The North Iowa Spin cycling organization has received word that they will be the host of the 2011 Iowa State Criterium Championship Race that will be a part of the with the 7th Annual Bicycle, Blues, and BBQ Festival. The championship event will be held Saturday July 9, 2011.
Dave Delperdang, NI SPIN team president said, “This is really a fabulous weekend, and our team is hard at work organizing the events to be held in Clear Lake. Our event will once again be held during the second weekend in July, and we will provide another great weekend of recreational cycling, intense cycling competition, fabulous live entertainment, and mouth-watering barbeque.”
One of the best ways to describe criterium, or crit, racing is to compare it to NASCAR racing. Both race on a closed circuit; both race at high speed; the racers all wear colorful team clothing; drafting is a significant strategy; and there may be crashes. Crits are the most action-packed, spectator-friendly form of bicycle road racing, consisting of many laps on a course that is less than a mile in length, and lasting from 20 minutes to 70 minutes. To the untrained eye, bike races look pretty simple. There’s a lot more activ¬ity that you might think. It’s not always the strongest rider that wins; lots of teamwork, strategy, and tactics are important as well.
“We were receiving a lot of very positive comments from the racers and spectators, as a result we were approached by the Iowa Bike Racing Association to submit an application to host this championship event,” stated race event organizer Tim Putnam. “So, when we received notice that we were chosen for the championship, we were thrilled. There are a few things that make this race exciting. The first is the wonderful support we receive from the City of Clear Lake; they have been fabulous to work with over the past seven years. Also, the large crowds of spectators that show to cheer on the event, as well as the smell of BBQ and sounds of the blues music really make this a one-of-a-kind event. The racers just love this race, and we are positive we will set records for both racers and spectators this being are a championship event. The event this year will carry a $10,000 cash purse for the race weekend.”
The racing action kicks off at noon on Saturday, July 9, with the criterium. Fast-paced and technical, the crit is a favorite for racers and spectators alike. Racing continues on Sunday, July 10, with the Clear Lake BBQ point-to-point road race. Starting at the world-renown Surf Ballroom, road races of 82 and 42 miles are on tap, taking in the greater North Iowa countryside.
Go to www.bicyclebluesbbq.com for complete list of festival activities.
|
