Team L39ION Introduces the Inaugural ‘Into the Lion’s Den’ Pro Crit, Scheduled for October 30
There’s a new crit race on the calendar—the inaugural Into the Lion’s Den powered by SRAM will take place on Saturday, October 30, in Sacramento, California.
The race will have the “largest criterium purse in U.S. history” with a $100,000 payout being split evenly between both the mens’s and women’s pro fields.
The inaugural ‘Into the Lion’s Den’ race and bike festival will now be the final showdown of the pro crit racing season.
The event is being hosted by Team L39ION of Los Angeles and SRAM, and will take place on October 30 in Sacramento, California. (The USA CRITS series final takes place on September 24 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.)
The race boasts having the “largest criterium purse in U.S. history” with a $100,000 payout being split evenly between both pro fields. Of that, $20,000 will go towards primes—prize money that can be won on certain laps throughout the race. By comparison, the USA CRITS series offers $150,000 total in prize money across its 10-race series and has a $7,500 purse minimum for each pro men’s and pro women’s race.
Both the men’s and women’s pro fields will race for 70 minutes on a 1K circuit around the California State Capitol, starting at 3:40 p.m. For others interested in racing, there’s a 50-minute amateur open race at 2:30 p.m.
There’s also a same-day bike festival leading up to the races, from noon to 7 p.m., featuring food, music, and exhibitors. Everyone’s invited to bring their bikes for a community ride around the crit circuit from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. And with the event happening the day before Halloween, naturally, there’s a costume contest during the community ride, with judges awarding the winners at the end for “creative, spooky, crazy, and fun costumes.”
If you’re interested in participating in the community ride, amateur open race, or one of the pro races, you can sign up here.
“My vision has always been to make the sport of cycling great for everyone,” Justin Williams, rider for and manager of L39ION, said in the press release. “Into the Lion’s Den powered by SRAM will have something for everyone, from fast racing to fun family activities. Ride your bikes, wear costumes, and enjoy the community Halloween event. Get hooked on criterium racing during the open races, and then watch current and former national champions go full-gas in the pro crits.”
L39GION says it will have riders in both pro races. The full pro race team and rider rosters will be announced early next month.
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