Nummer eins und zwei der Weltrangliste in Vegas am Start.

Pressemitteilung in englischer Sprache nachfolgend

In many ways, it’s another version of a classic Hollywood western movie with the young challenger calling out the legendary veteran in a dusty western town. Before the world’s #1 and #2 ranked men’s cyclocross racers start their European race schedules they have a duel in the Nevada desert to contend with.  

Lars Van der Haar of the Netherlands, currently the #1 ranked cyclocross racer in the world, will be facing #2 ranked Sven Nys of Belgium at CrossVegas, the season opening cross race scheduled Wednesday September 10 in Las Vegas.

Van der Haar is a CrossVegas veteran who has raced the event 3 times, including a victory in the 2011 edition.  The Shimano-Giant racer will be opening his season after the overall win of the World Cup Series last year.  Van der Haar commented on his CrossVegas plans, “I will be racing CrossVegas now for the 4th time, I won it once and now I want a second win.”

Nys is also a former winner of CrossVegas.  The Crelan-AA Drink racer took the victory in 2013 while wearing the World Champion’s rainbow-striped jersey.  Said Nys of his plans, “I had a great time racing CrossVegas last season, I was pleased to win but more than that - I enjoyed the exciting atmosphere and the big crowds.  It is a great spectacle for our sport and an important early season race on the world calendar ”

On meeting Nys in Las Vegas, Van der Haar said, “Racing against Sven will be hard, but it’s cool to meet him for the first race in America. We are both far away from home, so anything can happen.”

Racers from 14 nations competed in CrossVegas 2013, a night time UCI C1 race held under the lights in the shadows of the famous Las Vegas Strip.  Additional rider announcements will be made in the coming weeks in both the men and women’s fields.  

When the sun sets on the edge of the vast desert sky on the eve of September 10, thousands of fans will que up at CrossVegas to watch the 2014 version as Van de Haar and Nys duel for the right to claim the cyclocross season’s first win.  Van der Haar had the final word on the Las Vegas race saying, “When Elvis sings, you know the season has started!”