Upcoming Events
Thursday Night Lights - June 2Introductory Session 2 - June 7
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| Intro Track Class
Session 1: May 3, 10, 17, 24
Session 2: June 7, 14, 21, 28
Session 3: July 5, 12, 26, Aug. 2
Session 4: Sept. 6, 13, 20, 27
Women's Class: May 11, 18, 25, June 1
Licensed Rider's Class (open only to riders with USAC racing license): May 15, 22
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Race Report/News
Cat 3 Field Goes Long
The 15 Category 3 racers contested a 10-lap scracth race, a miss & out and, joined by a handful of Cat 1 / 2 racers, a 10-mile scratch race under a cool, cloudy sky last Thursday. SPEEDFIX Racing showcased their sponsors by spending the first half of the wide-open 10-lap scratch race on the front. With 4 to go, Matt Montesano (Speedfix) jumped to a quick lead. Merrill Lutsky (Flanders) and Rich Bergstrom (Speedfix) reeled him in within a lap. At the bell, Jeff Anderson (Speedfix) and Nate Brennaman (Birchwood) took their shot with Lutsky and Montesano in hot pursuit. At the line, Lutsky pipped Brennaman and Montesano for the win. The Miss & Out was a feisty affair with a lot of action at the back of the pack. Jeff Anderson and Rich Bergstom were off the front early as their teammate Montesano made an early exit. Linsey Hamilton (Synergy) and John McGuire (SPEEDFIX) played the devil eliminating several riders mid-race. McGuire was edged by his teammate Bergstrom who couldn't match the faster pace the next lap. Hamilton managed a strong 4th place finish as Jeff Anderson, Jason Goldberg (Bianchi/GP) and Lutsky upped the tempo again, finishing in that order. The 10-mile scratch race included Cat 1 / 2 riders not involved in the evening's Madison race. This race feature lots of attacks as the endurance riders tested each others' legs. Brandon Krawczyk (GrandStay) and Conrad Thomas (Omnium) jumped early. As Pat Lemieux (Kenda) and Dan Schueller (Gopher Wheelmen) brought a small group across, a group of 8 was formed, splitting the field. The lead pack stayed together for 15 laps before Lemieux launched a flyer. He kept an 80-meter gap for 10 laps until Krawczyk led an elite chase group up to Lemieux. Lapped riders began to be pulled with 15 to go, leaving only 7 riders to contest the final sprint. At the line, Krawczyk bested Dan Currell (Bianchi/GP) and Andy Kruse (SPEEDFIX) for the win. Full results here |
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What's Happening
Commemorative T-shirt/Hoodie
Once again, Twin Six has created one-of-a-kind commemorative t-shirt and hoodie designs for the NSC Velodrome. Both are available at the Track Shack. The t-shirt sells for $15 and the Hoodie sells for $35. Be the coolest kid on the block - buy yours today!
 | | Cyclist is on the chest and logo on sleeve. |
Fixed Gear Classic Returns
The MN Fixed Gear Classic brings top pro and elite amateur track racers to the Velodrome for the 3rd year, June 10-12. We're thrilled to welcome 4-time world champion Franco Marvulli, 3-time national champion Shelley Olds and defending Fixed Gear Classic champions Colton Barrett and Matt Baranoski to this 3-day festival of speed!
Click here for all the details.
Franco Marvulli Ride
 As part of the Fixed Gear Classic festivities, we're hosting a group ride and party with Franco Marvulli on June 8. The ride will start at 5:30 at the Freewheel Bike Midtown Bike Center. We'll take a casual ride around Minneapolis to show Franco the best bike town in the US. Then we'll re-group at the Midtown Bike Center for food, drinks and a chance to hang out with a real-live world champion bike racer!
Click here for all the details.
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Racing 101
Match Sprint
This is the classic sprint race on the track. The race matches two or three riders against each other over three laps of the track. The first one to cross the line at the finish is the winner. Only the final 200 meters are timed. The race usually starts out slowly with one rider designated to lead out at a minimum of a walking pace. Other riders may voluntarily overtake him. The first two laps usually find the riders maneuvering for their favorite position from which to launch their sprint for the finish line. Riders may block or faint in order to get or maintain their position when not actually sprinting. Once the sprint begins, riders at full speed must limit their side to side movement as they charge to the finish. Once a lead rider enters the sprinter's lane during the sprint he "controls the lane". He may not come out of the lane while sprinting and all others must pass him on the outside of this line. What to watch for: Each rider has his or her own strategy for how to win against a particular rider. Some prefer to stay in front of their opponent blocking him or her from getting in front and forcing them to take the long way around in attempting to pass. Watch for the lead rider to block the rear rider and often pin the rider up high against the rail until the last moment before charging for the finish line. Other riders prefer to ride the race from the rear position in an attempt to use the leaders slip stream to sling shot past in the final meters of the sprint. Watch for the race to slow to a crawl in the early laps as each rider attempts to gain the rear position. Here's a short match sprint video featuring Taylor Olson (SpeedFix p/b Zubaz) at the 2008 MN Fixed Gear Classic.
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Rider to watch
Emma Bast
 After moving to Minnesota from Vermont in January 2010, Emma Bast made herself right at home in the local cycling scene. She ranked second in the 2010 Track Rider of the Year standings and earned 2010 Cyclocross Rider of the Year. Emma started racing collegiate in the Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference in spring 2008 and loved every minute of it. That same summer she added USAC races to her repertoire and continued into the fall with cyclocross. She's been racing ever since. In spring 2009 she won the Collegiate Road Nationals in Fr. Collins, Colo. On the track, Emma says her worst moment was sliding out after rolling too slowly when a start was neutralized. "No one was hurt, except my dignity and street cred," she says, noting that the track's scariest moments are when someone crashes. "Other than that, the track is so much fun. I always tell people, 'It's like being on a rollercoaster. On your bike!'" This season Emma may be spotted at the track in the distinctive SPEEDFIX Racing zebra stripes.
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About Us
Contact Bob Williams at 763.785.5614 for more information about cycling at the velodrome. | |
