Louisville, Ky. – A new cyclocross course at Joe Creason Park will debut at the 11th annual Derby City Cup for amateur and professional cyclocross competitions Nov. 4-5. Athletes and spectators also will be treated to new sounds and tastes at the B4 Festival – bikes, bands, beer, and barbeque – at the venue on Nov. 4 during the world-class bicycle competitions.
Races on Saturday will feature the nation’s best pro women and men as they battle for the $35,000 prize purse in the grand finale of the Sho-Air US Cup-CX Series. These UCI Category 2 races also provide points for USA Cycling’s Pro Cyclocross Calendar (ProCX). On Sunday, athletes will vie for the Pan-American Cyclocross Championships.
The Pan-American Cyclocross Championships crown the top racers from among the 41 nations of the Pan-American Cycling Confederation. Champions in five categories will be awarded the Pan-Am Champion’s jersey: Women Youth U-23, Junior Men 17-18, Men U-23, Elite Women, and Elite Men.
The two days of racing in November also will serve as the test event for the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships, which will be held in December 2018 at Joe Creason Park. The 2017 Derby City Cup will be the only time that amateur and professional cyclocross riders can competitively ride on the Joe Creason course prior to the 2018 National Championships.
While athletes compete in a series of bicycle races from dawn to dusk each day, on Nov. 4 the B4 Festival will provide food, beverages, and entertainment. From noon to 6 p.m., live music will be provided by Wax Factory and Gas Money. Beer will be provided by Against the Grain Brewery and barbeque will be provided by Mark’s Feed Store and Sweet Martha’s. Admission begins at $5 per vehicle; food and beverage is priced separately. The B4 Festival is sponsored by Danny Wimmer Presents, who brought the popular music festivals Bourbon and Beyond and Louder Than Life to Louisville, as well as Against the Grain Brewery and Baptist Health Sports Medicine.
“We are excited to welcome back to Louisville some of the best cyclists in the world to showcase the new course at Joe Creason Park,” said Louisville Sports Commission President & CEO Karl Schmitt. “Kudos to the team at Metro Parks for building this course specifically to host the 2018 Cyclocross National Championships.”
Saturday offers 25 events for amateur cyclists, beginning at 8:30 a.m. ProCX points will be awarded for the final three events in the afternoon, including the UCI Elite Junior Men (ages 17-18). The UCI Elite Women and Men events will be the final of seven races in the Sho-Air US Cup-CX Series, which kicked-off in September at the KMC Cross Fest in Thompson, Conn. Series champions will be crowned in Louisville. Coming into Derby City Cup, Kaitie Keough (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) of Racine, Wisc. keeps her lead for the women with a slim 25-point margin over teammate Emma White of Delanson, N.Y. Stephen Hyde (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) of Easthampton, Mass. now has a 70-point lead over Kerry Werner (Kona Factory CX Team) of Birdsboro, Penn. for the men.
Sunday begins with 23 events for amateur cyclists at 7:30 a.m. In the afternoon, five races will be held for the Pan-American Cyclocross Championships, spotlighting the top cyclocross riders from Canada, the U.S., and Central and South America. Athletes will earn valuable points toward qualification in World Cup competitions and the 2018 UCI Cyclocross World Championships.
U.S. champion Katie Compton of Colorado Springs, Colo. (KFC Racing p/b Trek/Knight) is expected to return from competitions and training in Europe to race at the Derby City Cup. Compton is the defending and three-time Pan-American Champion for elite women.
Cyclocross racing is a hybrid between road cycling and mountain biking that is athletically demanding, and fan and family-friendly. The experience for fans is interactive, with viewing areas within a few feet of the course, and cheering, jeering and crazy costumes that help energize the riders. Competitors race around an off-road circuit on bicycles that look very similar to road bikes, but have been built to take on the demands of rougher off-road racing. Circuits are typically 1.5 to 2 miles long, and feature obstacles that may force riders to dismount their bicycle. Multiple laps showcase these elite riders’ phenomenal skills and amazing speed, invoking the nickname “an hour of pain.”
