Conditions were surprisingly good for Saturday’s Ballard Criterium. This is one of Seattle’s classic bike races, with a challenging course that includes a brick roadway (Ballard Ave.), off-camber turns, strategically located hazards like potholes and manhole covers, and fans that grow increasingly intoxicated as the afternoon progresses.
When I arrived, the women’s category 1/2 race was going full-tilt.
Jocelyn Setter added the Ballard Crit to her list of successes on the bike:
Next up were the men’s category 3 racers, which included 15-year old Conor Klupar.
Conor is one of several rising stars in the adolescent peloton, and he pulled out the win:
The main event was the men’s pro and category 1/2 racers who blaze up Ballard Ave. at 30 mph.
In contrast to the men’s category 3 race, the men’s pro 1/2 race was won by oldster Ian Tubbs:
If you’ve never had the opportunity to see this race, put it on your calendar; it typically happens the first weekend in June.
