Univest Grand Prix 2009

One of the things I like about Souderton is the annual bike race, the Univest Grand Prix. This year the event has snuck up on me and I have not really given it much thought until a couple days ago when a pack of cyclists were clogging the road on my way home. I imagine they were training for the upcoming race to be held on September 12, 2009.

Little did I know that I could have been following the event on Twitter as the race prepares to take center stage on downtown Main Street in Souderton.

If you are interested in the course, check out the widget below for the course layout.



I said it last year, but I am no exactly what you call a cycling enthusiast. I know the name of just one guy who rides on a competitive level, Lance Armstrong. He won't be in Souderton though.

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Univest Grand Prix 2008: Recap

While I did not make it into town this year to see any of the race, I was held up at a traffic light to let the racers bike by me. A pair of traffic cops held me at a stop sign moments after the race started and after sitting through three green lights the helicopter starting coming my way providing aerial coverage, the police escort drove by, followed by the team cars with extra bikes and parts ready to go, and then the horde of bikers turned the corner in the early stages of the race.

It was pretty cool. Unfortunately the weather didn't exactly help me out with killing time before the Penn State game. Instead of going out to watch the race conclude, I stayed inside to watch college football.

Lucas Euser (USA) of the Garmin-Chipotle team finished in first. Teammate Pat McCarty finished in third and Frederick Ericsson from Sweden came in second.

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Univest Grand Prix 2008 Notes

The big bike race is scheduled to take place in Souderton on Saturday and I admit I am excited for it. Two years ago I watched the Univest Grand Prix in person and it was fun! Stef and I walked around the part of the course where the loops are done at the end of the race and it is a fair like atmosphere surrounding the course.

It was different and it was exciting. The race is 100 miles and features 125 bike riders from 27 teams from the USA, Canada, Mexico, Belgium, Germany and more. I don't know much about bike racing (or anything really) but watching the riders climb up the hill to get to the finish line is interesting.

I didn't get to check it out last year because Penn State was playing some no-name cupcake school from Indiana and we had tickets. Needless to say the game took preference over the bike race. Penn State won as well.

But I have been looking forward to the race on Saturday (and Penn State doesn't play until 3:30pm so there is plenty of time to head into town and check out the race - weather pending).



I'll give you an idea of how it was later.

[Tour de France Contender Garmin Chipotle Leads Top International Field in Univest Grand Prix 2008] - press release
[2008 Univest Grand Prix Teams List] - press release
[Course Map] - press release

[Road Closure Notices] - Souderton Independent

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