Franz Bakery Crit’s points format promises excitement

Aug 18, 2010 by editor

PORTLAND — In the spirit of the fast-twitch season, a new offering on the OBRA schedule this Saturday will provide a tune-up opportunity for Sunday’s OBRA Criterium Championships in Albany. The inaugural Franz Bakery Criterium is an eight-corner race in Portland’s central eastside. The 1.13 km course near the namesake bakery features wide streets with good road surface, and, despite having eight turns, isn’t overly technical. Twenty feet of climbing per lap will sting the legs, but it also means 20 feet of descending to recover.

Any relief will be short-lived, however, given the event’s unique points-race format, a concept borrowed from the velodrome. At this race, every lap counts because the first rider across the line each lap earns two points. Points will be awarded 15 deep for the final lap, and the rider with the most points overall wins the race. The first person across the line on each lap will also receive $1 cash, so it can pay to be aggressive. There will be a minimum of $500 in cash/merchandise, three deep in each category. Category 1-3 prizes will be five deep.

The start/finish line and registration will be located at NE 10th and Glisan.

SCHEDULE
Saturday, August 21
3:30 p.m. — Cat 4/5 Men (30 min + 1 lap)
4:10 p.m. — Masters 35+ (40 min +1 lap)
5:00 p.m. — Cat 3 Men (40 min +1 lap)
5:45 p.m. — Open Women (40 min +1 lap)
6:30 p.m. — Pro/1/2/3 Men (50 min +1 lap)