GREENFIELD — The intense bike race known as the Greenfield Criterium will be returning to city streets for the third year in a row.
The Greenfield Criterium will fly off on Sunday, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The race will be the start of New England Crit Week, which brings cyclists to five different cities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire to compete for team and individual prizes.
According to race organizer and participant Lydia Hausle, the races are different than other road races people may be used to, such as the Tour de France, due to it being lap-based, with shorter distances and times.
Hausle said the races last between 45 and 60 minutes, with racers passing by spectators more frequently than longer races.
“Crit racing allows for a bit more of a dynamic. You can see people come by every minute instead of every hour or two,” Hausle said.
And spectators can be close to the action, as riders take tight turns, nearly edging curbs along the four-street course in downtown Greenfield.
Riders will be starting on Franklin Street, then travel down Church, High and Main streets. The roads will be closed off during the race, from intersection to intersection, beginning at 8 a.m. and lasting until 4 p.m. Free parking is allowed throughout areas of the city, except on the streets the race is on.
The roads will be open to spectators. Signs will direct traffic to detours, and police and volunteers will be at the site to assist spectators and others in the area.
The race is open to professionals, amateurs and junior racers between 14 and 18 years old. Participation costs $20 for juniors, $40 for amateurs and $45 for professionals. Amateurs and juniors also receive free criterium racing clinics before their races.
A total of seven races will take place beginning at 8:30 a.m. Professional women will race at 1:45 p.m., and professional men will race at 3 p.m. Each group will be competing for prizes both individually and as part of a team, including a total of $1,000 in prizes for professionals.
You can reach Dan Desrochers at:
ddesrochers@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 257