Stillwater Suns, Grills and Bonds During Nature Valley Grand Prix

A red figure climbed up Chilkoot Hill at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday, the last biker in the Nature Valley Grand Prix men’s race. A small cluster of onlookers on the south side of Churchill street cheered as the figure came into focus, the No. “61” clarifying on an unzipped jersey that billowed like a cape.

Marek Mino and his son, Jonathon, watched from the steps rising to their elevated lawn, where their dog, Ruby, was scouring the detritus from a barbecue Mino had thrown for a handful of neighbors.

Jonathon, 11, had been a staunch supporter of the racing team sponsored by the Jelly Belly Candy Company.

“I like the candy,” he said.

Official  attendance numbers were not available, but media liaison Chuck Grothaus estimated the crowds at about 8,000 to 10,000, a similar turnout to the 2010 race. About 100 children participated in the Kids Fun Race, Grothaus said.  

Bicycling enthusiast Chris Erickson of Minneapolis said he had woke up Sunday morning and rode 60 miles before heading to Stillwater with his wife, Rachel, and their two children.

“There’re lots of fast racers riding way to close to each other real fast,” he said.

“And Stillwater is a beautiful setting for the race,” added Rachel Erickson.

Down the hill, in Triangle Park, city councilman Doug Menikheim wore a “CUCINA ITALIANA” apron colored like an Italian flag. Menikheim said he and his neighbors had barbecued bratwurst and hot dogs for 150 passersby.

Menikheim said the race is one of his favorite events in Stillwater.

“I know enough about the sport,” he said, “to tell who was in front and who was wearing the yellow shirt.”

Not everyone in Stillwater Sunday had come into town for the race.

Bruce Wagner sat on a stoop on Main Street, after grabbing a meal with his daughter at Leo’s Grill.

“I’m a local yokel just getting a bite for lunch,” he said.

Wagner, a 20-year resident of Stillwater, said he had never heard of the Nature Valley Grand Prix before Sunday.

“It was probably more a hassle getting into town than I usually have,” he said.

Some local businesses also took notice of the race day traffic.

Matt Stabenow, day manager at Revé 324, an upscale Main Street restaurant, said that the for the most part, the lunch rush was no different from a typical sunny afternoon--slow inside but busy on the patio.

But he noted, “I’ve had a lot of complaints about parking but other than that everything’s normal.”