Hmmm... 4th of July in Breckenridge or Eau Claire?

This was in my "inbox" this morning. It's a nice birthday gift, but I'd rather have a tie.

Championship classes
MEN’S AND WOMEN’S SINGLESPEED EVENTS ADDED TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSES

Pre-registration for the USA Cycling Mountain Bike Marathon National Championships will open at 12:01 a.m. mountain time on Wednesday, February 17.

The Fourth of July event returns to Breckenridge, Colo. for 2010 where it will once again be held in conjunction with the “Firecracker 50.” Riders wishing to compete in the USA Cycling national championship classes will have a two-week exclusive online registration period from 12:01 a.m. MST on Wednesday, February 17 until 12:01 a.m. MST on Wednesday, March 3.

The field will again be limited to 750 race plates, and because start spots sold out before pre-registration ended last year, riders that want to compete for a Stars-and-Stripes jersey are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the exclusive registration period.