For the first time since 1978, Detroit will be the host city for a national championship for bike racing. USACycling’s U.S. Madison National Track Championships will be run Nov. 12-14 at the Lexus Velodrome at 601 Mack Ave. at I-75.
Top racers from across the U.S. and Detroit will compete on the one-of-a-kind cycling track, a 166-meter (10th of a mile) wood oval banked at 50 degrees. Championship racing begins at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 12-13, and 1 p.m. on Nov. 14.
The Madison Championships features two-rider teams competing in a race style similar to a relay race — but vastly different. Using hand sling exchanges, teammates go in and out of the racing for the entire distance of the race.
The Madison racers have a unique combination of skill, speed, strength, and bike savvy to negotiate the tight quarters of the track and the shoulder-to-shoulder intensity of pack racing. The bikes have no brakes, and can reach speeds reach of up to 40 m.p.h.
The style was developed at Madison Square Garden in the early 1900s, and is known worldwide as “L’American.”
The Lexus Velodrome won the right to host the USAC Nationals based on its commitment to the race style and the physical attributes of the track — short distance, extreme banking, and climate controlled indoors.
The 64,000-square-foot facility is owned and operated by the Detroit Fitness Foundation, a nonprofit organization. The Lexus Velodrome showcases the cycling track but also includes a walk, run, and skate oval, a group fitness studio, and a free weight work out space.
Its infield café, the SpokeEasy Lounge, serves up beverages of every kind and is open for all race events. Meade Lexus of Lakeside, Meade Lexus of Southfield, and Lexus of Ann Arbor are primary sponsors of the venue. Diversified Members Credit Union and the RAPHA Foundation are also supporters of what is one of the most unique cycling venue in the country.
Detroit bike race fans will be able to witness the action unfold with tickets that range from $15 to $20. Tickets are available via LexusVelodrome.com/tickets. At home, viewers can watch races live streamed on Facebook, Flobikes.tv, Instagram, and other outlets.
For further information, visit here or call 313-265-6725.