Nature Valley Bicycle Festival Features Top Pro Bike Race in 2011
Five Midwest Cities Host Nature Valley Grand Prix June 15-19
Minneapolis-Saint Paul, MN — The Nature Valley Bicycle Festival will take place June 10-19. The 2011 Festival will include the Minnesota Fixed Gear Classic, June 10-12 at the National Sports Center Velodrome in Blaine, Minn., and the Nature Valley Grand Prix professional bicycle stage race, June 15-19, in Saint Paul, Cannon Falls, Minneapolis and Stillwater, Minn. and Menomonie, Wisc.
For maps, photos and a schedule of events, visit www.naturevalleybicyclefestival.com.
The Nature Valley Grand Prix, the premier event on the USA Cycling calendar, opens June 15 in Saint Paul with both a morning time trial near Harriet Island Regional Park and an evening criterium (short circuit race) held downtown just a block from the Mississippi River. The ambiance of the criterium route around Rice Park is reminiscent of the famed pavé races in Europe, with the turrets of the Landmark Center, bricked streets in front of the Ordway Center and classic architecture of the century-old Saint Paul Hotel.
On Thursday, the race moves south to Cannon Falls for a rural road race showcasing the wide open spaces of Minnesota’s heartland, dotted with family farms, boutique wineries and the famed Cannon Valley Trail, stretching 20 miles along the Cannon River. The race finishes with multiple laps at high speeds through downtown. On Friday, it’s up to Minneapolis for an evening criterium in the city’s dynamic Uptown area, a neighborhood of trendy shops, bars and restaurants located just south of downtown near the chain of Minneapolis lakes.
The weekend presents an opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful terrain in the Midwest for the Menomonie and Stillwater stages. Cheer for the pros and local amateurs who can take part in these races. In Menomonie, the road race tests the cyclists’ endurance as they traverse 95 miles of rolling farmland in the heart of Wisconsin’s dairy country, finishing with multiple laps of an in-town circuit. Menomonie will also host dozens of events throughout the day, introducing visitors to the arts, historic sites, businesses and friendly, family-owned shops and restaurants. Activities also include kids’ contests, tours of UW Stout campus and a community bike ride for all levels (pre-registration required).
Stillwater, MN is host to Sunday’s grand finale June 19. The Stillwater Criterium is legendary for weeding out the field. Only 30 percent of the racers finish this stage, which features a 24-degree climb up Chilikoot Hill – the steepest in North American racing. This picturesque town is built on the bluffs of the St. Croix river and the route features a series of hairpin turns throughout the city’s historic neighborhoods and charming Main Street area. Make plans for a Father’s Day brunch at a riverfront restaurant or grab a treat at one of the town’s plentiful ice cream shops or candy stores along the way.
Spectator activities at each stage include the Wheaties Fuel Fan Zone, stunt riders, musical entertainment, bike and fitness expos and The FREE Shimano Tour de Kids fun race, open to children age 12 and under.
The Minneapolis-Saint Paul area is a premier tourism destination offering arts and cultural attractions, museums, zoos, amusement parks, Mall of America, major league sports, golf, boating and other outdoor recreational activities. Named the top city for cyclists by Bicycling Magazine in 2010, the area boasts hundreds of miles of cycling paths connecting the downtowns to neighborhoods, suburbs and trails along dozens of lakes as well as the Mississippi River.
Other special events taking place during the Nature Valley Grand Prix include the King Tut Exhibit at the Science Museum of Minnesota, the new Polar Bear Odyssey at Como Zoo, the Back to the 50s Classic Car Show at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds and much more. For a complete listing of events visit www.naturevalleybicyclefestival.com.
The Minnesota Fixed Gear Classic brings world-class track cycling to the National Sports Center Velodrome in Blaine, June 10-12. This thrilling event pits professional and elite amateur track cyclists in fast-paced sprint and grueling endurance events. Men and women compete in a series of fast and furious races using fixed gear bikes, which have only one gear and no brakes. Riders only make left turns and control their speed solely by pedaling faster or slower. Achieving speeds up to 40 mph, riders race on a wooden track with 43 degree angles making the races incredibly exciting for both racers and spectators. The Minnesota Fixed Gear Classic is FREE and open to the public.
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