| Upcoming Events
Thursday Night Lights & Men's and Women's State Scratch Race Championships - July 14 |
| 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
Warm and Calm - The Weather, Not The Racing!
Last Thursday was a perfect summer evening for bike racing: warm and little wind. Even the mosquitoes held off until the last race was nearly over!
The Cat 1/2 riders started with a 15-lap scratch race. The group established a peppy pace line for 10 laps. Mike Smith (Omnium) attacked with 5 to go and drew Dan Schueller (Gopher Wheelmen). The pair formed a 70-meter gap with 3 to go while the peloton failed to mount a chase. Andy Kruse (Speedfix) finally attacked, followed by Dan Currell (Bianchi/GP), but too late. Smith and Schueller had a half-track lead that took them to the finish well ahead of the desperate field. The final finish: Schueller-Smith-Kruse-Currell.
The All City King-of-the-Sprint race was a 3-lap sprint. Six riders earned a berth in the final. At the gun, the wary group stayed together, high on the track. With 500 meters to go, Currell jumped to a 5-meter lead. The response was late, but concerted. At the bell, it was Currell-Brandon Krawczyk (Grandstay)-Merrill Lutsky (mbrc/Flanders)-Tom Hagerty (behind bars/LGR)-Mike Hall (behind bars/LGR)-Schueller. The last lap was full of fury, but no change in the order; Currell's jump paid off for the win.
The evening finished with an 80-lap Madison with sprints every 20. Ten teams went to the rail. A few early probing attacks were quickly neutralized. At the first bell, Currell and Kruse attacked and crossed in that order. Smith/Zack Mohr (Omnium) joined Currell/Krawczyk and Kruse/Derek Virta (Speedfix) followed by the Lutsky/Rich Bergstrom (Speedfix) team and Hagerty/Hall. Kruse/Vig then attacked with 50 to go. Lutsky/Bergstrom and Currell/Krawzyk responded, breaking up the field. With 18 to go Kruse/Virta lapped a fractured field, taking the two intermediate sprints. Two laps later, Krawczyk attacked but was covered by Kruse/Virta. Lutsky/Bergstrom eventually bridged and the trio earned a lap with 5 to go. KruseVirta launched with 2 to go followed by Currell/Krawczyk, taking 1st and 2nd in the final sprint. Kruse/Virta's early lap gave them the win. Thanks to one 1st place and three 2nd's, Krawczyk/Currell ,a lap down, took 2nd for the race over Lutsky/Bergstrom, also a lap down.
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What's Happening
Buca Night! Win Dinner for 4 on the Party Deck!
You'll want to be sure to attend this Thursday's racing. Buca will be on-site with tasty samples - pasta and desserts! Best of all, it's FREE! Of course, if you stick around for the Buca Blaster, you just might win a chance to get your hands on some more of their yummy food.
Buca will also be serving dinner on the party deck for 4 lucky fans. Come early to get your name in the drawing for the chance to win the best seats in the house - and a great dinner from Buca. |
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Racing 101
Madison
The Madison first began in Madison Square Garden in the early 1900s, hence the name "Madison." This type of race is the mainstay of "Six-Day" bike races. The
Madison or "Team Race" is a two-rider, tag-team points race. One rider is in the race while his partner rests (called riding relief ). Each time the racing rider approaches his resting partner he throws him into the race via a hand sling and then takes his place above the blue line to rest. Faster teams will commonly gain a lap on the field and are scored ahead of those one or more laps down. The intermediate sprint points are used to score riders finishing on the same lap.
Watch highlights from the 2009 MN State Madison Championship. |
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About Us
Contact Bob Williams at 763.785.5614 for more information about cycling at the velodrome. | |
