The first ever Kirkland Criterium is coming to town, and it’s creating quite a buzz in the process.
The road bicycle race is Aug. 10. Planners hope the criterium will become an annual race, perhaps even a festival-type event.
A criterium is a bike race on a short course, usually on closed-off city streets. A criterium is shorter than typical road races, making for a faster pace among the riders. The race runs for a set length of time, and the first rider to cross the finish line — without having been lapped — wins.
Race director David Visintainer has played a big role in taking the event from a great idea to a fun reality. Visintainer, president of the Washington State Bicycle Association, had tossed around the idea of a bike race in Kirkland with friends and neighbors for some time before officially getting the process started about a year and a half ago.
The Kirkland race is the first one the Redmond resident has put on. After months of planning and working with the city, the sponsors and everything else that’s gone into making the criterium happen, he’s looking forward to finally seeing the wheels hit the pavement.
“I want to get the city excited about this,” Visintainer said. “There’s been a lot of enthusiasm with community businesses.”
The Visintainer vision has become reality in large part because of the presence and popularity of cycling in the Kirkland community.
Local businesses sponsoring the race include: uBRDO Cycle and Mountain Supply, Oriel Cafe, the Kirkland Downtown Association, www.KirklandViews.com and Design Within Reach. The Wilde Rover Irish Pub and Restaurant is acting as the race host while the The Heathman is putting up riders.
Citing too much work to do running the event, Visintainer won’t be riding Sunday.
“I’m more of a person who wants to help benefit other people rather than myself,” he said. “It will be really exciting just to see people out there racing.”
Seattle’s Mike Hone, tabbed as the “Creative Super Guy” of the event, said the criterium will be back next summer if the event can gain some momentum and have a successful first showing.
Hone, who hasn’t won a race this year but has placed second or third in a few, said he will have his “full squad” of Kryki Sports teammates at the race. As long as his team does well, he’s not too worried about how well he places personally.
The event offers races for children, as well as men and women ranked category 3 or better by USA Cycling (USAC).
Prizes range from ribbons in the children’s race to $750 and merchandise in the men’s “pro/category 1-2” race.
Visintainer said he expects the men’s races to be nearly full, while 50 riders would be a good turnout on the women’s side.
As the race expands and brings in more money, it can offer bigger prizes, which will bring in more riders from a wider area, Hone said.
The course starts at the intersection of Central Way and Lake Street and travels along Central Way, Market Street, Kirkland Avenue and Main Street. Each lap is approximately .6 of a mile. Race setup starts at 3 p.m. The roads will be closed by 5 p.m.
To race in the criterium, riders must have an USAC annual license (except Kid’s race). To purchase a license, visit www.usacycling.org. For more information about the race or a course map, go to www.kirklandcriterium.com.
