Saturday's Bike Race Could Draw 300-500 Cyclists

A busy construction season in Ann Arbor foiled plans for a weekend-long celebration of cycling in Washtenaw County, but Saline will still host the Tour of Washtenaw event Saturday.

Originally, the tour was to include events in Ann Arbor on Friday and Sunday.

"There is a construction project in downtown Ann Arbor that prevented the safe operation of the criterium event there. Perhaps we will revisit it next year," said Dieter Drake, of Anthem Sports, which is organizing the event.

That means all the focus shifts to Saturday's event in Saline. Drake is hoping for 300-500 registrants by race day, and expects to grow that number each year.

The event is a 55-mile course for most riders and 80 miles for the pros.

The race organizers have dropped the fee from $75 to $50 for the 55-mile event and $85 to $60 for the 80-mile event. Juniors pay $25 to race in a 55-mile event.

Downtown Director Art Trapp is coordinating 90 volunteers for the event.

There is a business expo being held in the South Ann Arbor Street parking lot from 10:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. The expo features music, food served by the Kiwanis and Lions Clubs, a beverage which will serve beer and wine, inflatable rides for kids, a kids' bike rodeo and bicycle riding instruction for kids. There will also be several bicycle-related  vendors on hand at the expo.

The first races will begin at 11 a.m.

For more on registration, visit http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=12885