‘NASCAR of bikes’ coming to Lakeview

Cycling is a sport that is ever-growing in popularity, and in March, local riders and cycling enthusiasts will have an event for the ages right outside their backdoor: Birmingham Hammerfest. 

The event is part of the USA Crits series, which includes criterium races across the country. USA Crits Director of Development Scott Morris said criterium racing came from shortening the European-style of cycling, upping the intensity and putting it all into a smaller course in an urban environment.

“It’s the American version of cycling,” he said. “We took all the fast, fun, watchable parts of it and condensed it down into one little package.”

The courses are typically less than a mile in length — Morris said the one in Lakeview will be a figure-eight shape and start and end near Hattie B’s — and racers go their hardest for a pre-determined amount of time. For the kids and amateur division, that can be around 20 or 30 minutes. For the professionals, it can be upwards of 90 minutes. 

He described it as the “NASCAR of bikes” because it’s a short track, and every few minutes, spectators can see the racers fly by. Professional crit teams, who will be racing at Hammerfest, Morris said, can average around 30 miles per hour. 

Racing will start the morning of March 16, with the kids and amateur divisions, and continue in waves throughout the day. Around 3 p.m., Morris said they will host some community events leading up to the Division 1 professional team races shortly after. 

He said this is the first time USA Crits has hosted a preseason event like this before, and they have chosen to designate the last races for the professional national teams. 

For more information, go to birminghamhammerfest.com.