KMC Cycloc-cross Festival

KMC Cycloc-cross Festival Finds New Home

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In the tradition of other famous and successful cycling events like the Sea Otter Classic in Laguna Seca, California and the Cyclocross World Cups and Championships at Circuit Zolder in Belgium, the KMC Cyclo-cross Festival will move to an automobile racetrack when it takes place this fall.
Having been held at Roger Williams Park in Providence, Rhode Island since its inception nearly a decade ago, the KMC Festival will move digs to the Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in Connecticut. Just a little more than a half hour drive from Providence, the event…formerly known as the Providence Cyclocross Festival…has grown over the years to be one of the most recognizable and largest cyclocross events in the United States. KMC came on board a few years ago as title sponsor, and the event has continued to grow as the sport’s popularity has grown in the States.
Richard Fries, co-founder of the event and the English public address voice heard at the Cyclocross World Championships each year, was looking to continue the upward trajectory of the event when racetrack management contacted him. “They contacted us. The timing proved incredible as I had just come from watching the world championships at Circuit Zolder in Belgium, a famous race track and ‘cross venue.” Fries instinctively recognized that Thompson Speedway offered many amenities conducive for a successful large-scale event. He elaborated, “I studied the Sea Otter Classic at Laguna Seca, another famous cycling event held at a race track. The amenities, the parking, the turn-key access to everything we need, and the spectator-friendly design is incredible. The Thompson Speedway has it all.”
More importantly, course designer and competition director Patrick Goguen was looking for a location that could host a course worthy of international competition. “We also found amazing course features that will put this course on a par with Zolder,” stated Goguen.
The KMC Cycloc-cross Festival takes place the weekend of 30 September 02 October in Thompson, Connecticut. The event web site is still in development, but in the meantime you can learn more details as they emerge on the KMC Cyclo-cross Festival Facebook page.
Keep an eye on the grit.cx web site, as we’ll have some coverage of the KMC Cycloc-cross Festival this fall.


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