So, yesterday marked the first time I'd viewed criterium races in more than 12 years. When I was going to school in Athens, Georgia I used to attend the Twilight Criterium every year. It was awesome to watch racers from all different classes and skill levels race at breakneck speeds around downtown Athens. Nearby Atlanta also hosted the Tour de Town each year which was held in the Buckhead neighborhood. It was also a guaranteed blast as well. For years I had watched the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, or any other cycling event that I could find on television. Over the last few years though, the doping scandals, betrayal of the fan's trust, and a general disgust with most of professional cycling led me away from watching it anymore. I came away from watching Saturdays crits with an overriding notion in my mind. With the purses really being nothing more than maybe $125, and primes being little more than a backpack or a box of Clif Bars, I think local racing is probably the most fun and perhaps the purest form of competitive cycling. So, without further ado, here are some photos from the last four races of the Lincoln Park Criterium sponsored by xXx Racing.
These shots are from the 30 minute Cat 4 Women's race.
This wasn't a particular dramatic shot as at this point the racers are coming up to the crest of a long gradual uphill section, but I liked how the stone of the bridge looks. It almost gives an Old World feel. A cobbled street would complete the look.
These are from the Cat 4/5 Mens race.
Suffer face!
I actually laid down on the ground with my head on the curb to get some of these low angle shots.
S U F F E R F A C E ! !
These shots were from the Beth Kobeszka Memorial Women Cat 1-4 race.
This next sequence is awesome!
These ladies look like they're having too much fun to be racing. The few times I tried racing it felt more like work. And I wanted to puke.
These last photos are from the Pieter Ombregt Memorial Cat 4.
This hardcore dude went off the front and stayed off the front for the whole race. Needless to say, he won.
And, there you have it. A fun day at the races.
Almost all of them look like they were having fun. Not enough to make me want to race, but enough to make me want to go watch the next ones!
ReplyDeleteHello, I was wondering if you had taken any photos of me during the race? I was in the cat 5 and the cat 4/5 race wearing the visionquest kit. I had a black/red helmet....
ReplyDeletePlease let me know and feel free to email me: flyguy2992@yahoo.com
Brandon, I'll take a look after work and see if I can find you. Chances are you're in there somewhere. I shot a LOT of photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks Matt, let me know if you find anything.
DeleteWould also like to see some more CAT 5 pics
ReplyDeleteWish I had been there
ReplyDeleteMatt -
ReplyDeleteHey any chance that you got shots of the CAT 5 mens race? I was wearing a blue/white Proctor Health Care kit... it was my first crit race and I ended up with the victory. Was hoping I could find a shot to remember.
Thanks!