Saturday, June 2 is the 19th Annual Ballard Criterium, a massive bike race that flies through historic Ballard.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=a4ZlhcJO_uE
Video from last year’s Crit, filmed and edited by Keith Bubach
The Ballard “Crit” as it’s popularly known, is hosted by Ballard’s Second Ascent. The race will bring more than 350 cyclists to Old Ballard, weaving through closed-off streets and reaching speeds of up to 30 mph. Truc Allen of Second Ascent, says the Crit, “distills road bike racing into its raw and aggressive elements by shortening the course to a spectator-friendly, single urban block. Think of it as a concentrated Tour de France or, better yet, the Formula 1 of cycling.”
There are six categories for the race, including both men’s and women’s races. The races last from between 25 to 70 minutes, and the first race kicks off at 3:30 p.m. The races end around 8:30 p.m. To register for the race, click here.
Thousands of people are expected to turn out for the event, and the race will start and end at Ballard Ave and 20th Ave NW. Expect road closures from 2:30 to 9 p.m. at the following streets:
