2024 CRCA Grant's Tomb Criterium Preview

This coming Saturday brings one of the most storied cycling traditions in the NYC area. That’s right, it’s time for THE CRCA Grant’s Tomb Criterium. 

Whether you’re new to NYC racing (and, if so, this author admires your greenness) or a grizzled veteran of the scene (we salute your service), this weekend’s criterium is circled on many a cyclist’s calendar given its place as a marquee event in the local area. With that stature further elevated by its selection as this year’s New York State Criterium Championship race, and with some intriguing prizes sponsorships on the line (I’m looking at you, Zipp), this weekend promises to bring fast and competitive fields to Morningside Heights. Go ahead and register if you’re thinking about it; it’s a great time on two wheels! Don’t worry, newer folks (and even those of us whose memories have faded over time), you’re in the right place for course information that’ll put you at ease…or possibly fill you with dread. But, before we get there, let’s address the elephant in the room.

It’s going to be…warm.

Current forecasts show that anyone not racing on the earlier side of the morning will be treated to some toasty temperatures. I’ll avoid dropping the dreaded “r” word here, but that’s not out of the question either as the day goes on. Granted (see what I did there?), weather forecasts are prone to shift as we get closer to the event, but I’d bet on it being warm enough that folks will fondly reminisce about racing Grant’s Tomb in March, despite the fickle nature of early spring weather.

“I’m Melting! I’m Melting!” What should I do?

Hydrate. You should be hydrating now and consistently. Put a little Skratch in your coffee. Make a mocktail with LMNT. In fact, if you’re reading this without a glass of water in your hand, you’re probably doomed. Hydration aside, try to give yourself some respite from the sun ahead of your race. Thankfully, there are a large number of trees along Riverside Drive around the course if you don’t happen to have a team tent at the race. There’s even a noted “tree of shame” off the righthand side of the road between the finish line and turn one, perfect for moments of self-reflection on life choices while wearing sweaty lycra.

enough about the heat, already. Can we hear about the course?

Admittedly, this author’s (and several of my teammates) experience with Grant’s Tomb predates CRCA’s involvement with running the race. Not that I’d dare try it, but part of me wonders if I could make it around the loop blindfolded at this point. (This is also where we should also casually mention that TBD’s own Liz helmed more editions of this event than any sane person should. She was not amused at my suggestion of directing the race via a telepresence robot. I laughed.) For those of us who might need a refresher, here are some bits about the course from our past race previews.

GRANT'S TOMB CRIT: THE COURSE

Grant's Tomb is a relatively straightforward 0.9 mile five corner course with modest elevation changes. But thanks to the short 122nd Street climb, it is a venue that can quickly sap your energy if the racing is aggressive. Field sprints are the most common outcome at Grant’s Tomb, but breaks do succeed when the right combination of riders get off the front and work together.

Also, for the course map below, keep in mind that typically (1) both staging and the race start take place on the Northbound side of Riverside Drive and West 122nd at the top of the climb and (2) the finish line often moves slightly North/South on Riverside Drive from year to year.

CORNER 1: RIVERSIDE AND 120TH STREET (LEFT TURN)

Outside of race day, Riverside and 120th Street is a wide open left hander. But on race day the corner is often narrowed to maintain vehicle access to the garage underneath the Riverside Church (the garage entrance is on the North side of 120th between Riverside Drive and Claremont). So don’t be caught off-guard if this is a tighter corner than you might expect.

However since the corner follows the long uphill finish straightaway the field is rarely at top speed and there is plenty of room to maneuver on Riverside Drive going into the corner. If anything, the tighter barrier layout only helps to string out the field which ultimately makes for safer racing (compared to say a wide open course like the Harlem Criterium).

For race strategy keep in mind that if the field comes into corner 1 strung out, there is not much room to pass or make up ground through the more technical South end of the course. This is especially important in the final laps of the races - unless you trust yourself to make up a bunch of ground on Riverside, you’ll want to be well positioned through corner 1.

The corner is in good shape other than some slightly rough pavement on the outside of the turn. There are two manhole covers in the crosswalk, but as long as its dry on race day these aren’t anything to worry about. And especially now that 120th is freshly paved, this section of the course is very fast.

