America’s Hardest Cyclocross Race is back with an even better course, more categories, even more prizes, and its part of even more race series. The “half” is now the Little Three Peaks Gravel FUNdo, offering slightly tamer 40 mile route that shares two of the Peaks with the race. Register now at BikeReg.com!

The race returns to the Banner Elk Winery and Villa, and they are once again rolling out the red carpet to make the event truly special, including giving all the riders a commemorative wine glass, presenting all of the category winners with their own award-winning wines, and providing a FREE MEAL AFTER THE RACE!

The 2013 Course features a gorgeous new section through the village of Elk Park and down a forest road along the Elk River, and avoids the steep and technical descent through the Back 500, stretching the route to 60 miles while cutting the steep climbs through The Headwaters.

The Little Three Peaks Gravel FUNdo course is almost the same as last’s year “Half,” except that it now passes Sam Eller Road, and takes Beech Mountain Rd all the way.

Check out this great helmet cam video shot by Zachary Adams at last year’s race:

Three Peaks USA is now part of THREE race series.

• The race is now the fifth stop in the American UltraCross Championship Series.
• Once again, it is the final race in the Capo Custom King of Pain Cycling Series
• Now, Three Peaks is also part of the new Blue Ridge Monster Cross Series along with Savage CX, Pisgah Monster Cross, and Wilson’s Revenge!

This year we are awarding cash prizes across all the race categories! Not only will the top three overall men and women will receive $600 in equal cash payouts, but all the age-groups and single speed categories will also be eligible to win over $2,000 in cash and prizes!
Race Series Scoring:

• For the American UltraCross Championship Series, age-group results will be combined into Under 40, and 40+
• For the Blue Ridge Monster Cross Series, all results will be combined
• For the King of Pain Cycling Series, Single Speed results will be combined with age groups.
• Little Three Peaks results will not count toward any series.

America’s Hardest Cyclocross Race returns with a more ‘cross friendly route: the hairy descent is being replaced with a longer stretch of forest road, which will level the playing field between cyclocross and mountain bikes, nudging the total distance close to 100K while cutting the total climbing under 8K feet (in the race video, 1:46 to 2:24 is the part getting cut out). The “Half” will remain unchanged. The proposed course map is available on RideWithGPS.com (note that climbing figures are 10-20% higher than data read off a handheld or estimated on Strava). Give your feedback on the Facebook page, where the registration opening date – along with a special early registration incentive – will be posted.

Also be sure to check out the American UltraCross Championship Series for info about the two new races that joined the series, and look for some new competition from out West this year.

Sorry, FloCast is screwed up so it won’t embed, but you can go straight to the website to watch the video here:

http://www.cyclingdirt.org/coverage/249750-2012-Three-Peaks-USA-Ultra-Cross/video/656652-Three-Peaks-USA-2012-Highlights

I want to thank all the racers, sponsors, and race staff for making the race a success.

First, I want to thank the 130 folks who signed up for the race, and gutted out a tough day on a brutal course, tolerated my missteps, and who raised over $1,000 for local charites.

My thanks to the officers from the Avery and Watauga County Sheriffs’ Departments, the Banner Elk and Beech Mountain Police Departments, and the members of the Beech Mountain Volunteer Fire Department for working hard to make you safe and keep you on track.

I want to thank mechanics Reid Beloni and Garret Thompson of Magic Cycles, and my friend Steve White for spending a long day driving SAG and fixing bikes.

Big thanks to Dan and Christina Scagnelli from the Town of Beech Mountain, Fred’s General Mercantile, Hammer Nutrition or staffing and supplying our aid stations. Additional thanks to Tarry Crockett at the Headwaters at Banner Elk for loaning their four-wheeler to patrol the Back 500.

There were 16 course marshals who spent the day pointing you in the right direction: Emily Morris, Kelly Perkins, Erin Propst, and Kathy Schroeder from App State, all around good guy Brad Hardie, and especially Doug Owens and the 10 members of the Lees-McRae Cycling Team for working tirelessly to manage the course, run an aid station, and help me clean up.

Lee Timing once again did a great job getting accurate results posted quickly.

My buddy Joe Wiswell spent hours helping me clear and mark trail when all he wanted to do was to ride fast and make me cry, and Patience Perry, who rescued us after Joe got five flats.

My awesome new intern, Vanesss Papa, who has an uncanny ability to remain upbeat and positive in stressful situations and demonstrates a level of professionalism and maturity rarely witnessed in a person her age.

My beleaguered and infinitely patient wife Rosie spent all day Saturday getting car sick while marking the course and ran packet pickup that night despite having a real job that allows me to put on races despite how much it stresses her out and undermines our financial well being.

The Beech Mountain Tourism Development Agency helped make it possible for Thom Parsons from CyclingDirt.org to cover the race and generously covered the cost of the Beech Mountain police officers directing traffic.

Global Go-To-Guy Jeff Zell is my most loyal sponsor, supplying Panaracer Tires for my events for six years.

Gary Vasconi at Capo Cycling Apparel has been an incredible sponsor, supplying Pirate Race Productions with the finest made and best looking kits and winners jerseys I’ve ever seen.

Judging from the rapidity with which you cleaned them out, it’s clear how much we all appreciate the continued generosity of Blowing Rock Ale.

Finally, Michelle, Valerie and their staff at the Banner Elk Winery and Villa are generous and gracious hosts at arguably the most gorgeous venue in all of cycling.

I sincerely hope I did not leave anyone out.

Again, thank you.

Andrew Stackhouse

http://www.leetiming.com/Calendar2012.html#bookmark10

Check out the articles about the race in the current issues of Endurance Magazine and Bicycling, as well as our quarter page ad in Cyclocross Magazine!

Three Peaks USA is now the first race in the inaugural King of Pain Cycling Series, along with Boone-Roubaix and The Ascent. Finish all three races and be eligible to win a Capo Custom Leaders Jersey for 12 men’s and women’s age-group categories plus Top Three overall. Registration for each race increases on April 1, so sign up now and save.

Remember how I kept saying registration is only $50 and $30 for the Half until March 1? Well, I meant April 1. Since, you know, thats what I said on BikeReg.com and the Rules page. However, since none of you pointed out this duplicity, I’m going to just say I’m being my usual gregarious self, and trying to give everyone at Barry-Roubaix a chance to jump on the UltraCX bandwagon.

So yea for me.

To celebrate the conclusion of the inaugural American UltraCross Championship Series AND the kick off of the 2012 Series at Southern Cross, registration for Three Peaks USA will open at 8:00AM on Tuesday February 21. Best of all, there is a special super-early bird registration rate of only $50 for the full race and $30 for the half. Registration increases $10 on March 1, so sign up now and save big!