Lisa Gray photos
Friday night's Grand Prix bike race ...
... and Apizza Feast on College Street.
Pizza lovers and cycling enthusiasts filled downtown to watch one of the last chances in the season for competitive bikers to race — and to enjoy everything from cheese to broccoli to potato pies put forward by ten pizzerias.
That was the scene on Friday night for the annual Apizza Feast and New Haven Grand Prix. The events started at 4:00 p.m. and stretched into the evening, by the Green and along College Street.
In its eighth year, the Grand Prix, hosted by the Connecticut Cycling Advancement Program, saw thousands of people from across the state and beyond watch riders of all ages speed through the criterium course. In cycling, a criterium is a closed-circuit course of a few laps.
The Apizza Feast wooed pizza lovers from near far and was the perfect accompaniment to the races because pizza is portable.
Then there was the beer. The beer gardens offered local brews like the lagers from Rhythm Brewing, the only Black-woman-owned beer company in New England.
The evening kicked off at 4 p.m. with the opening of the Apizza Feast and the first race, the master’s 40+ category. A few thousand people shouted and clapped for each race, which included three junior races and men’s and women’s pro races. Excitement peaked as the announcer encouraged the crowd to contribute to the preems or prizes riders can win for laps.
Alia Meliki who lives in New Haven came out to enjoy the nice weather, see the cycling, and have a good time with her friend.
Keluo Chukwogo.
Keluo Chukwogo from Nigeria, who is attending a program a Yale for the week, came out to get a break from work and enjoy the excitement of the event.
John Pescatore, Rob Rocke, and Tony Pulino.
While friends Tony Pulino, Rob Rocke, and John Pescatore joined the crowds because they cycle. Pescatore, who comes every year, said he likes the event and that, “New Haven is the perfect size for an event like this.” Rocke, who said he’s been to most of the New Haven Grand Prix events said, “it’s a great night of bike riding and all the pizza you want on a late summer evening. It’s New Haven at its best.” The third member of the group, Pulino, said, “it’s a great event” that he looks forward to every year. He said, “It’s good to see people in the cycling community come together.”
Rob Tagliaferi and Rob Bajoros.
Robert Tagliaferi and his friend Rob Bajoros were also in the crowd catching the races. Tagliaferi said this is his fourth time watching the Grand Prix and that he, “Loves the community spirit of it.”
Brad Green.
Riders from competing teams donned their uniforms and perched on their bikes as they waited for their races to start. Brad Green, representing the Star Trak team came to the race from Schnecksville, Penn., because it is the last race of the year. He said he loves the team aspect of the competition. He’s been riding for six years but this is his first New Haven Grand Prix.
As the evening wore on, the Apizza Feast heated up with live music and a pizza eating contest on the main stage on College Street. Three contestants scarfed down as many slices as they could as the crowd cheered them on.
The pizza making contest was the main event though. Judged by three pizza masters who sampled all ten pizza offerings including the taco pizza saw Grand Apizza score wins for best crust and best pizza.
Mike Nuzzo.
Mike Nuzzo, a fourth-generation pizza maker at the 60-year-old pizzeria on Grand Avenue in New Haven, started their pizza truck five years ago. He thought it was a stupendous event and was thrilled to win on his first time at the event. He said, “It’s great to see everyone come out and enjoying and eating pizza.”
Standing in the long lines was a true test of dedication and pizza love. They snaked down College Street at Dough Girls, a pizza truck owned by Louise Joseph who has been an Apizza Feast regular since 2015.
Brittany Frost and fam.
Brittany Frost, who came down from Townsend, Vermont to watch her partner, Kyle Murphy, compete in the Grand Prix, was in line at Dough Girls with her children who she described as pizza connoisseurs. “We built our own pizza oven in the yard last year, she said, and they were, “excited to have so many pizza options and were waiting in line at Dough Girls because she wanted to support a lady-owned business.”
Chloe Howard.
Chloe Howard, a grad student at Yale University, was also patiently waiting in the Dough Girls line. She heard about the event that day and wanted to try the pizza from trucks like Dough Girls that do not have brick-and-mortar restaurants.
Michelle McCullouch drove from Shelton with her friends to sample pizza and watch the races. Like all the folks munching on the wide variety of pizza offerings, she loves pizza, “especially New Haven pizza.” She was in search of the best pepperoni pizza of the night.
The excitement from the race spilled over into the apizza feast and to the regular weekend revelers and club goers strolling downtown New Haven. The events made for a great late summer evening.
Rose and Barrie Lobo who live in Orange and come to the event every year to support Louise at Dough Girls said they are looking forward to next year.
