Starting March 7th at the Great Park in Irvine and March 12th at El Dorado Park in Long Beach, BIKEable Communities and the Grand Prix at the Great Park will be joining forces to host the 33rd annual twilight cycling race series. This will be the first year that the 21 week race series will alternate weekly between the two parks, every other Tuesday at El Dorado and every other Thursday at the Great Park. This new series will be called the PARK2PARK Race Series and offers licensed cycling racers to do some serious training on two, closed course circuits and ultimately crown So Cal’s BEST twilight racers.
Race registration opens each night approximately two hours before sunset with the races starting an hour before sunset. Two groups will race concurrently on the same course after a staggered start. Group A is open for all ages, men, women and juniors in PRO/1/2/3 categories. Group B is open for all ages, men, women and juniors in CAT3/4. Cat 3 racers have the option to race in either group A or Group B. Each race cost $15 to enter ($5 for junior racers) with a onetime $5 permanent number fee. All racers must have a valid USA Cycling license. One day and annual licenses can be purchased online at usacycling.org or during registration. The race runs for one hour with 2 intermediate sprint laps. Points are awarded to the top 10 finishers with additional points to the first 3 across the line of each sprint lap. A racers’ top 18 races will be tallied for individual and team points, with awards given out at the end of the series banquet, time and location TBD.
Also new this year, because of the alternating schedule, each location, on non-race nights, will be hosting a “Intro to Racing Clinic” that will provide basic race skills to CAT4/5 men and women, plus new riders of all ages and skill levels, as well as “Coaching Nights” for teams and individuals to train on race tactics and skills in the safety of a closed course. Great Park will also have a full Time Trial Series with 9 races throughout the summer and a “Short Course Crit” event.
For more information and schedules please visit p2pracingseries.com, as well as the SoCalCycling.com Road Calendar.
