October 21, 2010 (Maple Ridge, BC) – The Pumpkin Cross BC Cup cyclocross race presented by Local Ride Bike Shop is expecting a star studded line-up with some famous faces tearing up the legendary and frighteningly fun course at the Maple Ridge Equestrian Centre in Maple Ridge, BC this Sunday, October 24. Past editions of Pumpkin Cross have featured appearances by Austin Powers, Britney Spears, the Incredible Hulk, Evel Knievel, and Captain Jack Sparrow. Singlespeed Cyclocross World Champion Drew McKenzie has won the elite men’s Pumpkin Cross title three years in a row, making him the unbeaten Pumpkin Cross champ, plus 2010 MTB World Cup Series winner Catharine Pendrel is rumoured to be on the start list.

“It will be exciting to see which celebrities roll into town for Pumpkin Cross this year,” said race organizer and Local Ride Bike Shop owner Barry Lyster. “We’re setting up for the biggest turnout in our event’s history with the largest anticipated women’s and beginner’s fields. With the whole costume angle and great prizes, Pumpkin Cross is such a fun way to get into bike racing.”

Pumpkin Cross will be offering a free kid’s race, a $10 U17 youth race and an Open women’s category with separate prizing for Cat 3/4 women. Other categories include Beginner men and women, Cat 3 Men, Cat 4 Men, Cat 1/2 Men, and Master Men.

“There’s a category for everyone at Pumpkin Cross, but if you don’t want to race, it’s almost as much fun to spectate,” said Lyster. “This cyclocross course is short, fast, and filled with obstacles. Throw in crazy costumes and some of the province’s fastest racers, and it’s guaranteed to be a good time.”

Pumpkin Cross, the fifth race in the BC Cup Cyclocross series, is notorious for its infamous Halloween twists – costume contests, pumpkin displays, Spooky Forest, The Coffin, The GIANT Spiral of Death, slimy roots, monster sand pit, and other scary obstacles, along with great prizing from race sponsors Cycles Lambert, Lezyne tools, Maxxis tires, GORE Ride-On cables, and Kicking Horse Coffee. Other race sponsors include Local Ride Bike Shop, City of Maple Ridge, Maple Ridge Equestrian Centre, Pedal Magazine, and Cycling BC.

Registration is available online here until 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 23 and will open on site at 9:30 am on Sunday, October 24. To avoid the late fee, pre-registration is recommended. Registration closes 30 minutes prior to each race start. Racing starts at 11:00 am. Visit www.localride.ca for more information or follow the link here.