The second race of the Series is in Petoskey with a strong cast of characters contesting the win on Hill Street. 

Jorden Wakeley headlines the big guns heading north this Sunday, and will enter as the big favorite for race number two. Chad Wells, Alex Vanias and Jason Lowetz will be the top challengers, though the dark horse of the day is probably Einstein Racing’s Breezway Cross revelation, Bennett Paul.

The Women’s Elite race is wide open in the absence of Algoma Bicycle Co.’s Kim Chapman. Without her, the race is wide open, with Bobbie Liegl perhaps serving as incumbent favorite. She’ll be up against Stacy Smith from Einstein Racing, as well is NCCS’s Tina Dominic. The dark horse is the import from Spidermonkey, Kelly Clark.

The course should be similar to last season, with a lot of technical sections tossed into punctuate a few straightaways and the race’s trademark elevation. Aside from a steep wall, the course also has a two-turn climb that gouges out separation, especially late in the race when the legs are tired.

With the Iceman Cometh creeping closer, more and more riders are making the ‘cross races into mini-tests of fitness heading into November. Nearly all the racers at Cross the Bay are registered for the Iceman, and the ‘cross is a sort of measuring stick as the fall goes on. It’s certainly time for that focus, as a slew of races offer up tough competition and honest evaluations of riders’ form.

Registration closes Friday, and the list of riders is getting more and more impressive as the week wears on.