VELODROME RACING: WHEN IT WAS BETTER THAN BASEBALL…

According to USA Cycling velodrome racing in the 1800’s enjoyed the sort of popularity NASCAR racing has today. Track cycling has a long and rich history in US and it was not uncommon to see large numbers of people at a bike race - drawing a bigger crowd of spectators than other sporting contests of the day, including baseball. Although many consider velodrome races to be the marquee events for cycling in the Olympics, the reality is that track riding in the United States has been relegated to fringe status. Yet back in the day, long before there was NASCAR, track cycling was the circular spectator sport for the masses.

When Madison Square Garden first opened in 1879, it was a velodrome. In the late 1890s, one of the best known and highest paid athletes in the world was Major Taylor, an African American track cyclist. His winnings for 1902 totaled $35,000 (that’s more than $800,000 in today’s dollars). In that era, the U.S. had more than 100 velodromes, with at least one in every major city.

Be part of it during Allvoi Cup!
WHEN: June 20, July 18 and September 5. Rain date is September 12.
WHERE: Ed Rudolph Velodrome, Northbrook, IL
TOTAL PRIZES: $9,350 plus trophies and championship Skinsuit. All participants will be entered into raffle for prizes valued over$4,000
DAILY EVENTS: Men: 3K Pursuit; 1 Kilo; Mass Start – 20 Laps Scratch, 4000 meters Team Time Trial; Women: 2K Pursuit, 500 meters