor
of the always-entertaining Cat 3 Men. Cascade Bicycle Studio will offer
the winner of the Men’s Category 3 race a fully custom Seven Cycles
Tsunami Steel frame, with the option of the limited edition Star Crossed
glow-in-the-dark paint scheme. The additional of these two local
sponsors allow the continued strong support of both the grassroots and
elite categories.

Deschutes Brewery has returned as the official beer garden sponsor
providing a variety of local brews. The event will also feature a live
DJ sponsored by Zune, free spectator door prizes and giveaways including
a Redline frameset. A variety of great food will also be provided at
the event by local vendors. Other sponsors and contributors to the event
include, De La Paz Coffee, Sonadei, Chef’n, NOS, Smith , Black Diamond
and The Sports Medicine Clinic.

FSA Star Crossed and Rad Racing Gran Prix will also be apart of “Three
Perfect Days” from September 18th – 20th with the addition of the
Herriott Sports Performance Cyclocross Clinic on September 18th at the
FSA Star Crossed course. This free clinic will feature instruction and
course reconnaissance with Jonathan Page, second 2007 World Cyclocross
Championship, and Alison Dunlap, 2001 World Mountain Bike Champion. “Not
only are these two racers some of the best in the country, having two
events of this caliber back to back is a great way for seasoned and
beginner races to kick off the season. Having Alison and Jonathan on
hand to share their experience at a free clinic the night before Star
Crossed is a huge bonus and a unique opportunity for anyone interested
in learning more about the art of racing cross,” notes Todd Herriott.