Las Vegas Bicycling Community Website

Everyone who’s anyone in Vegas cycling, knows that CrossVegas is one of the best events in town!  Many of the top names in cyclocross come out to race in CrossVegas, to razzle and dazzle us Vegas style!  This year will not be any different (See the Who’s Racing Cross Vegas 2010 section below).

What does this mean to you, the Spectator?
Being a spectator at CrossVegas is one of the most exciting things in the Las Vegas Cycling community.  This will be my third year watching CrossVegas and I am really looking forward to it.  The first year I ever attended the event Lance Armstrong showed up to race!  It was amazing to be so up close to many cyclocross stars and then on top of it get to see Lance Armstrong try his hand at winning CrossVegas.

About the Event - Why you should come and watch it!
If it’s your first time at a cyclocross race, here’s what you can expect from CrossVegas:

• Top names in cyclocross racing right in front of our very eyes!

• A large crowd of cycling fans gathering, cheering and ringing cowbells.

• Racers who ride their bikes, then dismount and jump over obstacles on the course!
  You really do have to see it live to really appreciate the fun in this sport!
  Check out the video gallery on CrossVegas.com for more on this.

• Food, beer and other refreshements so come hungry and thirsty.

• Large Parking Area since the event will be held at Desert Breeze Park.

SPECIAL OFFER FOR BIKINGLASVEGAS.COM MEMBERS:

Purchase Your Tickets to CrossVegas Now and Save!
All BikingLasVegas.com members can save $3 on your admission ticket.  This brings the price to $5 per person. (Regularly $8 at the ticket booth.)

Purchase your discounted tickets here:
http://www.crossvegas.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41&Itemid=39

Who’s Racing in CrossVegas 2010:

Elite Men
Tim Johnson (Cannondale – Cyclocrossworld.com) – USA
Geoff Kabush (Team Maxxis-Rocky Mountain) – Canada
Marco Fontana (Cannondale Factory Racing) – Italy
Francis Mouray (Francaise des Jeux) – France
Geert Wellens (Champion System) – Belgium (Elite Category)
Joachim Parbo (KCH Leopard Cycles) – Denmark
Zoltan Tisza (Tecnofilm Bentonexpressz 2000) – Hungary

Elite Women
Katie Compton (Planet Bike) – USA
Katerina Nash (Team LUNA Chix) - Czech Republic

In addition to the national champions the Elite Men’s field will be stacked with riders from the top 20 U.C.I. ranking. Riders like 5th ranked Gerben De Knegt of Holland (Rabobank Continental Team), Francis Mouray (Francaise des Jeux) at 7th, Christian Heule of Switzerland (Rendementhypo Cycling Team) ranked 9th and American Jonathan Page (Planet Bike) ranked 18th.

The Elite Women’s field will include 5th place Katie Compton of the U.S. (Planet Bike), 7th place Katerina Nash of Czech Republic (Team LUNA Chix) and 16th place Amy Dombroski of the U.S. (Team LUNA Chix).

Returning are 2009 CrossVegas champions Jamey Driscoll of the U.S. (Cannondale – Cyclocrossworld.com) and Katie Compton (Planet Bike) who also won in 2008. Ryan Trebon (KONA), winner of CrossVegas 2007 and 2008 will be returning.  Trebon and Compton are CrossVegas’ only 2-time winners.

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VIP PACKAGE GIVEAWAY:
As a special offer from the CrossVegas organizers, BikingLasVegas.com has been awarded 2 VIP Packages to giveaway to TWO LUCKY WINNERS! How do you enter to win?  Simple.  Post a comment on this blog below with the following information:  “I Love CrossVegas and I Want to Win!”  (I’ll randomly pick the winners on September 8th, 2010.)  You must be a BikingLasVegas.com member to win.  Registration is free and no purchase is necessary to enter.  Deadline to enter the contest is 9/7/10 at 11:59pm.  HURRY AND GET THOSE ENTRIES IN…AND TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS.  Time is running out!

VIP PACKAGE INCLUDES:
Each package will be for winner + guest and includes race admission, VIP passes for food, beer and best viewing location.

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IN CLOSING:
I hope I don’t sound biased, but, after watching this race two years in a row, I honestly never want to miss this event!  So, come on out and support one of the best events in town and have a fun time hanging out with your family and friends.  It really is a great time, and only has a $5 admission price.  (I spend more than that at Golden Spoon each week!)   

CrossVegas will be held on Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Gates open at 6pm!

Location: Desert Breeze Park
8425 Spring Mountain Rd
Las Vegas, NV 89117

For more information on CrossVegas, visit their website at:
http://www.crossvegas.com

To purchase tickets, visit:
http://www.crossvegas.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41&Itemid=39

My deepest condolences go out to the De Jesus family in this time of sorrow. I just found out the cyclist who was killed today was Francisco De Jesus.  See Channel 13’s story here:  http://www.ktnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=12917827

Francisco was also a member of BikingLasVegas.com;  His member name was franciscdejesus.  He was also a member of the 04:50 Team Riders.

JOIN ME IN HONORING HIS MEMORY:
Memorial Ride and Candle Light Vigil Wednesday, August 4th at 7:30pm

I would like to have a memorial ride and candle light vigil in his honor tomorrow night .  We can meet inside the parking lot at 2610 Regatta Drive Las Vegas, NV 89128 at 7:30pm, ride to the scene of the accident, light a candle and say a silent prayer in his honor.

This could have been any one of us.  We all know this.  Please spread the word about the vigil and join me in honoring Francisco’s memory.

Please bring your own candles and put them in the back of your jersey to hold onto while riding.  The ride will be less than 2 miles.  When we get to the scene of the accident, we will pull off the road and light our candles.  Please remember to wear your helmets and to have lights on your bike since we will be riding at night.

I woke up to a text message from Gina (a.k.a. ginanleo), then an email from Dominic Guinto of Sunset Racing.  News I hate to hear at any time of the day.  A Bicyclist was hit by a car and then rushed to the hospital.  The cyclist was riding near Del Webb and Rampart.  Does anyone know anything about this?  Feel free to post a comment below or to email me.  I’m praying for the cyclist and hope they are OK.

So far, the only link to the news I’ve seen comes from our member Mark Coats (thanks Mark!):
http://www.fox5vegas.com/news/24496029/detail.html

UPDATED AT 11:40AM

Unfortunately, the news has taken a downward spiral and I am sorry to hear that the cyclist was killed.  It looks like alcohol may be a factor in this accident, as reported by the Las Vegas Sun:

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/aug/03/bicyclist-30-killed-summerlin-collision/

Please join me in praying for this cyclist and their family/friends.  The minute I hear the name of the cyclist, I will let you know.