The best professional and amateur cyclists in the US are coming to put on a show over Labor Day Weekend! Four full-tilt races in four of STL’s coolest neighborhoods. Each Day features an all-day program of racing that includes amateur races, and kids races, that build up to the men’s and women’s professional races. Each race showcases “criterium format” racing on one mile+ laps. This Americanized style of racing appeals to both athletes and spectators alike as the peloton speeds by every few minutes, holding lines only inches apart from one another. Spectators can watch the race develop lap after lap and hear commentators announce race strategy as the excitement builds.
The Gateway Cup takes place in the heart of FOUR unique and awesome St. Louis neighborhoods.
Within each of these host communities, the race course is a defined one-mile lap and the race format is known as a “criterium.” This Americanized style of racing appeals to both athletes and spectators alike as the peloton, or pack of cyclists, pass by every few minutes at impressive speeds holding lines only inches apart from one another. Spectators can watch the race develop lap after lap and hear commentators announce race strategy, allowing more of an understanding and involvement in the excitement. Returning for 2023- all four days of the Gateway Cup are included on the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar.
There are 9 races each day based on ability, ranging from newbies to pros. Each day begins with the amateur races and builds up to the featured events, the men’s and women’s professional races. In these races, 150 of the top national and international cyclists will hurl themselves through corners averaging 30 mph towards a typically thrilling sprint finish. Guaranteed inspiration.
For the Men’s and Women’s Elite Classes, we have an overall Omnium competition for the best aggregate results over all four days of racing. Each day we score the top 15 places and assign points toward an overall prize. Points are awarded 25, 20,16, 14, 12, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Benton Park Classic
The fourth and final leg of the Gateway Cup gets underway in historic Benton Park. This large and technically demanding course races through yet another one of St. Louis’ most nostalgic locales.
Named for Missouri’s first senator, Thomas Hart Benton, the neighborhood touts a blend of stately residences and commercial buildings, some dating back to the mid-1800s. Over the years, Benton Park has been home to several notable breweries, including the Lemp Brewery, established in 1864. Not far down the road is the Anheuser-Busch campus. A National Landmark District in and of itself, three of its buildings are National Historic Landmarks featuring beautiful architectural detail, intricate ironwork, and an homage to the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales.
(We give away a lot of the stuff we test)
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