As a local resident I am very happy to promote cyclocross within Alma's city limits, just over one mile from the growing downtown. The Alma GP is on a site ripe for developing a truly unique cyclocross course. The City of Alma now features a singletrack mountain bike trail, a fantastic stretch of rail trail, and the largest cyclocross race in the state of Michigan. I'm proud to bring the Alma GP to town.
Thanks for coming along for the ride...it's going to be a blast.
Brian Hancock
Race Promoter, Alma Grand Prix LLC
racepromoter /at/ gmail.com
RACE HISTORY
The Ithaca Grand Prix of Cyclocross was first held at Woodland City Park in Ithaca, Michigan, in 2007. Mike Wissink (Specialized) and Anne Schwartz (Flying Rhino CC) took the elite top honors on race day, which featured a total of 45 racers. Jeff Weinert, Matt Baroli, and other friends were integral in making this event a success.
In 2008 attendance jumped to 60 racers and we had another fantastic day of racing. Once again Mike Wissink and Anne Schwartz repeated as champions. The raffle was bigger and the state was starting to hear about this race...
With the development of the USGP race in Madison, a date conflict in 2009 saw many local racers head to compete against the best of the U.S. in Wisconsin. Tim Saari (Essex Brass) and Anne Grofvert (Drake's Coffee) stood on the top step of the elite podiums.
In 2010 and 2011 the Ithaca GP was put on hold due to graduate school commitments and a new addition to the family. In 2012, after two years away from the game, the Ithaca GP regained a place in the Michigan 'cross calendar drawing 100 racers into the town. Brad White (Moms In Tow 'CX) and Anne Schwartz took home the first ever elite winner's jerseys at Ithaca.
In 2013 the Ithaca GP became the first race in the Tailwind Series of Races and the race drew 192 racers to the park. Brad White (Moms In Tow 'CX) repeated as champion with Mackenzie Woodring taking the top step in the women's race. Mike Seaman, the only racer to compete in all five years of the event, deserves special recognition as being one of the many key factors in making the race such a huge success.
On Saturday, September 6, 2014, the first Alma GP took place on a sunny and warm fall day. 215 racers and a good crowd of spectators converged on the venue, many of which visited the Alma Brewing Company afterwards. Eclipse Cycling was the title sponsor, and Kim Chapman (Algoma Bicycle Company) and Adam York (Cyclocross Network Racing) took top honors in the elite women's and men's races, respectively. Despite a rain shower on Friday night, the race course was dry, and a bit more bumpy than expected. Consequently, the remainder of the fall was spent dragging and tilling the course to prepare for 2015.
In 2015, the Alma GP grew even bigger and better, and we welcomed our first competitors not from North America! After Labor Day, Chris Aitken, Tom Chapman, and Jack Hogan (all members of the Focus Bikes Australia team) joined Josie Simpson (Flanders-Nemesis) and her husband Courtenay Lee Shoy in making the trip to race in Alma from Australia! The Aussies first raced over Labor Day weekend at the Rochester UCI events before driving to Michigan (thanks Scott Dedenbach!) to spend the week in Alma. As part of their visit, they were the guests of honor at both a local Rotary meeting as well as a VIP reception at Alma College. On Tuesday night of race week, the Aussies graciously instructed a clinic at the race venue. 23 racers and riders showed up to take part, braving the early rain to come out and learn from the pros. On Friday night before the race, we held a "meet the pros" and early number pick up event at the Alma Brewing Company, where both racers and community members got to rub shoulders with our gracious guests.
On race day, Chris Aitken and Tom Chapman (Focus Bikes Australia) held a blistering pace over eventual third place finisher, Jordan Wakeley. Chris lit the course on fire with two to go, putting in a 4:58 lap time (the only sub-five minute lap ever recorded on the course), slightly gapping his teammate, Tom. In the women's race, Mackenzie Woodring (Grand Rapids Bicycle) was able to hold off both Amanda Schaap (Speed Merchants) and last year's winner, Kim Champan (Algoma Bicycle Company) for the win. Gabriella Sterne (Cycle to Fitness) and Josie Simpson (Flanders-Nemesis) rounded out the podium and a great day of racing.
In 2016 we expanded again, adding a 5k running race into the mix for race day! Early race categories took to the course with mainly dry conditions, but the wind and the rain came in strong and we ended under an absolute deluge. Jorden Wakeley, the Grayling Giant, stormed to the top step, taking revenge on last year's 3rd place finish. Amanda Schaap (Speed Merchants) managed to stay upright in the heaviest of rain to win by over a minute on 2nd place.
For 2017 we welcomed Avalon Pontoons as our title sponsor, and the Alma GP was the kick off event for the MICX Series presented by Bike Law Michigan! Race day was warm and sunny, or what might be called "perfect cyclocross conditions." On the men's side, Scotty Albaugh of 3T / Q+M held off a charging Jeff Winert for the win, while Amanda Schaap (Speed Merchants) took Melissa Seymour (Cadieux Bicycle Club) to the line and triumphed by a bike length.
2018 featured the Avalon Pontoons Beach & Yacht Club, a 23 meter-long sand pit, on race day. Friday night brought rain that caused the sand to compact, making the new sand feature rideable for some. Tyler Cloutier (TCCX) joined the Alma GP family for a clinic on Labor Day and managed to hold off Nathan Williams (Bissell-ABG-Giant) for the win. On the women's side, junior Eleanor Dyas (Midwest Devo) was able to stay in front of Angela Webster (Ciclowerks) of Canada for her first elite win.
In 2008 attendance jumped to 60 racers and we had another fantastic day of racing. Once again Mike Wissink and Anne Schwartz repeated as champions. The raffle was bigger and the state was starting to hear about this race...
