On August 4, 2013, Velo Club La Grange, Southern California’s largest cycling club, will once again bring the high-speed excitement of road bicycle racing to the streets of Brentwood. For the third consecutive year the races are designated as the SCNCA Elite Criterium Championships. The racing will be faster and more exciting than ever, as we draw the best racers from California and Nevada and beyond. For the first time on this great course, junior racers will have their own races with five separate juniors categories. The Brentwood Grand Prix also will have free Kids Races presented by Helen’s Cycles, so if you have children, they would love to have them participate. Spectating is entirely free!
The Brentwood Grand Prix is held on a challenging one-mile course prized by racers and spectators alike for excitement and thrills as racers go all out to claim the coveted California bear jersey awarded annually to the champion of each elite category, as well as the purse of $13,000 or one of the many exciting primes. As a result of Belkin’s sponsorship the Brentwood Grand Prix can for the first time offer equal prize money for men and women in the Elite Championship race. “La Grange has a long history of supporting women’s racing and we are excited to be a part of a growing trend to have equal prize money for men and women,” said Tom FitzGibbon, race director for the Brentwood Grand Prix. The race, named in honor of the club’s founder, is put on annually by La Grange, not only the biggest but one of the oldest cycling clubs in California, and whose race teams carry on the club’s long and storied racing tradition.
The start-finish line is on San Vicente Boulevard just east of Barrington in the South roadway. There is free parking in the Veteran’s Administration parking lots or you can ride your bike to the race and leave your bike with the LA County Bicycle Coalition’s Bike Valet. The racing starts at 7:00 a.m. and the two premier events, the Women’s and Men’s Elite Championships start at 2:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m., respectively. See the race flyer for full details and times. Registration is at www.usacycling.org where you can sign up for the races, get an annual or a one-day license. Sign up today!
The Helen’s Cycles Kids’ Race starts at 12:45 p.m. but get there earlier to sign up or sign up online at www.brentwoodgrandprix.com under the Kids Race registration tab.
In addition to the racing action, there is an expo with all sorts of fun activities and vendors, such as booths by many cycling-related companies, local non-profit organizations and companies, and a bounce house for the little ones. There will also be food and drink available from restaurants on San Vicente, as well as in the beer garden provided by sponsors Michelob Ultra and local Brentwood restaurant Sor Tino. A great day for the whole family!
This year the title sponsor is Belkin, creator of people-inspired technology products, which aims to show its support for cycling across multiple levels and create a local tie-in to its title sponsorship of the new Belkin Pro Cycling Team. “Belkin is a local company with a 30-year history in Los Angeles, so associating our brands with a successful, well-established championship race in our own backyard is exciting,” said Chet Pipkin, founder and CEO of Belkin. “The race brings us wonderful local exposure to complement the global exposure provided by the Belkin Pro Cycling Team as it builds on its recent success in the Tour de France.” More information about Belkin products can be found at Belkin.com and more information about Linksys products can be found at Linksys.com.
Other sponsors include Helen’s Cycles, Total Woman Gym + Spa, Castelli, Michelob Ultra, Cannondale, Pfeiffer Thigpen FitzGibbon & Ziontz LLP, Schindler Eyrich LLP, Allure Pharmacy, ProFlowers, Time Warner Cable, Rudy Project, LA Sports Massage and Offside Sports.
The Brentwood Grand Prix not only is an exciting race but a great event that offers a chance for Los Angeles residents to increase awareness about broader cycling opportunities in Los Angeles, from the elite racer to the beginner to the commuter, all of whom can share the excitement of cycling in a city fast becoming known as one of the most cycling-friendly in the United States, including through its successful cicLAvia events. The City of Los Angeles has long been a great partner in making the Brentwood Grand Prix one of the best races in Southern California, and LaGrange is pleased to help continue to inform the public about cycling and bicycle racing by hosting the race and the expo.
If you can’t make the race, it will be televised later by Time Warner Cable and check your local listings for times and channels.
The Brentwood Grand Prix presented by Belkin will take place Sunday, August 4, 2013.
More information about the race can be found at www.brentwoodgrandprix.com or you can contact Race Director Tom FitzGibbon at [email protected] or LaGrange President Jay Slater at [email protected].
Photo © Christy Nicholson / EchelonDesignPhoto.com
