Racers zoom past spectators during the Mayor’s Cup race at the Washington Park Velodrome on Tuesday.
The annual Mayor’s Cup race heated up the Washington Park Velodrome Tuesday evening.
Matt Gittings, top, races to first place during the Mayor’s Cup race at the Washington Park Velodrome on Tuesday. Gittings, 31, of Indianapolis, won the 75-lap race, the equivalent of 15 miles.
Over a dozen cyclists competed in the 75-lap race at the historic velodrome, 1901 Washington Road, before a crowd of spectators and junior cyclists. The race is equivalent to 15 miles.
Mayor John Antaramian presented the Mayor’s Cup to first-place finisher Matt Gittings, 31, of Indianapolis.
Competitors race through a straight during the Mayor’s Cup race at the Washington Park Velodrome.
“It feels great,” said Gittings, who previously won in 2017. “It’s a long race. It’s pretty hard.”
Racers make a turn during the Mayor’s Cup race at the Washington Park Velodrome on Tuesday.
Gittings, who drove to Kenosha just to compete, said he’s “pretty proud of myself.”
“I can’t complain about a win. It’s always nice to win a bike race,” Gittings said. “I love this velodrome. It’s the oldest velodrome in the country.”
Racers make a turn during the Mayor’s Cup race at the Washington Park Velodrome on Tuesday, July 12, 2023.
Antaramian said he’s happy the velodrome enjoyed by people from across the area. It marked Antaramian’s last time presenting the cup as mayor.
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Matt Gittings, left, is congratulated and handed the trophy from Mayor John Antaramian, center, and Miss Kenosha 2023 Willow Newell after winning the Mayor’s Cup race at the Washington Park Velodrome on Tuesday.
“It’s my last mayor’s race. It’s just wonderful to see this historic track being used,” Antaramian said. “It’s a gorgeous night and it’s really exciting seeing the track used. It is a gorgeous park.”
Miss Kenosha 2023 Willow Newell fires the starter’s gun to open the Mayor’s Cup race at the Washington Park Velodrome on Tuesday.
Miss Kenosha 2023 Willow Newell sang the National Anthem before the race and fired off the starter’s pistol. It was her first time at the velodrome.
“This is so cool. It’s a gem of Kenosha,” Newell said. “I can barely ride my bike down the street. I could never do this. I’m just so happy to be here watching this.”
The Mayor’s Cup has been held nearly every year since 1979.
Race Director Chris Riva said she “loves seeing all the riders come out.”
“You have to be an experienced rider to race in this,” Riva said. “There are no brakes, there’s no coasting.”
Built in 1927, the Washington Park Velodrome is the oldest operating velodrome in the U.S. and remains the only bike race track in Wisconsin. It’s also one of only about two dozen cycling velodromes left in the nation.
Check out where Wisconsin football will work out, live during August stay in Platteville
The George Chryst Memorial Bowl Axe hangs in University of Wisconsin-Platteville football offices as the Pioneers defeated UW-Whitewater last season.
The University of Wisconsin football team will practice inside Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium on UW-Platteville’s campus during its stay in early August.
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville named its locker room after George Chryst, father of former UW coach Paul Chryst, who coached the Pioneers between 1977 and 1992.
A look inside the University of Wisconsin-Platteville locker room where the University of Wisconsin football team will dress for practices in early August.
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville logo lights up on the ceiling in one area of the Pioneers’ locker room.
A look inside one meeting room that the University of Wisconsin football team could utilize during its stay at UW-Platteville for the first week of its August training camp.
Inside the University of Wisconsin-Platteville sports medicine area that the Badgers could utilize during their stay on campus for the early portion of their August training camp.
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville weight room that the Badgers could utilize during their stay on campus during the early portion of their August training camp.
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Bridgeway Commons where the Badgers football program will stay during the early portion of their August training camp.
A look inside a potential meeting room inside Bridgeway Commons on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus.
A look at a recreational room inside Bridgeway Commons on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus.
