Gran Prix Beverly Cyclocross Event Back On Beach For 2023

BEVERLY, MA — A reigning national cyclocross champion who makes Ryal Side his home will help headline the third annual Soal Viet Kitchen Gran Prix Beverly when it returns to Lyons Park and Dane Street Beach next month.

The 27-year-old Curtis White, who won the national championship in Hartford last year, is back for the third year of what he calls "one of my favorite races of the year" given its spectator-friendly course at a closed course on the beach close to downtown.

"The laps are short, you can see most of the course from one vantage point, and the racers are giving 100 percent right in front of you," he said. "The course has an interesting mix of features with some climbing, barriers, and running on Dane Street Beach.

"But the best part is how close you get to the spectators. My favorite part of the course is flying by the beer tent and hearing the fans and spectators cheer."

This year's event is set for Sept. 9 from noon to 6 p.m. with more than 300 top professional and amateur bike racers expected, according to organizers.

"Cyclocross courses are tight and technical, and spectators can get up close to the action," said race promoter and Beverly resident Paul Boudreau. "If you've been to GP Beverly when it was a road event on Cabot Street, and appreciate how close the athletes are to the crowd, you'll feel even more part of the action watching cyclocross.

"The course is much tighter, and spectators can see most of the race course."

Cyclocross is a race-specific cycling discipline that blends road racing, mountain biking, and cross-country running on a twisting, convoluted course.

White races for the Steve Tilford Foundation Racing Team.

"GP Beverly has the potential to be a big community event and to bring more people into the sport of cycling," said White. "GP Beverly has the right combination of being close to downtown, easily accessible and having support from community-oriented local businesses.

"That makes me even more excited to represent the National Champion's jersey at my home race."

Old Planters Brewing Company returns to sponsor the event's beer tent, which is also set to include Gentile Brewing Company and Coastal Massachusetts Brewing as vendors.

"Throughout the years, we've watched the Gran Prix race on Cabot Street and couldn't help but get swept up in the excitement that it brought to the city,” said Old Planters owner Ben Garry said. "We also just love the competitive aspect of racing."

The Gran Prix Beverly Cyclocross offers eight race categories, including Amateur Men at 12:30, Juniors at 1:30, Masters at 2:30, Kids race and Kids Parade at 3:30, Elite Women, Amateur Women, and Masters Women at 4, and Elite Men at 5.

More information on this year's event can be found here.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)