City of Albany Downtown Bike Race returns this weekend

ALBANY — Cyclists from around the country will descend on the Good Life City this weekend to compete in two days of racing at the annual City of Albany Downtown Bike Race.

This will be the 13th year the city has hosted the bike races, which have become an important way for the community to introduce itself to out of town guests while also having a good time in downtown Albany.

“It’s another great sporting event that brings athletes and their families into Albany,” said Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau Exective Director Rashelle Beasley. “Not only do the riders and their families stay in our hotels, shop in our stores, and eat in our restaurants while they are here for the weekend, they also get to experience some wonderful Southern hospitality.”

Beasley estimates that the yearly event, which features short distance races, known as criterium or crit races on Saturday, and a long-distrance road race on Sunday, generate an estimated annual impact of $100,000.

“It’s significant for Albany,” said Beasley.

Saturday’s races, which will have riders of varying age and skill levels competing a three-quarter-mile closed loop course through downtown Albany, get started at 8 a.m. with the age 9-18, junior level riders. The juniors will then be followed by men’s and women’s catagory three, four and five riders.

The pro level race, which is known for its fierce competition and is always tightly contested, will end of the day’s racing, with a 3:20 p.m. start time.

“The criterium races are always fun,” said Beasley. “It’s like NASCAR on two wheels. I mean these riders will be flying through downtown Albany.”

The criterium course starts on Pine Avenue, then riders will turn left onto Jackson Street, left onto Broad Avenue, left onto Front Street, and finally left back onto Pine in a big oval.

Sunday’s road race, which is set to get under way at 8 a.m., features different categories of riders who will traverse varying distances.

Beasley said this year’s bike race is being sponsored by the city of Albany and Downtown Albany, and the 40 to 50 volunteers assisting with the race will be city employees and members of the Albany Police Department Youth Academy.

Once change for this year’s bike races is that the criterium events are not part of the Southeast Regional Series circuit, which is no longer in operation. However, race competitors can use their times for other bike races across the country, and in Albany they will be competing for a $7,000 purse split among different categories.

Beasley said riders were still registering as Wednesday, but that she expected this year’s total number to exceed the 175 riders who participated last year.

“It should be a good turnout,” said Beasley. “It’s two weeks out from Athens Twilight, so it’s a good opportunity for races to come and get their feet wet, it you will.”

Beasley added that the riders will begin arriving in Albany Friday night and most would be staying at the Wingate Inn, which is serving as the host hotel.

City officials will begin blocking off the downtown race route Saturday around 6 a.m., but locals and racers are invited, weather permitting to test out the course Friday evening. The races will take place rain or shine. On Wednesday, the National Weather Service was forecasting a 60 percent chance of rain Friday night, but Saturday was expected to be sunny with a high around 80 degrees.

To learn more about the races or to register to compete visit www.bikereg.com or www.swagger.gobike1.com.