If you’ve never watched the action at the Marymoor Velodrome (or even if you have) the 2011 Marymoor Grand Prix Presented by NUUN on Friday and Saturday July 22-23 will be one of the highlights of this summer’s competitive cycling season:
It’s blazing fast: Racers are on bikes with one (1) fixed gear (meaning if the bike is moving the pedals must move), no brakes, at speeds up to 40 mph.
There is not a bad seat in the house: Ample seating in Marymoor’s bleachers plus “festival seating” on the banked curves mean everyone gets a great view of the action. Bring a blanket and a picnic and you are set for the evening. And you can count on informative and amusing play-by-play from the announcers who detail race strategies and tactics, and dish on the competitors. Even better than Liggett, Sherwin, and Bobke.
Amazing athletes vying for big prize money: The $17,500+ cash purse draws some of the best track racers in North America as well as from Canada and Australia, not to mention our fastest locals.
Races you may have never seen before: Like the Madison (named for Madison Square Gardens – the home of track cycling during the jazz era) which features two-rider teams in a warp-speed tag-team race: Each team has one member racing all-out while the other rests along the top of the track. Exchanges happen every lap or so with the racing teammate literally slinging his or her partner up to speed and into the action. The Marymoor Grand Prix is unique in North America for offering both a Men’s and Women’s Elite Madison.
Or the Keirin, in which racers are brought up to speed by closely following a motor scooter until the final several laps when it’s an all-out brawl to the finish line.
Details:
Admission: $5.00
Saturday night is Cascade Bicycle Club Night: Show your membership card and get in for free.
When: Friday and Saturday nights starting @ 7PM. Saturday Night will feature both the Madison and the Miss and Out (a high speed version of musical chairs with the last rider pulled each lap).
Saturday night will also feature another Marymoor favorite – the “Kiddie Kilo!”
What: Up to 15 different races each night, and between 2 and 40 racers on the track at any time.
The Fat Tire Ale Beer Garden will be open both nights from 6:30 p.m. to midnight.
