The undeniably quirky Brompton US Championship bicycle race – organised and hosted this year by Calhoun Cycle of Minneapolis – has seen amateur athletes from around America travel to the Midwest, suit up in business attire and go head to head on their folding, 16-inch wheel Brompton bicycles. Men’s winner, Stephen Regenold, and women’s top performer, Beckie Alexander, competed against ‘Bromptoneers’ from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Tucson, and Portland, Oregon, among other places. The winners both earn trips to London, this July to compete against a field of 1,000 contestants from all over the world in the Brompton World Championship.
The 2013 event took place in the aftermath of violent storms that downed trees and power lines around the course, but the weather didn’t deter a large crowd of spectators who turned out to line the streets. Runners up in all categories received prizes from event sponsors Brompton, Brooks England, Nutcase Helmets, Schwalbe North America, and Walz Caps. Four race participants – Ed Stiles, Francie Stefan, Cynthia Rose, Bryan Beretta – took home the Triple Crown Award, new this year, for their participation in all of the available events.
For further details and results from the Brompton US Championship Race see bromptonuschampionship.com and for details of the Brompton World Championship, part of the Orbital Cycling Festival (Goodwood Motor Circuit, July 27-28), see bwc.brompton.co.uk
