Bicycle race scheduled for California
CALIFORNIA — Downtown California will be the site of a day of bicycle racing in August.
Borough council recently approved the use of four borough streets for the California Grand Prix being organized by the Appalachian Bicycle Racing Association (ABRA).
J.R. Petsko of ABRA said the racing association is affiliated with USA Cycling, a Colorado-based organization that selects cyclists for the U.S. Olympic team, and USA Cycling is providing $3 million in insurance for the race in California. All racers must be licensed by the USAC, with temporary one-day licenses available.
Petsko said first-year events generally attract about 125 riders and 100 spectators. The Criterium race is a closed-course road race on flat roads, Petsko said, with participants riding for either 45 or 60 minutes depending on their classification. Professional racers ride for the longer time, with the winner determined by the greatest distance traveled in the time limit. The course is generally about a half-mile loop, Petsko said.
“It’s not unheard of for them to do 26 laps,” Petsko said. “That’s one thing about Criterium racing, it’s very spectator-friendly. An art walk, a chili cook-off, that type of thing, goes well with a Criterium.”
The race has been set for 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, pending receipt of permits to close a section of Third Street, which is state Route 88. The course is tentatively set for Wood, Second, Ash and Third streets. Council members said they would work with the borough’s recreation authority and others to develop a festival-like atmosphere in conjunction with the race.
“I think this will be a good event got the community and I would like to see our community organizations participate by selling food or whatever, like they do for homecoming,” said Mayor Casey Durdines.
Petsko said cyclists like to eat and that restaurants near race sites tend to see an increase in business on race days. Petsko said most of the racers for ABRA events generally come from between Pittsburgh and Morgantown, W.Va., with a few from outside that area.
Petsko said racers are divided by category, based on gender and experience.
There also is a junior classification and a free fun race for children younger than age 12, which generally involves the children riding for no more than one lap.
All children participating in that event will receive a medal, Petsko said.
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