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| What: |
35th Annual Skyscraper Harlem Classic |
| When: |
Sunday, June 15, 2008 |
| Where: |
Marcus Garvey Park (formerly Mount Morris Park) at 120-124th Streets between Madison and Fifth Avenues |
The Skyscraper Harlem Classic at Marcus Garvey Park showcased amateur races as well as professional races featuring world-class cyclists. The event is New York City's oldest criterium race--a multi-lap race on a closed course with laps typically shorter than one mile. Eric Barlevav of Northridge, California won the 40-mile men’s Pro race in 1:22:02, while Manhattan’s Jamie Nicholson-Leener won the 12-mile women’s pro race with a time of 28:37.
In the men’s pro race, former US Elite Criterium Champion Rahsaan Bahati finished second, while three-time United States Professional Champion and Giro d’Italia stage winner “Fast Freddy” Rodriguez finished fourth. Other notable racers included USA Crits leader Jeff Hopkins, who finished eighth, and Argentina’s powerful sprinter Alejandro Borrajo, who came in 18th.
Lisa Jellett of Springfield, New Jersey finished only three seconds behind Nicholson-Leener to clinch second in the women’s pro race. In other featured competitions, the 20-mile men’s non-professional race was won by Thomas Wood of Philadelphia, who finished with a time of 40:35. Manhattan’s Shusaka Shiroyama won the 12-mile men’s race, completing the course in 25:35, and Eric Merrill claimed victory in the 12-mile men’s master’s race with a time of 24:38.
The race consisted of a flat, 4-corner .75 mile course around Mount Morris/Marcus Garvey Park located at 120-124th Streets between Madison and Fifth Avenue in Harlem. A pit was provided for cyclists who needed to change wheels if they crashed or got a flat tire.
In addition, a messenger race took place before the pro men's race. Four-rider teams competed in a "package pass" relay race on a specially-modified racecourse. The messenger teams competed for a $1,000 prize list and a track frame offered by Affinity Cycles.1984 Olympic Silver Medal winner Nelson Vails began his career as a messenger and went on to become Harlem's most famous cyclist.
The Skyscraper Harlem Cycling Classic was founded in 1973 by David A. Walker, a former Community Affairs Officer for the New York City Police Department. The event has always mixed community service with high-level professional racing. Over the past 35 years, Mr. Walker has given away hundreds of bicycles to winners of the children's races that traditionally kick off the day's activities at noon.
Live coverage of the event was available on World Championship Sports Network and to a worldwide audience via World Championship Sports Network’s broadband network www.wcsn.com. Spectators were able to enjoy the live coverage on a jumbotron positioned just beyond the start/finish line on Mt. Morris Park West and 121st Street.
For more information, please visit www.crca.net.
For information from last year's Classic, please visit our 2007 page.
Last Updated On:
Monday, June 16, 2008 | |
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| 2 Washington Street, 15th Fl., New York, NY 10004 / Toll Free: 877.NYC.SPORTS / Fax: 212.788.7514 |
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