Photo provided The graphic shows the course for the bike race in downtown Columbus.
An inaugural closed-circuit bike race will take place in Columbus at the end of this month.
The Board of Public Works and Safety gave approval for The Bicycle Station’s Criterium Race Series, set for Sunday, June 30.
The Bicycle Station is a family-owned bike shop headquartered in Columbus — Business Development Manager Grace Washburn came to the meeting to give board members a brief overview.
The official USA Cycling race will circle a .86-mile radius in downtown Columbus from Washington to 5th, Lafayette and 8th streets.
Organizers are expecting between 100 and 150 participants and 200 to 300 people total at the event.
“We don’t really have a gauge on it since it’s the first year, but that’s what we’re shooting for,” Washburn said.
Five different categories of races are available for sign-up, varying in skill level, start time, distance and gender. Sign up costs $50.
“Category one is the top-level and so their race will be an hour for the men and 50 minutes for the women,” Washburn told board members. “And then going down to the category five races, (those) will be 30 minutes. So it’s how many laps they can do in that period.”
At the event, Upland Brewery will have a beer garden and Theo’s Brunchfest will bring a food truck.
There will also be a free kid’s race and “adult fun ride” for non-bike racers.
Washburn said they’ve hosted similar races in the past in Brown County and Madison, Indiana and received approval recently to host another in Jeffersonville.
Registration information can be found here.
