NEW GLOUCESTER – Some of America’s top cycling stars will compete Saturday at this year’s Downeast Cyclocross at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester.

The following day, Maine athletes will vie for the top spots at the Wicked Maine Cyclocross race, also at Pineland Farms, which serves as the state championship.

On Saturday, cyclocross stars Mark McCormack, Barry Wicks and Todd Wells are expected to battle for valuable UCI points and a hefty cash purse.

All are former national cyclocross champions as well as elite riders in the better known sports of road racing and mountain biking.

Winning UCI points enables racers to qualify for the national team that will compete in the world championships next February.

“In past years, the Downeast Cyclocross has proven to be a great showcase for the U.S. world team contenders,” said race director John Grenier. “Guys like McCormack, Tim Johnson and Jonny Sundt have come to Maine and won this race, and then gone on to win national championships and competed at Worlds.”

Of course, the nation’s best won’t have an easy day. New England has a competitive cyclocross circuit, and top regional riders like Johs Huseby, Jon Hamblen and Adam Hodges Myserson regularly take top placings in head-to-head races.

The Downeast Cyclocross also kicks off the 2005 New England Cyclocross Championship Series.

And it’s not just for men. Last year, Mary Mcconneloug, who competed in the mountain bike at the 2004 Olympics, won this race against a strong women’s field, which laid the foundation for a strong season. Mcconneloug may face a brisk challenge from Canadian Lyne Bessette, an international superstar returning to the sport after a year’s absence. Bessette has won the first two races this season.

On Sunday, many of the same racers will stick around for the annual Wicked Maine Cyclocross V. While this event also takes place at Pineland Farms, it’s raced on a different course, giving racers a variety of run-ups, barriers, mud and singletrack to confront.

Local racers hailing from Portland Velo, Southern Maine Cycling Club and the Maine Cycling Club will have extra incentive, as Sunday’s full slate of action serves as the state championship for 2005.

The racing kicks off on both days with prelimary events at 9 a.m. and running throughout the morning. On Saturday, the elite women take a 1:30 p.m. start, with the elite men following at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, the elite women start at 10 a.m. and the elite men take off at 12:30 p.m.