USA Cycling, formerly known as Norba, has announced the 2009 American Mountain Bike Challenge (AMBC) Calendar. The series kicks off March 8 in Gainesville, FL with the South Eastern Regional Championship Series (SERC) and concludes with the Piney Hills Classic in Ruston, LA, Oct. 24-25. With 22 races across 16 states, the seven-month long AMBC calendar provides racers of all ability levels the opportunity to contest top level competition right in their own backyard.
The AMBC races will also serve as qualifiers for the 2009 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships. The Massanutten Yee-Ha in McGaheysville, VA on June 7 will be the only first time addition to the AMBC schedule in 2009.
Created in 1996, the AMBC series offers cross-country racing, with some events also including time trial, short track, Super D and stage racing competitions. In addition to the senior, master, and professional races, some AMBC events also host the Alison Dunlap Junior Olympic Mountain Bike Series (ADJOMTB). The ADJOMTB offers riders age 10-18 the chance to test their skills against competitors of the same age.
2009 NORBA AMBC CALENDAR
Mar 8: SERC #1 XC...Gainesville, FL
Mar 29: Chickasaw Trace Classic XC...Columbia, TN
Apr 5: SERC #3 XC...Bryson City, NC
Apr 26: SERC #4 XC...Winder, GA
Apr 26: Greenbrier Challenge XC...Hagerstown, MD
May 2-3: Idyllwild Spring Challenge XC, TT, SD...Idyllwild, CA
May 3: 7th Annual Avimor Coyote Classic XC...Boise, ID
May 3: SERC #5 XC...Ducktown, TN
May 10: Stump Jump 2009 XC...Spartanburg, SC
May 31: Bump and Grind XC...Birmingham, AL
May 31: SERC #6 XC...Jackson, GA
Jun 7: Massanutten Yee-Ha XC...McGaheysville, VA
Jun 14: SERC #7 XC...Clemson, SC
Jun 20-21: Subaru Cup XC & Stage Race...Mt. Morris, WI
Jun 21: 3 Legged Dawg XC...North Little Rock, AR
Jun 28: SERC #8 XC...Chattanooga, TN
Jul 12: The 14th Annual Bulldog Rump XC...Andover, NJ
Jul 12: SERC #9 XC...Anniston, AL
Aug 1-2: SERC #10 XC...Fontana, NC
Sep 4-6: Camp Eagle Classic MTB Festival XC, ST, SD...Rocksprings, TX
Oct 3: Road Apple Rally XC...Farmington, NM
Oct 24-25: Piney Hills Classic XC...Ruston, LA