David Walker — a New York City Police Department’s Community Affairs Officer in Harlem’s 28th Precinct created the Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic in 1973.
The Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic was designed as a community event focused on bicycle racing and safety programs for young men.
The event held its initial contest on (Father’s Day) Sunday, June 17th, 1973 at (the formally known as)—Mount Morris Park which was just renamed Marcus Garvey Park—in honor of the famed Activist, Journalist and Publicist Marcus Garvey.
Within three years, the race grew and became one of the premiere attractions of the United States Cycling Federation. Each year the event draws more than 400+ United States Cycling Federation (USCF)—(now known as USA Cycling) licensed cyclist from the greater NYC area as well as nationally ranked competitors and international licensed riders—in addition to 100s of community amateur participants.
Since its inception in 1973, hundreds of national and international champions, as well as Olympic champions have raced the Skyscraper Classic.
Most notably is Nelson Beasley Vails, a road and track cyclist from Harlem. Who won his first series of amateur races at the Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic. He rode as a professional from 1988 to 1995, representing the USA in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, where he won the silver medal in the 1000-meter Match Sprint, behind compatriot Mark Gorski.
Vails was the first African-American cyclist to win an Olympic medal and he was inducted to the US Bicycle Hall of Fame in 2009. Nelson attends the Skyscraper Cycling Classic every year.
David Walker— a New York City Police Department’s Community Affairs Officer in Harlem’s 28th Precinct created the Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic in 1973.
The Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic was designed as a community event focused on bicycle racing and safety programs for young men. The event held its initial contest on (Father’s Day) Sunday, June 17th, 1973 at (the formally known as)—Mount Morris Park which was just renamed Marcus Garvey Park—in honor of the famed Activist, Journalist and Publicist Marcus Garvey.
Within three years, the race grew and became one of the premiere attractions of the United States Cycling Federation. Each year the event draws more than 400+ United States Cycling Federation (USCF)—(now known as USA Cycling) licensed cyclist from the greater NYC area as well as nationally ranked competitors and international licensed riders—in addition to 100s of community amateur participants.
Since its inception in 1973, hundreds of national and international champions, as well as Olympic champions have raced the Skyscraper Classic.
Most notably is Nelson Beasley Vails, a road and track cyclist from Harlem. Who won his first series of amateur races at the Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic. He rode as a professional from 1988 to 1995, representing the USA in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, where he won the silver medal in the 1000-meter Match Sprint, behind compatriot Mark Gorski.
Vails was the first African-American cyclist to win an Olympic medal and he was inducted to the US Bicycle Hall of Fame in 2009. Nelson attends the Skyscraper Cycling Classic every year.