Louisville has become a mecca for championship-level cyclocross competitions, having successfully hosting the 2013 UCI Elite World Championships, the 2012 and 2013 UCI Masters World Championships, and the annual Derby City Cup at Eva Bandman Park. The Derby City Cup is co-owned by Cadence Sports and the Louisville Sports Commission.
Admission starts at $5 per vehicle. Registration for amateur and professional riders is open at www.thederbycitycup.com. Competition will take place at Joe Creason Park on Saturday, Nov. 4 from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. and on Sunday, Nov. 5 from 7:30 a.m. until 5:10 p.m.
For a detailed schedule of events, visit thederbycitycup.com. Follow the race on Facebook (Derby City Cup) and on Twitter (@DerbyCityCup). Follow the ProCX on Twitter (@USACProCX #ProCX).
About Louisville Sports Commission – The Louisville Sports Commission (LSC) is a Louisville, Kentucky-based 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to create a legacy of economic and social vitality through sports. LSC attracts and hosts sporting events and activities that have a positive economic impact on Louisville, enhance the area’s image as a premier sports destination, promote active lifestyles and improve the quality of life for community members of all ages. More information is available online at www.louisvillesports.org and www.facebook.com/
About Cadence Sports – Cadence Sports, Inc. is a full service sports management company that specializes in the planning, promotion, and production of single and multi-day endurance events. For more information, visit www.cadencesports.com.
About USA Cycling – Recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling is the official governing body for all disciplines of competitive cycling in the United States, including BMX, cyclo-cross, mountain bike, road and track. As a membership-based organization, USA Cycling comprises 64,000 members; 2,700+ clubs and teams; and 34 local associations. The national governing body sanctions 3,100 competitive and non-competitive events throughout the U.S. each year and is responsible for the identification, development, and support of American cyclists. To learn more about USA Cycling, visit usacycling.org.
About Danny Wimmer Presents – Since 1993, music industry veteran Danny Wimmer has been producing concerts and festivals, both large and small. In 2011, he formed Danny Wimmer Presents, which now produces several of the largest rock and alternative festivals in the U.S. By combining A-list talent with local cuisine and culture, DWP has become recognized within the industry for delivering the highest-quality entertainment experiences to fans, artists, sponsors, partners and host cities. DWP creates memorable and all-encompassing festival experiences, leaving both consumers and partners with lasting and meaningful impressions. DWP will continue to add new music festivals to its already stellar portfolio, which includes Rock On The Range, Aftershock Festival, Welcome To Rockville, Carolina Rebellion, Louder Than Life, Bourbon & Beyond, Rock Allegiance, and Chicago Open Air, among others. www.DannyWimmerPresents.com
About Bourbon & Beyond – Over 50,000 attendees experienced America’s Biggest Bourbon Festival this past September in Louisville, Kentucky. Bourbon and Beyond featured Stevie Nicks, Eddie Vedder, Steve Miller Band, Band of Horses, Gary Clark Jr, ZZ Ward, showcased celebrity chefs Tom Colicchio, Carla Hall, Ed Lee, highlighting the worlds top bourbons and bourbon celebrities with multiple on site experiences during the multi day experience. Stay up to date with all things Bourbon and Beyond and join our community at www.BourbonAndBeyond.com. 2018 details will be announced soon.
About Louder Than Life – The fourth annual Louder Than Life wrapped its biggest year to date on Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1 with more than 60,000 in attendance over two days at Champions Park in Louisville, KY. Featuring headlining sets from Ozzy Osbourne with guitarist Zakk Wylde, Prophets of Rage, Incubus, Rise Against, the worlds top bourbon and more. Stay up to date with all things LOUDER THAN LIFE and join our community at www.LouderThanLifeFestival.com while you wait for the festivals return in 2018.
