Wahoo Fitness is the title sponsor of the Wahoo Rival-Cross Series in Germany, with the Merrell Cross Run also a side event to the cyclocross series, and with prize money totalling €3500.
‘Wahoo wants to contribute with its new Rival-Cross series to put an end to the niche existence of cyclocross and get rid of the dust of the cross-country image with the goal to make cyclocross great again.’
The Wahoo Rival-Cross Series series will consist of two events in 2021.
On October 23 & 24, in cooperation with the Cycling Club Düsseldorf and Schicken Mütze, riders will meet at the ‘Quer.Feld.Rhein’ around the Galopprenbahn Gafenberg in Düsseldorf.
On the following weekend, October 30 & 31, the starting signal will then be given at the ‘Munich Super Cross’ of RC Schwalben München in Munich’s Olympic Park.
Another series event is planned for early 2022 in Berlin.
The local organising team notes that the core of the Wahoo Rival-Cross Series series is to offer attractive courses with a complete range of race formats for all ages, from children to elite.
Around the course, Chris Pritchard (English) and Sebastian Paddags (German), will act as a commentator duo, and will accompany spectators and athletes through the event.
For elite athletes, another reason to race in Düsseldorf and/or Munich might be the money to be earned. In each race the first three elite men and first three elite women are fighting for €3500 in total.
At the Merrell Cross Run athletes can compete in a new race format. The race will be run on the same course as the riders and using the same timing format as utilised in cyclocross. Whoever has completed the most laps the fastest at the end of the set race time will be at the top of the podium.
“Our heart has always beaten for cyclocross,” explained Darren Reid, Wahoo’s Marketing Manager for Germany and Austria, who as a former cyclocross pro also contributes his professional expertise to the new series.
“Wahoo wants to contribute to carry this attractive cycling tradition further as well as develop it further, embedded in more modern event formats. Bringing together running competitions and cycling races is just the first step.”
