The SmartWool Cup p/b FC Bikes takes place October 13 and 14th.

Fort Collins, CO (October 9, 2012) - The TREK US Gran Prix of Cyclocross presented by Greenware® and WD-40 Bike resumes this weekend as Fort Collins, CO hosts of the second stop of the Series with the SmartWool Cup presented by FC Bikes.

In a season that concludes with the World Championships taking place on American soil for the first time in the history of the sport, the fight for spots on the World Championship team is in full swing with racers vying for the important C1 UCI points that factor into the team selections.

Both the men's and the women's professional fields are the deepest in memory and stacked with pro talent including past multiple past series winners and National Champions.  The women's race will feature a battle between Trek Cyclocross Collective superstar and current National Champion Katie Compton, versus Fort Collins' own Olympic Bronze Medalist - Georgia Gould (LUNA) and marks the return to cyclocross racing for teammate Katerina Nash - herself a veteran of World Championship podiums.  They will be joined by LUNA teammate and fellow Coloradan Teal Stetson-Lee.  They will square off against the other top professional women including Nicole Duke (Raleigh Clement) and teammate Caroline Mani, Julie Krasniak (Rapha FOCUS) and teammate Gabby Day and the young star from Cannondale prepared by CyclocrossWorld, multi-time National Champion, Kaitlin Antonneau. Missing from the line up is Meredith Miller who was injured in a crash last weekend.   Miller will be on hand to feature in a SRAM swag toss before the start of each pro race.   The line up also features road standouts Amanda Miller, Carmen Small and Jade Wilcoxson all racing for the Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies team as well as New England mudder Mo Bruno Roy racing for Bob's Red Mill.

On the men's side, 2011 USGP Champion Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) with teammates Chris Jones and Zach McDonald will battle against rival powerhouse team of Ryan Trebon (Cannondale prepared by CyclocrossWorld), Tim Johnson and Jamey Driscoll.  McDonald is fresh off of victory in Providence and will surely be looking for another podium.  They'll be joined on the line by Ben Berden (Raleigh Clement) and teammate Allen Krughoff, mountain bike starts Adam Craig (GIANT) and Geoff Kabush (Scott/3Rox Racing).  Kabush had a stellar ride on this course last year and is definitely looking to break into the podium mix as well. 

The fun starts on Friday at 4pm with a free clinic for kids aged 10-14 hosted by CLIF Bar riders Troy Wells, Mitch Hoke and Brady Kappius.  The clinic is free but parents are encouraged to pre-register their children online at the event registration page on BikeReg.com.

The weekend also features a full slate of amateur racing for riders of all ages and abilities - from juniors aged ten through a full range of category and masters racing.   Longtime supporter of the race, New Belgium Brewing will be providing the beer and waffles, frites and assorted other goodies will be available in the Expo.  Presenting sponsor, WD-40 Bike, is offering a post-race Bike Wash area where their staff will feature their complete line of bike wash and care products and everybody is encouraged to bring their dirty bikes in for a cleaning.  CLIF Bar is promoting the US Gran Prix of Cyclocross Junior Scholarship program with sales of a custom coffee blend and hosting some special on-site course side hospitality with all proceeds benefitting the Scholarship fund.  As is tradition, the SRAM NRS will be in the pits offering support to all racers.
It all winds down with a post-race bash hosted by Bontrager in the TREK tents immediately following the Elite Men's podium ceremony on Sunday.
 
On-line registration for racers closes on Wednesday, October 10th at 8:00pm mountain / 10:00pm eastern time.   Race day registration will be available on-site, field size permitting and a $10 per day late charge will be charged.    On-site registration will begin Friday night from 5-7pm and will open again on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 6:30am in the on-site registration tent.