History
You’ve heard the stories. You’ve seen the look in friends’ eyes when they tell tales about the greatest mountain bike race and festival on the planet, the Cactus Cup. Now it’s back and in Las Vegas! If you’re too young to remember or you missed out on the fun back-in-the-day, we thought we’d share a little history on why everyone is excited about …
Resurrecting the Cactus Cup
The world’s greatest mountain bike race is back!
In 1991 less than 100 mountain bikers gathered in the desert north of Scottsdale, AZ at Pinnacle Peak to compete in a multi day stage race format event called the Cactus Cup. Mountain biking was on an upswing and cyclists were hungry for an early season warm-up race in a convenient location. The grassroots event was organized by local riders and a few hundred friends and family members showed up to cheer on cyclists. The prize purse just about covered their gas and food. But like the sport of mountain biking, the Cactus Cup was in for a wild ride.
By 1996 the Cactus Cup hailed as the world’s largest mountain bike race festival, with 10,000 participants and 75,000 spectators at the ’96 event in Arizona. That was more than half the NORBA’s licensed mountain bikers registered that year. In 1992, Specialized took over production of the festival that embraced the lifestyle of mountain biking. And like the riders who trekked to the annual event, this race couldn’t sit still.
In its decade long history, the Cactus Cup traveled to U.S. cities including Scottsdale, AZ, Athens, GA, Galena, IL Miami, FL, Crested Butte, CO, and Memphis, TN. It’s success and popularity was so huge that the race had to be taken international to quench the thirst of mountain bike riders longing for the intensity and action that the event delivered. The Cactus Cup’s passport was stamped in Tokyo, Japan, Cairns, Australia, Munster, France, Munich, Germany, Canmore, Alberta, Canada, Whistler, British Columbia, Canada and Sao Paulo, Brazil.
As the enthusiasm for mountain bike began to dry up in the new millennium, the Cactus Cup died. Many mourned the loss of this festival, but die-hard mountain bikers kept pedaling. And if there’s one thing mountain bikers can do, it’s ride through steep rocky terrain.
Today, mountain biking is coming out of that valley lull and is heading towards a peak. Fueled by a renewed enthusiasm in the marketplace, the revival of the world’s greatest mountain bike race and festival is being reborn in 2008 as the Mountain’s Edge Cactus Cup.
We caught up with Swagger’s Ravi Rajcoomar, who is spearheading the rebirth of this event, set for September 19 – 21, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada for a discussion on the event.
In what year was the Cactus Cup first established?
1991 as an early season regional race in the Arizona desert. Mountain biking’s popularity has seen a sharp rise in the last few years across the country and especially locally in the Las Vegas Valley.
Who started it?
The event was designed to be an early season warm-up for the mountain bike season and to train in the great weather in Scottsadale, AZ. That quickly changed with teams and manufacturers both wanted a great venue and great racing in March, which was conveniently located for the cycling industry.
Where was the first race?
The first race was held at an area north of Scottsdale, AZ called Pinnacle Peak….the event had to move due to development of the area….the next location was a multi-use facility in North Scottsdale called West World (home of the world famous Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction)….the event’s final venue was at McDowell Mountain Park in Fountain Hills, AZ and raced on the Cactus Cup track…which was a public-private partnership between Specialized Bicycles and the park to build a lasting mountain bike trail for the community. Events continue today at the park and the trail is one of the most popular in the United States.
How many people raced in that first race?
less than 100
Was it a stage race?
Yes
How many spectators were at the first race?
a few hundred…mainly competitors friends and family
How long was the Cactus Cup’s previous life.. how many years?
Last Cactus Cup in the United States was 2001 in Athens, GA
Tell us about the event’s growth ?
The event grew to be one of world’s biggest mountain bike race festivals
In 1996 10,000 participants and estimated 75,000 specators watched the event at West World in North Scottdale. That was more than half of NORBA’s licensed mountain bikers at that point.
Then event traveled to:
What made the old Cactus Cup unique?
Racing for all categories and classes….from Professionals to Beginners
Great race courses
Excellent Venues
Geographic locations close to urban settings
Good timing on the racing schedule
Laid back atmosphere
Great expo to look at
Fun for all
Why did it stop?
The event did not continue due to the decline in Mountain Bike as a racing sport’s popularity, change in sponsor’s focus and finally a loss of great venues and trails due to population growth.
Why did Swagger decide to revive the Cactus Cup?
We found a great venue and race course, an excellent partner in Mountain’s Edge, an opening on the international racing schedule, and it fit into our mission of fostering the growth of cycling, especially mountain biking in the United States.
What was the prize purse for the first race?
Very minimal…very, very minimal.
What about the other years?
It grew to be the definitive Mountain Bike race. Largest prize purse, most media, most important for athletes, spectators and the cycling industry.
What is this year’s prize purse ?
Estimated to be the largest purse in the United States more than $25,000 in cash and prizes…..this is not confirmed at this point…but that is the goal when registration goes live in early July.
How many racers in the pro category do you anticipate?
We hope to have the best riders in the country and from around the world in all of the racing categories, especially the pro ranks.
Will Swagger be bringing the Cactus Cup on tour again?
We have been approached and are looking at several other venues…but our on focus at this time is the Mountain’s Edge Cactus Cup in Las Vegas….September 19-21, 2008.
