What is old is new again and much like the mythological Phoenix, the Marin World Cup has risen from the ashes of dormancy to reclaim the hearts, bodies and minds of professional fake bike racers around the globe and Marin. After a three year hiatus the Spring gauntlet that has both terrorized and inspired riders in equal measure will once again be held over a four week period in March and April.
Most believed PHRO, which had been dormant through 2015 and 2016, had simply folded after losing their primary event sponsor in 2014. The combination of a lackluster field showing in that year's Marin World Cup as well as the fake racking world being rocked by the sacking of Chairman, Joos Litvalk by the PHRO board in late 2014, seemed to be a mortal wound that PHRO was not able to recover from. Rumors abounded on Litvalk's firing, some saying it was was related legal issues stemming from an an unpaid medical bill scandal but many quietly believed that the outspoken and flamboyant Chairman has worn out his welcome with his controversial antics. The Organization held a very highly publicized and visible search for a replacement but infighting and a failure to secure a replacement sponsor for the 2015 season lead to the cancellation of the series that year and, most assumed, forever.
As such, many in the sporting world were stunning when, with no warning, PHRO released dates of the Grand Prix Ken Hushvod, Marin-Roubaix and Ronde von SanRaflaanderran the second week in January. Details have been non-existant and secrecy has abounded over the last two weeks with the only further communication from PHRO coming in a series of cryptic messages on SnapChat referring to "The Biggest Marin World Cup you've ever seen" and "SanRaflaanderrs will be the best. The BEST."
Today PHRO finally issued a press release that shed some further light on the, as yet, unconfirmed routes for the three fake races that addressed changes in parcours and format.
The Grand Prix Ken Hushvod will not longer be an individual cross bike time trial but will instead be a mixed terrain adventure race, incorporating areas of Lucas and San Geronimo Valleys and likely finishing on an unpaved climb in Fairfax.
Marin-Roubaix's route is heavily changed including a re-route around the Railroad d'Arenberg which was paved over in 2015 for a controversial (and some say Jimmi Robinski funded) public transportation initiative. Also added is a new 'Figure 8' course that encompasses Northern Marin regions including L'Ecole du Vincent and L'Agoon de Gallinas. Unlike years past however, the volume of winter weather will likely play a much larger factor that in years past.
The Ronde von SanRaflaanderran will supposedly be routed entirely within the Ross Valley region in order to pay homage to the territory that made the fake race's legacy.
Details to come...
