Source: John Cardinale
Date: 06/28/2007

FACT SHEET

What:

Infineon Raceway will open its world-class motor sports venue to racers of the human-powered variety at the Infineon Cougar Mountain Classic. The event will feature professional and amateur racing divisions in a variety of cycling disciplines. Each discipline will feature both men’s and women's professional categories.

When:

July 6-8

Where:

Infineon Raceway, Highways 37 & 121, Sonoma, CA 95476 (800-870-RACE or www.cmclassic.com).

Tickets:

Friday, July 6, free. Saturday and Sunday, July 7-8, $10 per day per vehicle. A two-day parking pass is available for $15.

EVENTS

Saturday, July 7:

CROSS COUNTRY: The cross country event will be contested on a 7.7-mile course that will navigate much of the Infineon Raceway property. The course will feature climbs, descents, fire roads and swooping singletrack. The pro, semi-pro and expert category events begin at 8 a.m.

NRC ROAD CRITERIUM: Criterium does the most to capture the excitement and close-quarters maneuvering usually found at Infineon Raceway's motor-racing events. The course covers much of the lower section of the racetrack, and will send cyclists around its hairpin at Turn 11. The pro women’s event begins at 9:55 a.m., while the pro men’s event is at noon. All road-racing events will be part of the National Racing Calendar (NRC).

Sunday, July 8:

INFINEON SUPERD: SuperD is an exciting gravity event that will reward pedaling power and descending skills on the challenging Cougar Mountain course. From the Le Mans-style mass start, it will be a rush to the end, including two or three power climbs throughout the rolling hills. Racers will sprint to the finish line, located in the main paddock. Race-start is at 11 a.m.

NRC ROAD CIRCUIT RACE: The circuit race will utilize most of the 12-turn, 2.52-mile Infineon Raceway road course, including the famous Carousel at Turn 6. Cyclists will ride the twists and turns of Infineon Raceway and then head off-course behind the main grandstand. These events will run 50-90 minutes for the junior and amateur divisions and 90-120 minutes for the professional divisions. The track's twisting, climbing layout will encourage both breakaways attacks. Pro events begin at 11:10 a.m. (women) and 12:50 p.m. (men). All road-racing events will be part of the National Racing Calendar (NRC).

INFINEON MOUNTAIN BIKE DOWNHILL: Perched high atop Cougar Mountain, nearly 400 feet above the raceway, this course will be 90-percent visible from the finish line, and should offer challenging, fast downhill racing including man-made berms and an extended finish into the paddock. On a clear day, from the start house, you can see the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline. Runs will span approximately three minutes with plenty of natural jumps and banked and off-camber turns. Pro events begin at 1 p.m.

In addition:

The Infineon Cougar Mountain Classic will also offer a variety of activities for families and recreational riders:

Check out Xtreme Karting in Turn 11, where fans can enjoy four-minute go-kart rides for $15. Trips for Kids will hold its annual bike swap on Saturday and Sunday of the Infineon Cougar Mountain Classic. Much anticipated by cycling enthusiasts, bargain shoppers and collectors, this year's event will feature hundreds of adult and children’s bicycles. If you are looking for a break from the action, riders and fans can enjoy the Whole Foods Tour de France Lounge, which will be located in the main paddock. The lounge is open to the public (free) and will showcase the Tour de France on several television sets and provide a place to relax. Smoothies, coffee and sandwiches provided by Whole Foods will be available for purchase. Fans are also invited to ride the road course at the Cycle Links Charity ride on Saturday, July 7 (11 a.m.). Groups of up to 10 people will be able to ride the world-famous road course with prizes given for most laps completed throughout the hour and most funds raised. All proceeds from the Charity Ride benefit Valley of the Moon Teen Center in Sonoma through Speedway Children’s Charities. Cycling enthusiasts will also enjoy the Supercuts vintage bicycle concourse throughout the weekend. Located in the Driver’s Lounge, the concourse will feature the Brad Wahl Collection from American Cyclery in San Francisco. He will be presenting his fine collection of fat tire, mountain, road and unusual bikes dating back to the 1950s. Expect to see names like Legnano, Confente, Masi, Olmo, Cinelli, Coppis, Fisher, Specialized, Schwinn and others. X-Fusion returns to the Infineon Cougar Mountain Classic as a sponsor.

To Enter:

For more information or to enter this event, please visit www.cmclassic.com or call (707) 933-3556. On-site registration is available for a full slate of amateur and professional racing classes, with entry fees ranging from $15 to $55. Riders can sign-up for the Cycle Links Charity Ride for $15 (individual) or $200 (team of 10).

See Also .:

• Infineon Raceway Track Page

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