Five Midwest Cities Host Nature Valley Grand Prix June 12-16

Nature Valley Bicycle Festival Features Top Pro Bike Race in 2013

Five Midwest Cities Host Nature Valley Grand Prix June 12-16

Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN - The 15^th Annual Nature Valley Bicycle Festival will take place June 6-16, 2013. The festival will include the Minnesota Fixed Gear Classic June 6-8 at the National Sports Center Velodrome in Blaine and the Nature Valley Grand Prix pro stage bike race June 12-16 in Saint Paul, Cannon Falls, Minneapolis and Stillwater, Minn. and Menomonie, Wisc. For maps, event schedules and visitor information on each host city visitwww.naturevalleybicyclefestival.com and click on the visitor link.

The Nature Valley Grand Prix, the most prestigious event on the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar, opens June 12 in Saint Paul with a morning time trial along East River Parkway. The action moves to the Rice Park district of Downtown Saint Paul that evening with a criterium (short circuit race). The ambiance of the criterium route is reminiscent of the famed pavé races in Europe, with the turrets of the Landmark Center, bricked streets in front of the Ordway Center and classic architecture of the century-old Saint Paul Hotel framing this idyllic town square.

On Thursday, the race moves south to Cannon Falls for a rural road race showcasing the wide open spaces of Minnesota’s heartland, dotted with family farms, boutique wineries and the famed Cannon Valley Trail, stretching 20 miles along the Cannon River. The race finishes with multiple laps at high speeds through the quaint downtown. On Friday, it’s back up to Minneapolis for an evening criterium in the city’s dynamic Uptown area, a neighborhood of trendy shops, bars and restaurants located just south of downtown near the chain of Minneapolis lakes. The FREE Kids Race is always a highlight with hundreds of kids 12 and under riding the crit route in a friendly competition. All get a free medal.

The weekend presents an opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful terrain in the Midwest for the Menomonie and Stillwater stages. Cheer for the pros in the Nature Valley Grand Prix as well as locals competing in the amateur races. In Menomonie the road race tests the cyclists’ endurance as they traverse 95 miles of rolling farmland in the heart of Wisconsin’s dairy country, finishing with multiple laps of an in-town circuit. Menomonie will also host dozens of events throughout the day, introducing visitors to the arts, historic sites and friendly, family-owned shops and restaurants. Activities also include kids’ contests, tours and Spectator Rides for all levels. Experienced cyclists seeking a challenge can sign up for the Gran Fondo (Italian for Big Ride) which provides a chance to ride the same route the pros will race. Advanced preparation is recommended to be ready to take on the hilly terrain through rural Wisconsin. (Pre-register at (http://www.naturevalleybicyclefestival.com/Gran_Fondo)

Stillwater, Minn. is host to Sunday’s grand finale June 16. The Stillwater Criterium is legendary for weeding out the field, which features a 24 degree climb up Chilikoot Hill – the steepest in North American racing. This picturesque town is built on the bluffs of the St. Croix River and the route features a series of hairpin turns throughout the city’s historic neighborhoods and charming Main Street area. Make plans for a Father’s Day brunch at a riverfront restaurant or grab a treat at one of the town’s plentiful ice cream shops or candy stores along the way.

Fan Zones set up at each stage include stunt riders, live music, bike and fitness expos and The FREE Shimano Tour de Kids fun race open to children age 12 and under.

The Minnesota Fixed Gear Classic brings world-class track cycling to the National Sports Center Velodrome in Blaine, MN June 6-8. This thrilling event pits professional and elite amateur track cyclists in fast-paced sprint and grueling endurance events.  Men and women compete in a series of fast and furious races using fixed gear bikes, which have only one gear and no brakes. Achieving speeds up to 40 mph, riders race on a wooden track with 43 degree angles making the races incredibly exciting for both racers and spectators. The Minnesota Fixed Gear Classic is FREE and open to the public.

The Minneapolis-Saint Paul area is a premier tourism destination offering arts and cultural attractions, museums, zoos, amusement parks, Mall of America, major league sports, golf, boating and other outdoor recreational activities. Named the top city for cyclists by Bicycling Magazine in 2010, the area boasts hundreds of miles of cycling paths connecting the downtowns to neighborhoods, suburbs and trails along lakes and River. Rental bikes are available at dozens of kiosks around town through the region’s Nice Ride program Visit the following special events during the festival:

The Science Museum of Minnesota is showing Tornado Alley at its Omnitheater through June 20. Get a close-up look at the relentless strength of nature's most dramatic and least understood weather phenomena; The Minnesota Zoo  is staging Dinosaurs! featuring 15 larger-than-life animatronic dinosaurs; Over in Shakopee, Canterbury Park features live horse racing Thursdays through Sundays while Valleyfair Amusement Park entertains all ages with rip-roaring rides and live entertainment. The new summer exhibit is&
[Back to Press Releases Main]