With the development of the USGP race in Madison, a date conflict in 2009 saw many local racers head to compete against the best of the U.S. in Wisconsin. Tim Saari (Essex Brass) and Anne Grofvert (Drake's Coffee) stood on the top step of the elite podiums.
In 2010 and 2011 the Ithaca GP was put on hold due to graduate school commitments and a new addition to the family. In 2012, after two years away from the game, the Ithaca GP regained a place in the Michigan 'cross calendar drawing 100 racers into the town. Brad White (Moms In Tow 'CX) and Anne Schwartz took home the first ever elite winner's jerseys at Ithaca.
In 2013 the Ithaca GP became the first race in the Tailwind Series of Races and the race drew 192 racers to the park. Brad White (Moms In Tow 'CX) repeated as champion with Mackenzie Woodring taking the top step in the women's race. Mike Seaman, the only racer to compete in all five years of the event, deserves special recognition as being one of the many key factors in making the race such a huge success.
On Saturday, September 6, 2014, the first Alma GP took place on a sunny and warm fall day. 215 racers and a good crowd of spectators converged on the venue, many of which visited the Alma Brewing Company afterwards. Eclipse Cycling was the title sponsor, and Kim Chapman (Algoma Bicycle Company) and Adam York (Cyclocross Network Racing) took top honors in the elite women's and men's races, respectively. Despite a rain shower on Friday night, the race course was dry, and a bit more bumpy than expected. Consequently, the remainder of the fall was spent dragging and tilling the course to prepare for 2015.
In 2015, the Alma GP grew even bigger and better, and we welcomed our first competitors not from North America! After Labor Day, Chris Aitken, Tom Chapman, and Jack Hogan (all members of the Focus Bikes Australia team) joined Josie Simpson (Flanders-Nemesis) and her husband Courtenay Lee Shoy in making the trip to race in Alma from Australia! The Aussies first raced over Labor Day weekend at the Rochester UCI events before driving to Michigan (thanks Scott Dedenbach!) to spend the week in Alma. As part of their visit, they were the guests of honor at both a local Rotary meeting as well as a VIP reception at Alma College. On Tuesday night of race week, the Aussies graciously instructed a clinic at the race venue. 23 racers and riders showed up to take part, braving the early rain to come out and learn from the pros. On Friday night before the race, we held a "meet the pros" and early number pick up event at the Alma Brewing Company, where both racers and community members got to rub shoulders with our gracious guests.
On race day, Chris Aitken and Tom Chapman (Focus Bikes Australia) held a blistering pace over eventual third place finisher, Jordan Wakeley. Chris lit the course on fire with two to go, putting in a 4:58 lap time (the only sub-five minute lap ever recorded on the course), slightly gapping his teammate, Tom. In the women's race, Mackenzie Woodring (Grand Rapids Bicycle) was able to hold off both Amanda Schaap (Speed Merchants) and last year's winner, Kim Champan (Algoma Bicycle Company) for the win. Gabriella Sterne (Cycle to Fitness) and Josie Simpson (Flanders-Nemesis) rounded out the podium and a great day of racing.
In 2016 we expanded again, adding a 5k running race into the mix for race day! Early race categories took to the course with mainly dry conditions, but the wind and the rain came in strong and we ended under an absolute deluge. Jorden Wakeley, the Grayling Giant, stormed to the top step, taking revenge on last year's 3rd place finish. Amanda Schaap (Speed Merchants) managed to stay upright in the heaviest of rain to win by over a minute on 2nd place.
For 2017 we welcomed Avalon Pontoons as our title sponsor, and the Alma GP was the kick off event for the MICX Series presented by Bike Law Michigan! Race day was warm and sunny, or what might be called "perfect cyclocross conditions." On the men's side, Scotty Albaugh of 3T / Q+M held off a charging Jeff Winert for the win, while Amanda Schaap (Speed Merchants) took Melissa Seymour (Cadieux Bicycle Club) to the line and triumphed by a bike length.
2018 featured the Avalon Pontoons Beach & Yacht Club, a 23 meter-long sand pit, on race day. Friday night brought rain that caused the sand to compact, making the new sand feature rideable for some. Tyler Cloutier (TCCX) joined the Alma GP family for a clinic on Labor Day and managed to hold off Nathan Williams (Bissell-ABG-Giant) for the win. On the women's side, junior Eleanor Dyas (Midwest Devo) was able to stay in front of Angela Webster (Ciclowerks) of Canada for her first elite win.
In 2019 we flipped the course direction to run counterclockwise, and the change favored Melissa Seymour (BaseMedia Racing), who took her first Alma GP win over Amanda Schaap. Tyler Cloutier (TCCX) was the repeat champion over junior Judah Gustafson, who repeatedly jumped the Bike Law Michigan planks lap after lap.
COVID in 2020 brought a lot of changes to the broader race landscape, and while a handful of events chose to press on, we decided the best decision was to shift the Alma GP to a virtual event. Thanks to a few gracious pros, including Tyler Cloutier, Sunny Gilbert, Stephen Hyde, Maria Larkin (Irish national champion), and Mickael Crispin (U23 European continental champion), we hosted the Alma GP Call-Up! virtual event online. You can listen to the Bike Shop CX podcast of the Call-Up! here!
The 8th annual Avalon Pontoons Alma Grand Prix will take place on Saturday, September 11, 2021, and we hope to see you there!
Great fun. Loved the course and how you maximized the spectator's experience with so much of the course coming back to the same area. Posted some of my pics and a video I shot w/ a Fly6 rear-facing camera from my bike (Cat 4, 45+ race) to Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/timpotter63/media_set?set=a.10204720627205376.1073741995.1527606092&type=1
ReplyDeleteAwesome, thanks for posting!
DeleteCamping again this year the night before? That was great for the early morning races last year.
ReplyDeleteThanks for holding a great event!