Six Days of New York, Indoor cycling race at Madison Square Garden, New York, US.
Six Days of New York was an indoor track cycling race held at Madison Square Garden featuring multiple disciplines such as Madison, Sprint, Elimination, Keirin, Derny, and Team Time Trial events. Races ran from evening through early morning, with two-rider teams alternating between racing and rest periods across six consecutive days.
The event began in 1899 and continued until 1961, with 73 editions held on Madison Square Garden's indoor velodrome track. During these decades, it became America's most important track cycling event and shaped professional cycling development worldwide.
The Madison racing format was born at this event and later adopted by cycling communities worldwide, with the French naming it 'course à l'américaine' to honor its American origins. The way two-rider teams worked together and switched roles became a model for competitive cycling partnerships everywhere.
Visitors should prepare for extended evening sessions since races ran from evening through early morning across multiple consecutive nights. The most exciting moments often occurred around midnight or in the early hours when rider energy and competition intensity peaked.
Australian cyclist Alfred Goullet and Italian rider Franco Giorgetti share the record for most victories, each winning eight times between 1899 and 1961. This achievement remained unmatched throughout the event's entire history and demonstrates their exceptional dominance over many years.
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