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Cyclists, runners converge on downtown this weekend
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Published: June 19, 2009
Downtown Mooresville streets will be filled with runners and cyclists this weekend as two races envelope the historic district.
The biggest event is Sunday, when the State Games of North Carolina – the state's largest multi-sport, amateur athletic sporting event – stages its Criterium bike race, featuring amateur cyclists and biking enthusiasts of all ages.
Before that, though, downtown will host the first of three monthly Miles of Mooresville running races tonight at 7. Presented by Queen City Timing of Mooresville, those races will benefit the Race City Runners Foundation. (See Sports section story)
As one of the more than 25 sporting events that comprise the State Games, the Criterium "is a circuit race held on downtown streets … usually less than one mile in length and closed to traffic," explained Neal Boyd, the event's competition manager from Charlotte Sports Cycling.
With Mooresville as this year's venue, the .6-mile race will begin at the intersection of North Main Street and East Moore Avenue and head south to Center Avenue, where they will continue east before turning north onto Church Street. Riders will then turn west onto Iredell Avenue before winding back down North Main Street to the start/finish line.
"The short courses allow the spectators to witness the exciting strategies of the teams as they draft off each other, try to break away and get their teammate to the finish line first," Boyd said, noting that a variety of food vendors and entertainment will also be present Sunday.
Kim Atkins, executive director of the Mooresville Downtown Commission, said the Criterium has "the potential to bring quite a few spectators" to downtown this weekend.
"Downtown is excited to have been selected and we think it will be a very fun event – something new and different happening downtown," she said. "Our overall goal is to bring different events that attract many different types of people to downtown."
Based on various categories – such as age and experience – groups of cyclists, known as "pelotons," will maneuver through the downtown route at varying intervals. Boyd said each group of 100 or more people will race between 25 and 40 miles "around the twisting course" starting with Masters, ages 45 and older, at 8:30 a.m. and concluding with novices to USA Cycling – specifically Category 5 men ages 35 to 54 and 55 and older – at 4 p.m.
"Imagine, 100 plus cyclists attempting a 90-degree turn, elbow to elbow, at over 40 miles per hour," said Boyd. "At these speeds, there is always a little bumping and banging, sometimes even a few crashes. It's like NASCAR on two wheels."
Registration for the individual races, 17 in total, will take place at the Charles Mack Citizen Center beginning at 7:30 a.m. and closing 15 minutes prior to the start of each event. The cost is $33 for adults 19 and older, and $17 for juniors, ages 10 to 18.
Only North Carolina residents of 30 days or more are eligible for State Games medals, notes Boyd. Additionally, a cycling license is required. Unlicensed riders can purchase a one-day license at the registration site for $10.
Awards for the top three finishers in each event will be presented following the conclusion of each race, added Boyd.
For additional information on the Criterium, visit www.ncsports.org
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