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SubscribeJohn Eustice Explains the New Harlem Skyscraper Race Format
Mon, 05/09/2011 - 11:46pm by cjammet
Photo by Kevin Dillard
Racers,
The Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic is different this year. We have a new format, one designed to showcase the speed, skill and excitement of some of the world’s best track racers. Of course questions abound as with any change, so here are some answers.
Why change the format?
Cycling needs to become more attractive to a general audience which is something almost everyone involved in the organization of the sport is finally realizing. The Giro has gone to an extreme, with a “Savage” race course (as describe by Team Sky DS Sean Yates), in their attempt to gain audience*. The Quebec ProTour races are trying a new sprinter format. Jens Voigt speaking of the need for more circuit races, etc. This Omnium will be very hard, promise tons of action and will make for excellent TV. It will entertain our fans and hook the casual spectator. And, it’s the American racing style, invented in New York City and made enormously rich and popular here, albeit a long time ago. But it still works.
What is an Omnium?
An Omnium is a series of races held on the same day with points awarded to the winners. The races are varied and designed to entertain the public. The pros will begin with a Points Race, which in this case will be a 27 lap race with five sprints (5th, 10th, 15th, 20th and 27th laps). There will be five placings each sprint. Double points on the final sprint, highest points scorer wins. All of the amateur races will be Points Races as well.
The second pro race will be a “Devil Take the Hindmost” AKA Elimination, a popular and entertaining event where the last (in this case two) riders to cross the finish line each lap are pulled. So it’s both a race from the front and from the back. The sight of top racers desperately sprinting into the back of the field is not one to be missed. The field is whittled down to the last five riders who then contest the finish.
The top points scorer of the the two combined races is declared the winner.
What about this Kerin race, what is it?
The Kerin race will be an exhibition and open to 10 selected riders, based on their skill, professionalism and speed. The race, normally run on velodromes, originated in Japan in 1948 as a betting sport. The top rider on the Japanese circuit won $2.9 million last year, so clearly interest remains high.
Our Kerin race will be three laps of the racecourse. The first two are paced behind a motorcycle that slowly accelerates from about 15 mph to 30 mph before pulling off and launching the riders into the final lap. The racers draw lots to determine their position behind the moto, but, as with Italian stop signs, these assigned spots can be considered as “opinions”. Lot’s of pushing, shoving and head-butting goes on back there. The driver of the moto is a key component to the event, and in our case we are lucky to have Gil Hatton, former World Junior Sprint Champion (beating Guiseppe Sarroni for you cycling historians..) and coach of Olympic Sprint Champ Mary Nothstein.
Who will be the racers of the Omnium?
Given the traditional date of the Skyscraper, and it’s conflict with the NRC Nature Valley GP, we decided to push the race more towards a fast-man, track racer style of rider. We are positioning the event as a preview of the new Olympic track racing format, which will indeed be an Omnium. With that in mind, we’ve upped our European roster, bring six of world class 6-Day stars, including 4 x World Champ Franco Marvulli, and last year’s 1 & 2 finishers Christian Grasmann and Leif Lampater. They’ll be joined by another Swiss, German and an Austrian racer.
We are working closely with Marty Nothstein of the Valley Preferred Velodrome in Trexlertown, and his bevy of summer track racing stars are coming to participate, including racers from Argentina, Poland, New Zealand, Australia, etc.
That leaves us with about 40 spots open for the event. Team directors interested in having either individuals or 3-4 man teams race, please contact me at: jde@spartacycling.com
See you on race day,
John Eustice
Sparta Cycling
*Note- this piece was written a few days before the tragic death of Wouter Weylandt. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family, team, and supporters.
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Joining the “Mafia”
For a time I rode with the mafias, which to people who don’t know are a group of say five or six riders from different teams who work together in secret. Someone would say "I want to win today" and we would say "Okay, but you have to give us the prize money." I had no money—I was working construction. I’d take all the primes and set the race up for someone else to win and take all the money. It was a great way to learn how to win. It was really hard. You have to beat up the field and chase down those breakaways. It was like a school for professional racing—when I got to the pros I knew what to do. They didn’t want...
http://nyvelocity.com/content/interviews/2010/eustice
Isn't the above description exactly how Lance won a million dollars in the Triple Crown of Cycling?
I wonder if Lloyd's of London will want their money back.
that wouldn't even be close to funny, if it was even close to funny
it would be in blackface.
It's a damned shame, Harlem cleaned up and all for some skinny ass white boys in lycra, ridin' round on some fancy techno bike with deep dish wheels and all. Deep dish, what the heel is that? That's pizza, man. Ain't no bike part. Damned freaks is what you all is. I need me some crack. Can't even get that no mo'. At least I can git me some EPO or HGH, now that's good stuff. Sprinklin' it on tacos at the carniceria, yeah that's what I'm talkin 'bout. Mmmmm mmmmm!
Every year, I leave Harlem thinking it would be a great race- if only it were a little more dangerous with more crashes.
tried bridging (I think Pulla) but that was it. All other just rolled over and snoozed away the laps.
