Portland Twilight Criterium ready to rock ‘n’ roll Friday

Aug 12, 2010 by editor

PORTLAND — The criterium season hits full speed this weekend when Portland’s premiere one-day road racing event rips into the heart of downtown tonight with the Twilight Criterium presented by Subaru.

Now in its ninth year on the Oregon calendar, the Twilight Criterium has proven to be a showcase for up-and-coming talent. Past winners include current European ProTour sprinting sensation Tyler Farrar, who took the top prize in 2005. Current USA National Criterium Champion John Murphy won the race in 2007, and last year’s winner, Adrian Hegyvary, is riding with top U.S. team United Healthcare this season. This year’s racing will feature the talented kiwi/yank contingent from Portland’s Rubicon-Orbea team, one of the nation’s top elite amateur teams. The yellow-clad squad packs a double punch in former Tour of the Gila criterium winner Roman van Uden and Mike Northey, New Zealand’s 2009 U23 National Criterium Champion.

Giving Rubicon a run for the money will be U.S. cyclocross star Ryan Trebon, a Bend resident who is using the crit as training for the upcoming ‘cross season. Local speedster Steven Beardsley (Gentle Lovers) will no doubt be challenging for the hometown win, along with a host of usual suspects from the local and regional racing scenes.

The riders will compete on a course that surrounds the North Park Blocks, creating an island oasis of 360-degree viewing, music, food and beverages. Each lap is one-half mile long and should take the racers just over one minute to complete. The North Park Blocks will be packed with vendors, exhibitors and a food cart arena. Widmer Brewing is hosting a beer garden, and spectators will find cycling apparel, hand-made bike crafts and more along vendors row. Race guides will be available at the Information Booth and all vendor booths.

The racing starts at 6:30 p.m. with a 40-minute event for all Cat 3 racers of any age or gender (Cat 2 women can also race this event). The hour-long Pro/1/2 race starts at 7:30. The course is highly technical so fields are limited to 80 riders.

Check out the PHOTO GALLERY from last year’s race.

http://www.portlandtwilight.com/twilight-criterium-spectators.html

SCHEDULE:

*   4:00 pm — Streets are closed except Everett St. Activities open: Widmer Beer Garden, Handbuilt Bike Show, Food Carts
*   6:00 pm — Everett St. closes
*   6:15 pm — Racers’ warm-up
*   6:30 pm — Cat 3 race (all ages + genders, cat 2 women allowed) – 40 minutes
*   7:15 pm — Racers’ warm-up
*   7:30 pm — Pro/1/2 – 60 minutes

Past Winners: 2009 Adrian Hegyvary (Hagens Berman); 2008 Stephan Kincaid (Rite Aid); 2007 John Murphy (Health Net/Maxxis); 2006 Garrett Peltonen (Health Net/Maxxis); 2005 Tyler Farrar (Health Net); 2004 Adam Curry (Team Revolution); 2003 Todd Littlehales (Sierra Nevada); 2002 Todd Littlehales (Navigators)