Unfortunately, we weren’t able to make the Ronde van Burns Summer Criterium Race last week. For us, the start of the series signals the beginning of Summer. The weather has not yet reached the mugging levels that usually show up in late June. Setting up a lawn chair on the grass under the cottonwood trees at Burns Park to watch a bike racing style that was popular in Central Arkansas in the 1880’s, talking it up with friends, watching kids run around in the grass, screaming on the peloton as it passes by the spectators and even hearing coaches bark orders to their riders as strategies roll out among the teams, makes for a wonderful evening.
We did make it out this week and the weather was perfect. We saw beautiful breakaways that were skillfully pulled back in. Young, strong riders were working through their plans while older, more experienced riders toyed with them. As spectators, we would guess at whether a breakaway would hold, usually to be proven wrong. A few tire blowouts and a crash added to the excitement of the evening but in the end turned out to be just a footnote to the racing.
The Ronde van Burns Summer Criterium Series runs on Wednesday nights with the first race starting at 5:15 and all three races are generally done by 8:00. Races are divided into three categories: the C Race, with Cat. 5 Men and Cat. 4 Women starts at 5:15 p.m. and is 20 minutes plus 3 laps long. The B Race includes Cat. 4 and 5 and Masters 50+ racers, begins at 5:50 and is 30 minutes plus 3 laps long. And the A Race is for Cat. 1-4 racers, begins at 6:40 and is 45 minutes plus 3 laps long. The course is just shy of a mile long and takes place among the soccer fields at Burns Park.
If you want to come watch, enter Burns Park by going past the Golf Course and then Victory Lake. As you come around to the soccer fields you’ll be able to turn right into a parking lot that puts you near the well-shaded spectator area.
Races are held May 15, 22 and 29, and June 5, 12 and 19. Come on out and watch or come on out and ride. For information on how to get involved or to keep up with the race results, check out the Team CARVE website.
We’re sharing over 400 photos from last Wednesday. See our Facebook Page to share, download, tag, etc.
