The Alpenrose Challenge claiming to be the largest prize list track race in the USA with a $12,000 purse, will be held on the Alpenrose Velodrome in Southwest Portland between July 7-9. With elite men/women and masters catered for, the competition is expected to be solid.
Top of the the entry list is Pan-Am Games gold medallist Stephen Alfred, a native of Trinidad, who is now a U.S. citizen living in Capitola, California. Alfred holds the Alpenrose single flying-lap record at 15.10 seconds. Other riders expected to compete are Anne-Brit Erickson, from Calgary, the Canadian national sprint champion, and Becky Quinn, from Carlsbad, Calif., who has a U.S. national championship and was member of the U.S. Olympic team.
Local riders also challenge for part of the big purse. Stephen McLaughry, of Camas, Wash., a surprise top three finisher last year, will be back to improve his standing; and Heather Van Valkenburg, Vancouver, Wash., is the national bronze medal winner.
"The Alpenrose Challenge is without question one of the premier track races anywhere," said race director and event founder Mike Murray. "Eight years ago we wanted to create a local event that featured national and international caliber riders and would showcase the unique attraction that is bicycle track racing. And we succeeded. The event put Alpenrose on the map for the top riders and local spectators."
The meet will offer a 4,000m pursuit, 500 m and 1 km time trials, sprints, miss & out, keirin, Madison, flying lap, 10-mile, and Olympic sprint. Registration takes place on Thursday, July 6, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Alpenrose. Two sessions of racing are scheduled for Friday, July 7, beginning at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. On Saturday, July 8, two more sessions are set, starting at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. On Sunday, July 9, the final two sessions take place, starting at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
More information: www.alpenrosechallenge.com
