Candi Murray
For immediate release:
There is a bike race in France which is attracting the media's attention
currently. The Tour de France is the premier road race in the world
showcasing the endurance of road racing athletes
Portland will be hosting a race that will showcase the other end of the
spectrum of bike racing; the pure speed of track racing on the
velodrome.
International caliber bike racing is returning to the Alpenrose
Velodrome
July 15 through 17
The Oregon Bicycle Racing Association, in conjunction with the fine
folks at
Alpenrose Dairy, is hosting the bicycle track racing event with the
largest
cash prize lists in the nation this year.
Unlike most bike racing, track racing at the velodrome is a spectator
sport.
The velodrome is a stadium type venue that allows you to see the entire
course of the race. Here in Portland we have the tradition of fast,
exciting track racing at Alpenrose which is one of the steepest tracks
in
North America with its 42 degree banking and fast drop-offs in the
turns.
Track racers fly around the velodrome on bikes with one gear and no
brakes
at speeds of 40 mph plus. They seem to defy gravity as they ride the
steep
banking, which is as high as a two-story building at the rail. Each
race is
short and the action is fast and furious.
Stephan Alfred, formerly from Trinidad but now a US citizen and the US
National Sprint Champion will be returning to try to repeat his win in
the
Sprints. He will have a tough time as he will be racing against Josiah
Ng,
a member of the Malaysia National Team who is ranked second in the world
in
the keirin. Erin Mirabella, the bronze medalist in the Points Race at
the
Athens Olympics as well as Becky Quinn, US Worlds team member will also
both
be there. Portland's own Larssyn Staley, World Champion in the Junior
Points
race will also be competing.
The racing begins at 10:00 AM for the morning session and at 4:00 PM for
the
evening session both weekend days. There will be timed event racing on
Friday, at 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM for the fanatical bike race spectator.
There will be food available for spectators all day supplied by
Pizzicato
Gourmet Pizza and Sals Famous Italian Kitchen. There will be live music
during the intermission between race session with the band Six Fingers
provided by River City Bicycle's Dave Guettler. The velodrome is at the
Alpenrose Dairy, 6149 SW Shattuck Road just south of the
Beaverton-Hillsdale
Highway in Raleigh Hills. Spectator admission is free.
Contact: Mike Murray
Phone: 503-661-5874
Velodrome: (503) 246-0330
E-Mail: mike.m-@obra.org
Web: www.alpenrosechallenge.com