Hopefully the Joes will at least put up a fight. I saw a whole field get their asses handed to them and didn't do anything. No organization whatsoever from local dudes...a whole fucking field..?
No, THIS race will be the Pro's vs. Joe's.
Looking forward to see how our best local talent stack up!
wait for it....
"Savage" to Mengoni!!!
Yes!!!
now get over yourself...
check out the prizefighter belt that dude is wearin! Harlem should skip the trophy and bust out a raging bull special! Yo Ricky, you know you want that!
track*
Isn't there a nice velodrome in Kissena for tack racing? Just bring the cameras out there and go at it.
what is going on with Eustice's eyes?
Just got word from John. He will also be bringing "Godzilla" from Japan. And his lovely team of assassins.
What's up with continuing to publish the savage Giro comments all over the place? The same unedited article was just posted 36 hours after Weylandt's death on www.crca.net. The nyvelocity post was 12 hours after. Ok, John wrote the piece before the accident and is deeply saddened by what happened and deserved a pass on putting this out before the tragic events, but what is the point of continuing to newly publish the same article all over the place. It's hard to make sense of why John would want to continue including the "savage Giro" comment as a positive example of new ways to promote the sport. It's in bad taste, disrepectful and even libelous towards the Giro.
anonymous hating will never be passe.
If the race is too much for your limited skills, don't enter. Do yourself, and others, a favor and just cheer from the sidelines. What you describe is no different than what happens at any crit. You can be sure that there will be crashes no matter what the race format is. Someone will always enter turn one too fast on the outside and wipe out into the barriers. Last years euro pros put on quite a show. they raised the level of the raising. It's great that JE is willing to try something new to make the racing more interesting for spectators.
will CJ be yelling "are you not entertained" in a gladiator outfit?
'Keirin' means 'road rash' in Japanese.
Kirin is refreshing. Prefer the large bottle though. Served ice cold, delicious.
Drive Bentleys????
its spelled keirin, according to wikipedia.
sounds like some hipster read up on the wikipedia kierin article so that he could sound like a jaded trackie knowitall.
japanese keirin is completely different from international keirin like in the olympics. in japan, the tracks are larger, there are more riders. the riders must announce their strategy the day before the race (ie when they will launch their sprint). these guys race with big crash helmets (like older motorcycle helmets without a visor or face guard) as well as shoulder and arm pads. the shorts are also padded.
the international, uci type keirin is raced without the pads, and only 6-8 guys on track. so, yay! you're both right!
also, i'm fairly certain that there will be no Japanese NJS keirin racers coming to Harlem since few of them ever race outside of that circuit.
WTF. Ever watched a keirin race? The helmets look like late-80s Bell Mirages and they are the extent of the body armor that I saw.
the keirin is an exhibition that will be open to 10 specifically chosen track racers. keep your body armor at home.
the race will only be as safe as the people riding it... so brush up on your pack skills and bunch sprints
Why does John Eustice need to apologize, if he thinks the new format is a good idea? Because he knows it's gonna be very dangerous and filled with crashes. Along with the new format he will bring in experienced euro track racers and mix them up with bunch of local amateurs. And speaking of Japan kerin, those guys over there all drive Bentleys and race in body armor. And it takes place on a track. You are asking guys who have to go to work on Monday to do the same while having a solid chance of crashing into the metal barrier and fly into traffic (back side of the course)for a chance to win $100.
the hangover banner pic maybe the euro's will be looking over their shoulders this year.
you let them dudes roll into the hood and take all da money. Seriously ny - maybe you should chase'em down nxt time.
before i rant on how this site sux donkey vomit dipped balls wrapped in an aborted alien placenta scumbag, and everyone including myself that "visit" here...
take a deep breath, center myself, namaste...
group hugs, all we need is love...
If you need to see the definition of savage check out the banner pic for the Tour of ROMANDIE on Steephill TV. I dont many people that would have the balls to bomb down that thing!!
sadly its almost an inevitability.
Fantastic idea changing the format. I bet Kissena will be seeing some new faces lurkin around this season. Way to read "them DLR plates" there Eustice. Your brain is ahead of the curve.
speak'n of curves - if anybody is doin 30 mph in the corner of Harlem streets, you can be assured that the races will be living up to the name!
ah yes, calling someone a doper because they won something that you never could. that sort of anon haterade-ing is a bit passe', isn't it?
Or will it be NYC racing for the racers in NYC?
Everyone, please, I wrote this release a few days ago. I was at the Tour in '95 when Fabio Casartelli died in a similar manner...it was a godawful time and a pall hovered over the rest of the race. Am relieving those emotions today and thinking of his family, teammates, friends..So terribly sorry for this fine, vibrant young man and his untimely end.
This press release was written over a week ago...there is no disrespect here, remain calm...I am sure John is as grief stricken as as anyone...
The Giros "savage" race course. how inappropriate today and perhaps from now on.
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