The Athlete Octane Old Pueblo Grand Prix will be a classic downtown criterium (or crit) –- the quintessential American-style bike race concentrated around a few city blocks with lots of turns, very high speeds and continuous action and excitement. For 2012 it is one of only eleven races around the US which make up the prestigious USA Crit Championship Series.
On Saturday March 17, 2012, 02 Modern Fitness and Fitworks Cycling Support bring to Tucson the Athlete Octane Old Pueblo Grand Prix. It is family-friendly and spectator-friendly, because the racing action is all within view and passes by every minute at 25-35 mph. There will be intermediate sprint prizes of both product and cash to keep the racers motivated throughout their events, along with prizes for the top finishers. The event is free to spectators.
The race start/finish line is on Stone Avenue in front of St. Augustine Cathedral, and racers head north, right on Jackson Street (just south of Broadway), and then right again on Scott Avenue. They travel south on Scott past the Children’s Museum, the Scottish Rite Temple, and Temple of Music and Arts, turn right onto 14th Street, and then right again onto Stone and back to the start/finish.
The racing will begin at 10:30 a.m. and extend to 6:45 p.m. Races throughout the day are separated by level of competitive experience and age group. The Pro/Elite men and women categories include national- and international-class athletes, including Olympic and Tour de France competitors. During two intermissions, there will also be a fun “Kid’s”race for children under 6 years old, and an open-class “Street Sprint”.
Festivities around the course will include a bicycle/sponsor Expo, Beer Garden, VIP area, bike-related family activities on the lawn of the Children’s Museum. A Cinelli bicycle and high-performance carbon wheels will be raffled off before the start of the Pro/Elite men’s race.
Food will be available from the Tucson Food Truck Coalition. The 25th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival will be ongoing only a few blocks away Downtown. Those who come Downtown on their bicycles can start their day with a “Bike Burrito” and Athlete Octane beverage bottle fill-up at the Hotel Congress from 8:00 a.m. until 10 a.m.
Athlete Octane will be featuring “Octini’s” at a “Meet the Pro’s” post-race cocktail hour back at the Hotel Congress at 7:00 pm.
With a prize purse of $20,000, this event in Tucson rivals some of the premiere races in the country and will attract many of our nation’s top cyclists.
For more information go to www.oldpueblograndprix.com
Must register by March 6, 2012 at www.bikereg.com
