L39ion of Los Angeles and the City of Sacramento have announced an inaugural downtown cycling event – the Into the Lion’s Den powered by SRAM criterium. The day-long celebration and Halloween event concludes with a women’s and men’s pro criterium, featuring the largest criterium prize purse in U.S. history.
The fastest criterium cyclists in the U.S. will come together in downtown Sacramento to compete for a $100,000 prize purse at the inaugural Into the Lion’s Den powered by SRAM race and cycling festival on Saturday, October 30, 2021. Cycling fans will enjoy an exciting day of racing and family-focused events in California’s state capitol, including a community Halloween ride, bike expo, open criterium, and two professional races featuring some of the country’s top cyclists.
“Sacramento is thrilled to welcome Into the Lion’s Den powered by SRAM athletes to our city,” said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg. “Our community is passionate about cycling, and our terrain, coupled with our California weather, makes Sacramento an ideal home for this race. We can’t wait to cheer you on later this fall.”
“SRAM is excited to be the presenting partner of the inaugural Into the Lion’s Den powered by SRAM event and to reward these great racers with the largest prize purse in U.S. crit racing history. We can’t wait to watch the pro riders come down the home straightaway in front of the Capitol at close to 40 mph,” said Ken Lousberg, SRAM CEO. “Thank you to Mayor Steinberg, the city agencies, Visit Sacramento, Justin and Cory Williams, and the Sacramento cycling community for coming together to create this great event.”
Justin Williams, an elite cyclist and multiple-time U.S. National Champion, is the founder of the Into the Lion’s Den powered by SRAM event and started the L39ION of Los Angeles cycling program along with his brother, Cory. Both the event and team were created to advance the sport of cycling, eliminate boundaries to participation, and promote diversity and inclusion in the sport. L39ION of Los Angeles will be competing in both the women’s and men’s pro races.
