On Saturday, June 18, cyclists will gather on Capitol Hill for the 49th annual Volunteer Park Criterium. You should stop by to watch fast bikes going round and round. Or to join the race.
The criterium is put on by local cycling team Seattle SuperSquadra, which has hosted the race for the past several years. It takes place on a 8/10ths of a mile closed circuit in Volunteer Park. SuperSquadra team member Chris Soelling said that the start/finish line right outside the Seattle Asian Art Museum and the park water tower are both excellent places for spectators.
The race’s history traces back to the late 1960s and is unique as one of the few “crits” to take place within Seattle’s city limits. Last year, Soelling shared this image with us from a rough moment during one of his races in the mid-70s:
The racing is not without risk as well. I attach a photo taken from the race in 1974 or 1975, when I crashed and was caught on camera going down. I hope to not do that this year.
Saturday, there will be a race every hour from 8 AM to approximately 3 PM. Race lengths range from 20 minutes to more than an hour. Prizes include cash, gift cards, and, in some contests, growlers of beer. More than $1,000 in cash prizes will be up for grabs with the biggest cash prize of $499 ready for the winner of the men’s professional race at 3:05 PM.
The crit has categories for riders of many skill levels. It also has a history of success with some past participants going on to race in the Tour de France. Soelling says cyclist Tyler Farrar was a five-time Tour de France competitor after racing Volunteer Park, and cyclist Logan Owen raced Volunteer Park and went on to win 10 consecutive national racing titles.
The crit also features a free kiddie race in the afternoon for riders from 2 to 6 years of age.
For the big boys and girls, race speeds will approach 40 MPH.
This year, just watching the race could make you hungry. The crit is being put on in conjunction with new sponsors of SuperSquadra, Taco Time, and the team bought themselves bike helmets the precise color of the cheddar cheese sold in Taco Time’s restaurants. Somebody should race as Team Mexi Fries.
Most cyclists around Seattle have been looking forward to the Volunteer Park event all year but if you enjoy speeding on two wheels and are new to the contest, it’s not too late to be part of the action. Cyclists can pre-register for $30 at the USA cycling website, or register on-site on race day for $40. To stay up to date on race info, follow the Volunteer Park Criterium on Facebook.
