SUFFIELD, CT — Drivers in part of Suffield should expect delays Sunday morning as cyclists from a major race pass through town.
The Ironman Western Massachusetts 70.3-mile race is scheduled for Sunday, June 7, between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., according to Suffield police.
Police said the bike route will run south from Agawam, Massachusetts, on Route 75 before riders turn right onto Mountain Road. Cyclists will then continue on Mountain Road to Warnertown Road before crossing into Southwick, Massachusetts.
The first riders are expected to enter Suffield around 6:30 a.m. The last cyclist is required to leave town by 9:05 a.m., police said.
Police said the cyclists will be moving quickly, with some riders reaching speeds close to 30 mph. Riders are expected to slow down on the hill from the Stones area past Sunrise Park before the road levels off later on Mountain Road.
Residents are being urged to avoid the area Sunday morning until the cyclists are out of town. Anyone who must travel through the area should be patient and use caution around bicycles, police said.
Five Suffield officers will be posted along the route to manage bike and vehicle traffic. Connecticut State Police motorcycles will also travel the route to help warn drivers and protect riders, according to police.
The race is described by Ironman as an early-season Northeast event that takes athletes through a mix of city and countryside settings. According to the Ironman website, the event includes a 1.2-mile swim in the Connecticut River, a 56-mile bike ride through New England farms and landscapes, and a run course that passes through Springfield’s Forest Park before finishing in downtown Springfield.
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