‘Cross Examination: The ‘Devil’s Soup Bowl’ and the ‘Amphitheatre of Pain’

Michigan CX circuit visits the ‘Devil’s Soup Bowl’
Michigan cyclo-crossers will be in for an extra helping of pain and suffering on Sunday as the state series visits the “Devil’s Soup Bowl,” better known as Veterans Park in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The park, with its natural amphitheater layout, has featured run-ups of 75 to 100 meters, sections incorporating deteriorated flights of cement stairs, off-camber switchback climbs with 15 percent grade, and muddy sections of soft grassy soil.

Sunday’s race promises more of the same, including last year’s “L’Alpe d’Huez” section of switchbacks.

“Everyone complained about the difficulty of the switchbacks last year, so of course I had to include them again this year,” noted course designer Joe Brown.

For more information see www.tailwind.net.

’Amphitheatre of Pain’ stars in Beacon Cyclocross
Speaking of amphitheaters, the “Amphitheater of Pain” will be the highlight as the Verge MAC Cyclocross Series powered by Hammer Nutrition makes its annual pilgrimage to the UCI C2 Beacon Cyclocross on Sunday in Bridgeton, New Jersey.

Located in the Atlantic City area, the course uses mostly hard-packed roads and trails throughout the massive Bridgeton Central Park, making it one of the fastest courses on the circuit. But the Beacon Cyclocross also features a beach run that extends to the absolute limit of UCI rules, and the “Amphitheater of Pain” —nearly three stories of climbing up the park’s amphitheater on every lap.

For more information, see www.BikeReg.com and click on the “Verge MAC” icon.

Tucker, Tillman win Nashville opener
Troy Tucker (Hult Fast Velo) and Dale Tillman (Outdoor Chattanooga) won their respective openers in the 2006 Nashville Cyclo-Cross Series October 21 in Nashville at Shelby Park.

Tucker and Travis Werts (Gran Fondo) kept up a tactical chess match for the first three laps of the men’s pro/1-2 race. But Tucker opened up a lead in the fourth go-round and never conceded his position. Werts took second ahead of Justin Mitchell (REMAX-Yazoo).

In the women’s race, Tillman put an early gap on Ruthie Myers (Team MOAB) and earned her place at the top of the podium.

Other winners included: 12 and under, Emma Foster (REMAX-Yazoo); juniors, Jonathan Craig (TriStar); Category 4, Cumberland Transit’s John Elgamgy (Cumberland Transit); Cat. 3, Michael Biegalski; and Masters 35+, Kenny Marshall.

The second race of the series takes place November 4 at Two Rivers Park in Nashville. For more, see www.nashvillecyclo-crossseries.com.

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FILED UNDER: Cyclocross