Bicycle race to close downtown streets

GAINESVILLE - The streets of downtown Gainesville will be transformed into an international cycling competition arena on Saturday evening.

Main Street Gainesville officials say racers returning from the Olympics will be present to race this short, closed criterium course.

Races start at 5:30 p,m. and the feature Pro/Am event begins at 8:30 p.m.

Parts of several streets in the downtown area - Spring, Green, Washington and West Academy - will be closed 5:00-11:00.

Criteriums, according to the organizers, are spectator-friendly bike racing venues that feature riders completing each lap in about one minute.

They added that America's top teams expected to attend include the Navigators Cycling team with Olympic Gold Medallist Marty Nothstein, Healthnet and their formidable road sprinter and Canadian Olympic team member Gord Fraser, and Webcor with Tour de Georgia winner Chris Horner.

Other events include kids' races at 8:00, a women's race at 7:15 and other amateur events starting at 5:30.

The course covers Washington Street from Green to W. Academy Street; W. Academy to Spring Street; Spring from W. Academy to Green; and Green back to Washington. The Start/finish line is on Washington at the Square.

The event is presented by Hayes Dodge and The Gainesville Times.