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The Toronto Criterium is back at St.
Lawrence Market - Toronto's first downtown bike race in 17 years
Toronto — Professional cyclists are
gearing up for Toronto's first downtown bike race in 17 years.
The Toronto Criterium at St. Lawrence Market will take place
Friday, May 30 on a road circuit in the city's historic St.
Lawrence Market district (see attached map). Many of Canada's
top bike road racers are expected to compete. Race organizer
Ziggy Martuzalski has already noticed overwhelming interest in
the event from across Ontario, Quebec and the Great Lake States
Criterium races are popular in urban centres all over the
world. They feature a short, looping course with sharp corners.
Bike speeds can reach thigh-burning speeds of up to 70
kilometers per hour. The frantic pace and tight corners make for
an exciting spectator event.
The Toronto Criterium kicks off with a Children's Race at 5:45
pm. Anyone under 18 is welcome to participate. Competitive
cycling begins at 6:00 pm with Masters level amateur races. The
professional and elite athletes race at 7:30 pm. Each of the
competitive races last for one and a half hours.
"I am ecstatic that we have been able to bring this classic
event back to this beautiful and historic venue," says
Councillor Adrian Heaps, Chair of the Toronto Cycling Committee
adding, "This is a showcase event in our Bike Month activities;
it is a sign that the City openly embraces cycling both as a
sporting event as well as a vital mode of transportation ."
Racers can register for this Ontario Cycling Association
sanctioned race at
www.ontariocycling.org.
The total value of prizes for the race is $20,000.
Spectators will also be able to browse the Bike Expo in Bercyz
Park behind Toronto's historic Flat Iron Building where world
class manufacturers and Toronto bike retailers such as
Cervélo, Duke's, Toronto Trek Store, Racer Sportif, Skiies and
Biikes, Sweet Pete's Bike Shop, KHS Bikes, Rocky Mountain Bikes,
RB Inc, Velend Tech and Opus Bikes will be exhibiting
the latest in bikes and bike related equipment.
The Criterium builds on Toronto's long heritage of bike racing.
From 1894 to 1927, the City hosted the annual Dunlop Trophy
Race, attracting North America's top competitors. Now the
Criterium at St. Lawrence Market is poised to once again take
over as Toronto's premier bike race.
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