German 6-day duo dominate in Harlem

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Germany's Christian Grasmann won the 37th edition of the Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic on Sunday ahead of teammate Leif Lampater (TransAlt p/b Rockstar Games) after the pair spent much of the elite men's event off the front in a two-man breakaway. The German duo, best known as track cyclists on the European 6-day circuit, finished 13 seconds ahead of Melito Heredia (Innovation Bike) who won the field sprint for third place.

With damp roads providing a dangerous parcours in the early laps, Grasmann attacked alone to best pick his lines around the circuit. Grasmann was soon joined by his teammate Leif Lampater and the duo built a lead of up to 45 seconds on the peloton. The rest of the field was unable to organize and form an effective chase. The two escapees fended off numerous attacks and they were able to maintain a gap that ranged from 15-30 seconds.

In the women’s race, sprinting sensation Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) bested her peers in a race that was beset by a sudden rainstorm. Laura McCaughey (Salamander) and Kimberly Edwards (CVC/Subaru of New England) rounded out the podium in second and third place respectively.

The event itself was both a celebration of Harlem and a memorial for the race’s founder, the late David J. Walker. Walker was an New York Police Department Community Affairs Officer who founded the Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic with the purpose of inspiring children to ride bicycles for exercise. He wanted to introduce kids to a healthy lifestyle, provide a productive outlet to harness their energy, and teach safety, responsibility, and sportsmanship.

The present-day event pays homage to both him and American 6-day racing of the Roaring Twenties that was rich with speed, money, and glamour.