BLOOMINGTON, Ind.— The 35th running of the women's Little 500 and the 72nd running of the men's Little 500 took place on April 21 and April 22, respectively, at Bill Armstrong Stadium.
This year’s races drew large crowds with more than 14,000 spectators attending both events.
The Little 500 is the largest collegiate bike race in the United States. In a race modeled after the Indianapolis 500, riders compete in four-person teams around a 410-meter track at Bill Armstrong Stadium. The men's race is 200 laps (50 miles), and the women's race is 100 laps (25 miles).
Proceeds from the Little 500 races have contributed more than $2.5 million in student scholarships and other support since it began in 1951. Going back to its philanthropic roots, the IU Students Foundation initiated the Students Helping Students campaign. This month-long peer-to-peer campaign raised a total of $61,680, including $13,532 from Little 500 ticket sales to support the IU Bloomington Food Insecurity Fund. Almost 600 students donated to the campaign and 27 Little 500 teams earned race day patches for their fundraising work. The Food Insecurity Fund provides support for important services, including the IU Crimson Cupboard, which offers free, healthy food to IU Bloomington students facing food insecurity.
“This was a special year in the storied history of the Little 500,” said Trent McGee, director of the Indiana University Student Foundation. “A year where IU student leaders came together to remind everyone why we celebrate this special weekend. The IU Student Foundation would not have been able to achieve this level of support if it was not for the IU students, student organizations, alumni and friends who bought into the mission of the IU Student Foundation and the Students Helping Students Campaign. We can’t wait for 2024.”
This year 27 teams competed in the women’s Little 500 and 33 teams competed in the men’s race. For the second consecutive year Melanzana Cycling won the women’s race and the Cutters claimed victory in the men’s race for the 15th time, the most in race history.
The Media School again partnered with the IU Student Foundation to broadcast the races live and had approximately 5,695 viewers. Recordings of both the women’s and men’s races are available at broadcast.iu.edu.
In 2024, the women’s Little 500 races will be held at Bill Armstrong Stadium on Friday, April 19 and the men’s race will be Saturday, April 20.