Records may fall at Alpenrose Challenge

Jul 14, 2011 by editor

PORTLAND — Expect records to fall this weekend when some of the fastest cyclists in North America head to Portland for the 12th Annual Alpenrose Velodrome Challenge. With a prize list of $13,000, this is one of the richest track races in the country, drawing Elite women, men and Masters 40+ to compete for a chance to win prestige and cash.

The weekend events fire up Friday at 1 p.m. with pursuits. Olympic gold medalist Jamie Staff hosts a meet-and-greet under the track’s big tent at 5 p.m. Staff is the fast man from the Beijing Olympics and the gold medalist in the team sprint, where he rode the fastest-ever first lap. The U.S. Olympic Committee hired staff in 2010 to take over this country’s sprint program, and he has been working with Project London 2012 riders Kevin Mansker, Dean Tracy, Michael Blatchford, Jimmie Watkins and Daniel Walker to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London.

Friday’s racing starts with with individual time trial events including the pursuit, 500m and kilo. Several riders, including Tracy, Mansker, two-time Olympian Blatchford and multi-time Canadian National Champion Travis Smith will set their sights on breaking the kilo record set by Per Bjesse in 2009 and previously held by Marty Nothstein. The day is capped off with a men’s qualifier points race where riders try to secure a spot in the weekend’s mass start events.

The Saturday events will feature the men’s keirin, along with master’s and women’s sprint tournaments. These events require tactics, speed, and in the case of keirin, a pacing motorcycle. The endurance riders will compete in points races and a madison.

Sunday features keirin for women and masters, sprints for the men and the always exciting 10-mile scratch race, where money is available every lap. The competition wraps up with the flying lap, where riders take their shot at winning a big prize and breaking the track record.

 

Friday		July 15, 2011
Session #1
Registration and warm up		11:00-12:30
Racing starts at 1:00 p.m.
Masters Pursuit
Women Pursuit
Men Pursuit
Session #2
Registration and warm up		4:00-5:30
Racing starts at 6:00 p.m.
Masters 50+ 500 m
Women 500 m
Masters 1 k
Men 1 K
Men Qualifier Points race*
Women’s Qualifier Points race*
Session ends at approximately 8:30 p.m.
Saturday		July 16, 2011
Session #3
Sign in & warm up		9:00-10:00
Racing starts at 10:00 a.m.
Women	200 m TT Sprint qualifier Top 12 advance
Masters	200 m TT Sprint qualifier Top 12 advance
Men	Keirin qualifier
Women	Sprints Round #1 4 3 up rides
Masters	Sprints Round #1 4 3 up rides
Men	Keirin qualifier rep
Women	Sprints Repechage 2 4-up
Masters	Sprints Repechage 2 4-up
Women	Sprints Round #2 3 2-up rides
Masters	Sprints Round #2 3 2-up rides
Women	Sprints Round #2 Rep 3 up
Masters	Sprints Round #2 Rep 3 up
Women	Women 5-mile
Men	Miss & Out
Session ends at approximately 2:30 p.m.
Session #4
Sign in & warm up		3:00-3:30
Racing starts at 4:00 p.m.
Kiddie Kilo		4:00 p.m.
Masters	Points 20 K 75 laps
Women	Sprint 7th-12th 6-up 5-laps
Masters	Sprint 7th-12th 6-up 5-laps
Women	Sprints Semi Final
Masters	Sprints Semi Final
Men	Keirin
Women	Sprints Final
Masters	Sprints Final
Men	Points 30 K 110 laps
Women	Team Sprint
Men	Team Sprint
Women	Madison
Session ends at approximately 8:30 p.m.
Sunday		July 17, 2011
Session #5
Sign in & warm up		9:00-10:00
Racing starts at 10:00 a.m.
Men	200 m TT Sprint qualifier Top 12 advance
Women	Keirin qualifier
Masters	10 mile
Men	Sprints Round #1 4 3 up rides
Women	Miss & Out
Men	Sprints Repechage 2 4-up
Masters	Keirin qualifier
Men	Sprints Round #2 3 2-up rides
Women	Keirin qualifier rep
Men	Sprints Round #2 Rep 3 up
Masters	Keirin qualifier rep
Men	10 mile
45 Minute Break
Session #6
Sign in & warm up
Men	Sprint 7th-12th 6-up 5-laps
Men	Sprints Semi Final
Masters	Keirin
Women	Keirin
Men	Sprints Final
Women	Points 20 K 75 laps
Masters	Miss & Out
Men	Madison
Flying lap