On August 2, 2015, 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. The racing will be faster and more exciting than ever as the race is again the SCNCA Elite Criterium Championships, as we draw the best racers from all over California and beyond. The coveted California “Bear Jersey” will be awarded to the champion in the Men’s Category 1-2, 3 and 4 races and in the Women’s Category 1-3 and 3 races. The junior racers will again get a chance to showcase their skills on this great course, with five separate juniors categories. There are four Masters Category races with some of the best masters races in the United States. We also have free Kids Races presented by Helen’s Cycles, so if you have children, we would love to have them participate. There will be an Honor Ride for Veterans brought to you by Ride 2 Recovery at 12:50 p.m. Spectating for all events is entirely free! The Brentwood Grand Prix is fundraising for the Melanoma Research Alliance, Ride 2 Recovery and the Santa Monica Spoke Chapter of the LA County Bicycle Coalition, so please help support these worthy charities by going to bit.ly/BGP-DonateNow
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 not only the Bear Jersey, but the coveted Castelli champion’s jersey awarded annually to the champion of each category, as well as a purse of $9,000 or one of the many exciting primes. As in past years, the Brentwood Grand Prix will offer equal prize money for men and women in the Elite Championship races. “La Grange has a long history of supporting women’s racing and we are excited to continue the 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 parking on nearby surface streets or you can ride your bike to the race and leave your bike with the Santa Monica Spoke / 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 Championship races start at 2:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m., respectively. See the race flyer for full details and times. Registration is available on Saturday, August 1 from 3pm to 6pm and on Sunday up to 15 minutes before each race.
The Helen’s Cycles Kids’ Race starts at 12:50 p.m. but get there earlier to sign up. Check out the web site for more information at www.bgp15.com.
In addition to the racing action, there is a great expo with all sorts of fun activities and vendors, such as booths by many cycling-related companies, bicycle history presentations, local and national non-profit organizations and companies, and a bounce house and the Galpin paint-a-truck for the little ones. There will also be food and drink available from great local 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 expo will again have a special focus on health with free skin cancer screenings from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm, provided by respected local dermatologists in conjunction with the American Academy of Dermatology. Cyclists have particular risks of skin cancers, including melanoma, and at the Brentwood Grand Prix Velo Club LaGrange along with sponsor partners will be helping to provide information about prevention techniques as well as the free screenings for everyone. Please come and get screened and learn more about steps you can take to prevent skin cancers, whether on or off the bike. As a part of this process, the Brentwood Grand Prix will fundraise for the Melanoma Research Alliance, the largest private funder of melanoma research. You can donate here: bit.ly/BGP-MRA-Fundraiser
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. As a part of learning about transportation options in Los Angeles, there will be a 10-mile non-competitive community ride called the Expo Ride that will help riders learn how easy it is to commute by bicycle in Los Angeles, which will help raise money for the Santa Monica Spoke Chapter of the LA County Bicycle Coalition, a local grass-roots cycling organization. Learn more at www.exporide.org.
The Brentwood Grand Prix will take place Sunday, August 2, 2015. More information about the race can be found at www.bgp15.com or you can contact Race Director Tom FitzGibbon at [email protected]. Be there!
