Kids Race Monday - September 5, 2022

For the sixith year, we are including the Richard Tom Foundation Kids Crit in the fourth day of the GMSR. There are two events – one for 7 and 8 year olds, and a second event, which we are opening up to kids ages 9 to 11. This is a non-competitive event sponsored and organized by the Richard Tom Foundation. Registration is available for free on Bikereg and at the Richard Tom Foundation tents on St. Paul Street between Main and College if space permits. Young riders will circle the City Hall block and will be led by cyclists from the RTF. Please pass the word about this great event. We would love to see 30 kids in each field.

START TIME – The Kids Crit will start at 12:25pm.

You can register on Monday between 11am and 12:00pm at the Richard Tom Foundation tent if space permits.

Schedule:

11:00 am: Richard Tom Foundation Tents (on St. Paul St) open for check-in and on-site registration

12:00 pm: Check-in and on-site registration closes

12:15 pm: Staging of Kids' Crit riders on St. Paul Street

12:25 pm: Call to start line (first 7-8 year old event; second 9-11 year olds)

12:40 pm: Completion of Kids' Crit

12:50 pm: Award Ceremony

1:00 pm: Closing comments and raffle drawing

1st Annual Kids' Crit was a Hit!

The first annual Kids' Crit was a success this past Labor Day. You can see a VIDEO of the event. After years of hoping to include a kids' event in the Criterium stage of the Green Mountain Stage Race, the organizers of the GMSR were pleased to host the Kids' Crit, run by the Richard Tom Foundation. This first year started small, yet backed by Richard's ever present inspiration, RTF got it off the ground with a great start. Twenty-eight kids showed up at registration to ride the City Hall circuit on a modified course as used by the amateur and pro racers in the GMSR. To fend off the 95 degree heat, kids, parents and volunteers gathered in the shade of the RTF tents, with ice water and supersoakers in full force by the "RTF kids", keeping everyone cool. We were all inspired by the strong community support that our friends and volunteers rallied by making rounds among the crowds selling raffle tickets and spreading awareness about the Foundation. Matt Lyon and volunteer Chris Morrissey were staged in the "pit" and ready for last minute repairs. As kids stepped up to the registration table, they were excited to pin on their official "Green Mountain Stage Race" number and receive a schwag bag containing Zbars, stickers, water bottles and thunder sticks thanks to the generosity of Skirack, VBT and Dealer.com.

Both kids' groups (ages 7-8 and 9-11) started with an "And they're OFF!!" and spun around the block on the tails of their pro rider escorts. What a thrill for these young riders to experience the encouraging shouts from cheering fans and parents and the official race announcers urging them on as they powered their bikes right through the finish line. Kids were stoked! As it was a 'fun ride' and not a race, all riders received a medal, presented by Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger. The event ended with a silent auction for a kid's performance road bike, and a raffle including a variety of prizes from bike shorts, bike pump, T-shirts, to gift certificates and more.