Motor-Paced

Motor-paced cycling was extremely popular in Rhode Island at the end of the 19th century through the early 1930s. Motor-paced refers to cycling behind a pacer on a motorcycle. The cyclist (or stayer) follows as close as they can to benefit from the slipstream of their pacer. This branch of cycling once filled huge stadiums and had its own world title. Companies such as Dunlop sponsored pacing teams and races were in velodromes or on other oval and steeply banked tracks to allow high-speed racing. After a flying start the cyclists link up with their pacers. Riding counterclockwise, passing can only be done on the right, a blue line separating the longer passing lane from the inner. Typically four to six couples competed in motor-paced racing covering distances or over a set period of time.

The end of the 19th century and the first quarter of the 20th century bicycle racing (motor-paced and sprint) proved to be one of the favorite summer sports in Rhode Island. Collingwood Bicycle Track in Warwick, RI and the Crescent Park Track in Riverside, RI drew thousands of spectators during the season. The Providence Colosseum opened at the turn of the century for cycle racing and hosted several of the world's leading cyclists (sometimes referred to as anklers in the press). The circuit of tracks in the country; Boston, Philadelphia, New York and Providence, formed a combination and cornered the leading riders of the paced game. Will Stinson represented the Providence Colosseum and was an American Middle Distance Champion. Bobby Walthour won America’s greatest race, the six-day race inside Madison Square Garden in 1901. Albert Champion of France won the 1899 Paris–Roubaix and was French Motor-paced Champion in 1904. In 1905 he incorporated the Albert Champion Company in Boston to make porcelain spark plugs. The company is now known as ACDelco and is owned by General Motors. Harry Elkes held the world record for "paced-cycle racing" during most of his career and was called "one of the greatest middle-distance riders that ever pedalled a bicycle."

National Cycling was also at the Melrose Bicycle Track starting in the 1910 in Providence before the opening of the first of two Cycledromes in the state. In 1919 at the corner of Reservoir and Park Avenue the Cranston Cycledrome with a seating capacity of 9000 was built. It provided amateur and professional races twice a week until the season's closing in September. Amateurs Chick Meyer (Providence) and Clarence Elmstrom (Cranston) were local favorites. Italian born Vincent Madonna of Providence won multiple championships in the professional Motor-Paced Division. In 1923 Charles Turville (manager of the Cycledrome) brought the coveted Race of Nations to Cranston — a 50 mile motor-paced race. Six nations participated; Australia, France, Belgium, Italy, Norway and America. More than 500,000 spectators passed through the gates before the track was torn down in 1924.

Manager Turville was transferred to the newly built Providence Cycledrome on North Main Street in 1925 and the sport of professional bicycle racing grew into one of the busiest and most successful of professional sports. The Providence track, designed to hold 13,000 fans, was known as the fastest in the country and much better times were turned in there than in any other city. Providence not only attracted competitive racers from around the nation and in Europe, but also produced several local stars. Madonna placed fourth on Opening Night’s main event, the 30-mile race. He was one of several Italian-Americans from either Providence or Pawtucket to race at the Cyclodrome. He was often referrred to as the "Babe Ruth of Bicycle Riding". His nephew, Frank Madonna, was the amateur 10-mile record holder before turning professional. It was reported that anywhere from one half to two-thirds of Cyclodrome riders were of Italian descent. The city’s large Italian American community may have accounted for the success of the Cyclodrome as a racing venue. It was a sport that kept the spectator on edge all the evening. But exciting as it was, it had its day and gave way to auto racing in the 1930s.