Country’s Elite Cyclists To Race Streets of Boston in 7th Annual TD Bank Mayor’s Cup Professional Criterium
Pro races part of weekend-long Boston Cycling Celebration, September 19-20, 2015 at City Hall Plaza
Boston Bikes today announced its preliminary line-up of top professional cyclists that will compete in the 7th Annual TD Bank Mayor’s Cup, presented by Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh and TD Bank. The men’s and women’s pro races, taking place this Saturday, September 19, 2015 on a tight, high-speed criterium course around Boston’s City Hall Plaza, will mark the final weekend of racing in USA Cycling’s season-long National Criterium Calendar (NCC).
“It’s an honor for Boston to be able to once again host this incredible showcase of world-class cyclists, and special thanks to TD Bank for their commitment to making this cycling celebration weekend a reality for our community,” said Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “The races and family activities, in conjunction with the Hub On Wheels citywide ride, are a testament to Boston’s commitment to bicycling.”
As the penultimate event of the NCC, the TD Bank Mayor’s Cup will draw many of the top criterium racers in the country. Committed to race this year are the top two men in the NCC standings, Carlos Alzate Escobar and Hilton Clark both of the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling team. Teammate Luke Keogh, winner of the 2012 TD Bank Mayor’s Cup, will play loyal lieutenant to help defend Escobar’s lead. Keogh hails from Sandwich, MA.
Looking to shake-up the standings is the Astellas Cycling Team, captained by local racing celebrity Adam Myerson of Dorchester, MA. It will be the final weekend of professional racing for Myerson, as the 43-year-old will be retiring from top-level competition after over two decades on the elite circuit. The Astellas team will be aligned behind Ryan Aitcheson, who’s currently third overall in the NCC series.
On the elite women’s side, NCC leader Samantha Schneider of the ISCorp Cycling Team will be defending her series lead. The Milwaukee WI resident will bring no less than five teammates.
Also back on the start line in Boston is perennial contender Laura Van Gilder of Mellow Mushroom Racing, who at age 50 won the recent NCC event in Binghamton, NY.
Up for grabs will be points towards the overall titles for elite men and women, along with a $30,000 prize purse split equally between the men and women. The competition will also extend to amateur cyclists, including USA Cycling category 2/3, masters 40+, and women’s category 3/4 division. The races will be held over multiple laps of a closed 0.7 mile loop course circling Boston’s City Hall Plaza along Congress, Court, Cambridge and New Sudbury Streets. The start/finish line will be on Congress Street near City Hall.
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
11:30am – 12:15pm – Masters 40+ Race
12:30pm – 1:15pm – Women’s Cat 3/4 Race
1:30pm – 2:15pm – Men’s Cat 2/3 Race
2:30pm – Kids Race
3:15pm – 4:15pm – Women’s Pro/1/2 Race
4:30pm – 5:45pm – Men’s Pro/1 Race
About Boston Bikes
The TD Bank Mayor’s Cup and Boston Cycling Celebration are part of Mayor Walsh’s Boston Bikes initiative, seeking to make Boston a world-class bicycling city by promoting the sport and creating safe and inviting conditions for all residents and visitors. Boston Bikes focuses on improvements in five universal bike-planning areas: Engineering, Enforcement, Education, Encouragement, and Evaluation. For more information on the TD Bank Mayor’s Cup and Hub On Wheels, please visit www.BostonCyclingCelebration.com. Additional Boston Bikes information can be found online by visiting www.BostonBikes.org, becoming a fan of Boston Bikes on Facebook at www.fb.com/BostonBikes or following the city’s cycling initiatives on Twitter (@bikeboston).
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