CORNER 2: 120TH STREET AND CLAREMONT (LEFT TURN)

Corner two is a straightforward left-hand affair, but with continued construction in corner 3, the exit of the corner narrows mid-way down the following straightaway. Watch for is the manhole cover on the inside line and another in the middle of the cross walk, but as long as it is dry on race day neither of these should cause any trouble. This will probably be a full-speed turn and it seems like there won’t be much room to pass on Claremont so pace through this corner will benefit those on the front (or in a breakaway).

CORNER 3: CLAREMONT AND 122ND STREET (LEFT TURN)

Corner three is the most interesting and important on the course. The field typically picks up momentum on the downhill straight on Claremont Avenue making it the fastest of the four 90-degree turns on the course. And since the turn drops racers right onto the climb up 122nd Street, riders on the front of the pack with clean lines have the benefit of the best momentum to roll over the top of the climb.

I’m told that the construction on Claremont from the past couple of years that significantly narrowed the approach to turn 3 is no longer there. With this wider approach, skilled racers should pretty easily be able to take the turn two or three riders wide. However, finding a good line to take the the corner at speed will go a long way in helping you float over the hill with a few pedal strokes whereas anyone who brakes into the corner will create headaches for themselves and anyone behind them.

Corner three also features a few road grates and manhole covers on the preferred inside lines seen in the picture below. It's worth keeping these in mind, but in dry conditions these are generally fine to roll over, just be aware of the divots they create.

CORNER 4: 122ND STREET AND RIVERSIDE (RIGHT TURN)

Corner four is unique in that it's the only right-hander on the course but it's also a very simple affair. Riders on the front with clean lines will be able to float over the 122nd St climb with enough momentum to carry a bit of speed through this wide open turn. In comparison riders in the back may need to pedal through it to close gaps that opened on the climb. The ensuing flat on Riverside Drive North rapidly gives way to a wide downhill grade. This presents a good opportunity to chase back on, particularly if the leaders pull off the gas.

Note that neutral service is usually located on the outside edge of corner four, which is also the start line for the race - keep this in mind as call-ups will typically start before the prior race concludes as there are just a handful of minutes between each race.

CORNER 5: THE RIVERSIDE U-TURN (LEFT TURN)

The final corner on the course is definitely the fastest - a sweeping 180-degree left-hander that comes at the end of the long-straight and gradual descent on Riverside Drive North. While there was some debris in the roadway during our recon, this corner should be swept and very smooth on race day. There is plenty of room to maneuver on the straight going into the corner and this corner is not technical enough to be a deciding factor in the race - it's one of those course features where 'the race cannot be won in this corner but it can most definitely be lost with a crash.'

So keep it safe through this turn - for everyone's sake. The best advice is to make sure the field stays sufficiently strung out going into and coming out of the 180. Bunching into a fast hairpin is where things get hairy, not only costing you positioning but also potentially ruining everyone's race with a crash.

FINISHING STRAIGHT (RIVERSIDE DRIVE SOUTHBOUND)

The finishing straight for the Grant's Tomb Crit is a long, gradual uphill. In recent editions the finishing line has been ~400 meters from the exit of corner 5, presenting plenty of opportunity for riders to launch too early and run out of steam, further underscoring why corner 5 rarely dictates the outcome of the race. This is especially true given how wide Riverside Drive is through this stretch - though the useable width of the road can vary depending on whether all of the parked cars were moved overnight.

In recent years the outside of the roadway hasn’t been clear, meaning one racing lane is lost to parking. The left side of the road usually has some debris in it after parked cars have been removed, but otherwise this is a smooth stretch of pavement. One last note - the wind direction can play a significant role in the sprint as well. While the new summer date changes the potential weather impact, recent years have featured wind from just about every possible direction. So it's definitely worth keeping a sense for the wind direction on race day and adjusting your sprint point accordingly.

Parting Thoughts

Grant’s Tomb is a criterium course built for fast and dynamic racing. Plan ahead for the heat and definitely check out some of the other fields if you can before your race. Congratulations in advance to the state criterium champions who will be crowned this weekend. Be safe out there and good luck!