A Patrick Coveney Photo Gallery: Geneva Grand Prix Bicycle Race Draws Thousands

More than 600 bicyclists, from local amateurs to internationally-sponsored professionals, competed in the annual Geneva Grand Prix races Saturday. The racers were spread throughout seven individual events, beginning at 10 a.m. and finally ending around 8 p.m.

The event was sponsored by ,  and the city of Geneva and is the second stop on the International Cycling Classic's Super Week Pro Tour. Racers had to navigate a brand new course layout which diverted riders away from the Third Street shopping district and instead featured a treacherous corner at Fifth Street and South Street, which featured mulitiple wipeouts.

Spectators lined the streets, cheering on their friends and family as the competitors navigated a 0.8-mile course, starting and finishing on Seventh Street at Franklin Street. The races varied in length from 24 to 75 laps, covering between 16 and 68 miles.

Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns welcomed the athletes and fans to Geneva before the start of the final heat—the professional 100km race.

Images from the races are featured in the accompanying photo gallery.