Cyclists Grab Look at Roswell Criterium

On Tuesday, three members of the Competitive Cyclist Racing Team got to take a look at Canton Street, where they will be racing in the Historic Roswell Criterium on April 29.

This will be the 11th year for the criterium, which starts and finishes on Canton Street.

“It is special because you are riding downtown,” said Cesar Grajales, 38, of Colombia, who has raced in the United States for nine years. “It is a great environment to be racing.”

Grajales has raced in Roswell before, but teammates Phil Grenfell of Australia and Thomas Rabou of The Netherlands were getting their first look at the venue.
Grajales explained, “This has become part of the cycling scene in the United States.”

The criterium is popular because Roswell has so many bicyclists and because there are less serious races for children sandwiched by the day’s feature races.

Kids races are for those ages 6 to 12 who complete the Safety Rodeo earlier in the day. The rodeo, which opens at 2 p.m., is sponsored by The Historic Roswell Kiwanis Club. The kids rodeo and kids races are free.

“We celebrate cycling in Roswell and we bring the best cyclists in the country here,” said Mayor Jere Wood. “So Roswell is the leader in the state of Georgia for bicycling.”

On April 29, racing begins at 10 a.m. with a 35-and-over race. The day wraps up with 80 top women pros starting at 3:55 p.m., kids races take place at 5 p.m. and the feature men’s pro race takes place at 6 p.m. One hundred twenty racers will compete in the men’s pro.

There is no charge for spectators. Thousands of people visit Roswell during the criterium to watch the races.

New Belgium Brewing Company will have two open beer gardens on Canton Street from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

“Bring the kids, your dog, a picnic lunch and enjoy a great day in historic Roswell,” Wood said.

For more information visit, www.roswellcriterium.com.