World Class Bicycle Racing Comes to Los Gatos on Saturday

Hundreds of bicycle racers will take on the challenging 328-foot-long/100-meter Nicholson Avenue hill—Cat's Hill to locals—this Saturday, May 5 during the 39th annual race in the Almond Grove historic district.

The all-day event, which begins at 8:30 a.m., is presented by the Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club and its title sponsor is

Proceeds benefit the LGBRC's bicycle race-training programs for adults and children, and also the Los Gatos High School Marching Band.

The course goes around Tait-Bean-Massol-Nicholson/Ellenwood-Belmont-Bachman-Tait, clockwise, one-mile loop with the start/finish line at Tait and Nicholson avenues.

The hill presents a steep climb of 23 percent, five 90-degree right turns and one 90-degree left turn, making it a grueling competition, according to organizers.

Cat’s Hill T-shirts will also be available for $10 on race day.

A current USA Cycling license must be presented at registration (one-day or annual USA Cycling licenses may be purchased at registration).

The LGBRC, named the number-one amateur cycling club in the USA on four occasions, has presented the Cat's Hill Classic bicycle race continuously since 1974 making it one of the oldest cycling races in the US.

Race categories include a children's ride, which will be divided into two age groups: Ages 6 and younger and ages 7 through 9 years old for a total of 96 participants. Registration for this part of the event is from 8:30-11 a.m. The distance is about 0.2 miles, or about one long flat block with no turns. The ride will start promptly at 12:30 p.m. on the corner of Bean and Tait avenues, near St. Mary’s Church.

There will be vendor booths on Nicholson Avenue between Tait and Massol avenues.

The women’s top category race will run for one hour starting at 3:55 p.m. The men’s professional and top-level class race will start at 5 p.m. and last for one hour and fifteen minutes.