On August 3, 2014, 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 we draw the best racers from all over the United States and have special video prizes for racers who take in-race video. The junior racers will again get a chance to showcase their skills on this great course, with five separate juniors categories. We also have free Kids Races presented by Helen’s Cycles, so if you have children, we would love to have them participate. Spectating at the races is entirely free! In honor of Stu Press, the Club’s former Race Director, the Brentwood Grand Prix will raise money for the Melanoma Research Alliance and the LA County Bicycle Coalition, so please help support these worthy charities today!
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 champions jersey awarded this year to the champion of each race, as well as prizes, bonuses and primes worth over $12,000. The new video prizes offer up to $500 for winners who film their race, and as a part of the launch of its new race camera Shimano is offering additional bonus prizes to winners with their camera. As in 2013, 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 who passed away in December 2013, is put on annually by La Grange, 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 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 at usacycling.org where you can sign up for the races and get an annual or a one-day license.
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.bgp14.com under the Kids Race registration tab.
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 a painta- 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 great local Brentwood restaurant Sor Tino. A great day for the whole family!
This year the expo will have a special focus on health with free skin cancer screenings from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., provided by respected local dermatologists as a part of the American Academy of Dermatology’s SPOT Me screening program supported by Bristol-Myers Squibb. 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 raise money for the Melanoma Research Alliance, the largest private funder of melanoma research. Check out its activities at www.curemelanoma.org.
Race sponsors and supporters include Helen’s Cycles, Total Woman Gym + Spa, Castelli, Michelob Ultra, Cannondale, Joe Eby MD & Turo Sunscreen, Bonk Breaker, Shimano, Pfeiffer FitzGibbon & Ziontz LLP, Domaine LA, Galpin Motors, City National Bank, Allure Pharmacy, ProFlowers, Rudy Project, Road Bike Action Magazine, Zevlin, Coola Sunscreen, SPY Optics, Whole Foods, Cruz Bar, GoPro, and Chipotle.
The Expo Ride
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, Velo Club LaGrange and the LA County Bicycle Coalition (through its Santa Monica Spoke Chapter) will offer the Expo Ride, a fun non-competitive community ride of 11 miles that will help riders learn how easy it is to get around by bicycle in Los Angeles, which will also help raise money for the LA County Bicycle Coalition, a leading local grass-roots cycling organization. The ride will visit future Expo Line Stations and riders can get a wristband for fun prizes back at the Expo. It will be a great time and starts at 9:30 a.m., so sign up today and bring the whole family!
The Brentwood Grand Prix and Expo Ride will take place Sunday, August 3, 2014. More information about the race can be found at www.bgp14.com or you can contact Race Director Tom FitzGibbon at [email protected]. You can check out the Expo Ride at exporide.org. You can make donations to the charities at: bit.ly/ExpoFund.
Photo © Christy Nicholson / EchelonDesignPhoto.com
