Sports

International Bike Race Returns Thursday in Basking Ridge

Verizon Wireless and BaseCamp International Race begins 6 p.m. sharp on Thursday in downtown Basking Ridge.

The twilight-hour pro-cycling criterium international bike race — which attracts notable cyclists from around the world —  will be back on Thursday, starting at 6 p.m. sharp in the center of Basking Ridge, with the start and finish line on South Finley Avenue near Oak Street.

The National Criterium Calendar (NCC) BaseCamp International race, presented by Verizon Wireless, is being held for the seventh year. Liberty Cycle of Basking Ridge launched the race and is promoter of the event.

Offering $15,000 in prize money for individual cyclists and teams, the race features a technical course of turns and sprints designed to lure top riders, according to information from Liberty Cycle. More than 100 professional cyclists are entered in the 2013 race, including 2009 winner, Aldo Ilesic, a top-rated sprinter from Slovenia.

Find out what's happening in Basking Ridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Spectators can enjoy the intense competition of the “crit” style of bike racing, as riders power through a one-mile loop that keeps the action centered and largely viewable from a single vantage point, according to Greg Cordasco, co-owner of Liberty Cycle, who started the race.

"Expect classic battles for position over eight challenging turns and a final climb to the finish that tests the courage, endurance, and close racing techniques of these gifted athletes," according to Cordasco.

Find out what's happening in Basking Ridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Live video stream this year

Spectators will be able to follow the racers through the course’s twists and turns this year via exciting live video streaming at www.LibertyCycleInc.com, according to Liberty Cycle.

Outdoor specialty retailer BaseCamp Adventure Outfitters of Bernardsville once again is the lead sponsor, said Ingrid Cordasco, co-owner of Liberty Cycle. BaseCamp, a longtime sponsor that has been located in Basking Ridge and more recently, Bernardsville, at the end of June.

Aldo Ilesic from Slovenia is a member of the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team, which also took team honors at the race in Basking Ridge in 2012. In addition to significant wins Ilesic, celebrated in 2012 (Stage 7, Qinghai Lake; Stage 4, Tour of Rio; and Stage 3, Tour of China), he also took 2nd in the Philadelphia International Championship and 2nd in Stage 2 of the Tour of Rio.

Sebastian Alexandre, Director Sportif of Jamis Hagens Berman, said, “It will be great to come back to New Jersey. Jamis, a main sponsor, is based in New Jersey, and the Liberty Cycle bike shop sells Jamis bikes, so we cannot miss the opportunity to be part of such a big event!”

“To have the best cyclists in the world come to our hometown to compete is a dream come true,” Greg Cordasco said. “We thank Bernards Township and our generous and supportive sponsors for making it all possible.”

Greg Cordasco was the impetus behind the BaseCamp International race. The New Jersey cycling club he founded over two decades ago has grown to more than 200 participants, he said, making it one of the largest bike clubs in the U.S. With cycling as a way of life, the task of bringing a professional race to the community was a work of passion, he said.

Along with BaseCamp Adventure Outfitters, this year's sponsors include presenting sponsor Verizon Wireless, Starfish, PwC and T&E Industries. A portion of the proceeds from the event will go to Bike4ALS, a 501(c)(3) organization with the mission of raising a greater awareness about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” according to Cordasco.

Director of the Champion System Pro Continental cycling team, Ed Beamon, said the race is an important contest for teams as well as individual cyclists. He added that the race is on his home turf.

“It’s great to be able to bring a team back to Basking Ridge,” Beamon said, “It’s a wonderful New Jersey community; this is one of the hardest criteriums in America, and the guys are really looking forward to a big turnout. New Jersey sports fans are legendary, and I’m counting on an enthusiastic crowd to cheer the guys on.”

Verizon Wireless staff will be among those welcoming both participants and spectators as they demonstrate the company’s latest mobile devices. Basking Ridge’s downtown restaurants and bars also will remain open with music, food and entertainment offerings that include a bicycle stunt show to begin at 5:30 p.m. Spectators can also enjoy casual food and drink with a front-row seat on the racing action at the Ridge Tavern open-air beer garden, located at the second turn of the course.

More information about the BaseCamp International presented by Verizon Wireless, and updates on the race, will be on the BaseCamp International presented by Verizon Wireless Facebook page, or online.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here