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Video: Red Hook Crit turns 10 – and sees another huge crash

Last year, a crash in the men's race made the headlines - this time it was the women's turn...

 

Last weekend saw the 10th edition of the Red Hook Criterium in Brooklyn, New York City – and as in previous years, it’s another big crash that has made the headlines.

In last year’s race on the site of a former cruise terminal in the New York borough it was a stalled motorbike on the men’s event that resulted in a crash that brought down dozens of riders, this time round the incident happened during the women’s race.

The crash happened early on in the fixed gear crit, which was won by Colleen Gulick of Deluxe Cycles.

The men’s race, with entrants including Team GB Olympic team sprint champion Callum Skinner and the Italian former under-23 road world champion Francesco Chicchi, was won by Germany’s Stefan Schafer, riding for Specialized/Rocket Espresso.

As this New York Times article explains, the event has moved well beyond its informal roots a decade ago when just 15 riders took part in a race organised by David August Trimble, who still runs it today but no longer races.

With a commercial sponsor in the shape of video games maker Rockstar Games coming on board in 2013, the organisation has become slicker and the event has continued its international expansion – on 22 July, London will host a Red Hook Crit for the third time, with races already held in Milan and Barcelona.

Since 2015, British cycling consultant Liam Worthy has been brought on board as circuit manager, with his duties including trying to ensure the safety of riders – although as seen in the last two editions, crashes will be inevitable and, when they happen, can involve dozens of riders.

Here he is talking last year about his role.

 

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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1961BikiE | 6 years ago
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The "problem" of course is the growth of the event. It started as an "illegal" event for 15 riders where fixed brakeless racing had minimal potential for big pile ups. Now of course there are hundreds competing. Not sure how many take the grid for each race but it certainly looks more than 15. Maybe for safety they will consider insisting on a front brake on the bikes? It wouldn't go down well with a lot of competitors and could possibly kill the event. At least with a front brake you'd have a little more control to avoid a crash. I emphasise "a little" as witnessed in any pro race pileups do happen even with full brakes and freewheels.

Or they could REALLY ramp up the danger and insist on disk brakes, proper gladiatorial!

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Colin Peyresourde | 6 years ago
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Brutal. The reason why fixed wheel cycling is for the track and the insane.

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Roadie_john replied to Colin Peyresourde | 6 years ago
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Colin Peyresourde wrote:

Brutal. The reason why fixed wheel cycling is for the track and the insane.

 

fixed wheel cycling in a bunch *with no brakes*

 

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