In a nod to its spiritual predecessor — the Red Hook Crit — Bandit's Grand Prix showcase at the Brooklyn Storehouse on July 5 was a post-holiday clash of 3K and 5K races that were equal parts culture and grit.
The format: battle 200-plus competitors in a pair of 5K open men's or women's races, be among the first 35 and advance to a 3K Super Final — or join the finishers (36th place to 70th) in a B final.
A start countdown resembling a Formula 1 race, tight turns and a pair of straightaways meant the course was far from light work.
Steamy temperatures, a packed crowd and music pumping fed a beast of fast times, DNFs and an electric guarantee of competitors boasting endless grueling tales from the road.
