BEVERLY — Downtown Beverly will be transformed into a stage for world-class bike racing tomorrow with the second annual Fidelity Investments Gran Prix of Beverly.
Last year, hundreds of spectators lined Cabot, Hale and Dane streets for the inaugural race, and this year's event, scheduled as a part of Beverly Homecoming, is expected to draw an even bigger crowd.
"We wanted to pair it with the festival because it seemed like a good fit," said Paul Boudreau, executive director of the race. "We're trying to get more spectators, so rather than do things separately, we thought we'd try to pair up with the city and use their resources."
Boudreau said it was important for him and other Gran Prix organizers to work with city officials and Homecoming organizers to ensure that everybody benefited from the event.
"We're on the same day as the Lobster Festival, and not wanting to distract from the other events was very important to us," Boudreau said. "Mayor Scanlon's been very supportive of our event."
The Gran Prix of Beverly is a criterium race, or a high-speed race held on a short circuit course. Riders will reach speeds of up to 35 miles per hour as they repeatedly circle the course, which begins and ends at Cabot Street.
"People were really fascinated by the speed of the race and the sheer power of racers," said Bruce Doig, president of Beverly Homecoming. "There was this rush of wind out of the head of the racers."
There are three divisions — Open Women, Amateur Men and Elite Men — and a free kids' race, which will be held earlier in the afternoon on Beverly Common. Each of the four races will last about an hour and will consist of primes, smaller races within the overall race with cash prizes for the winners. Last year, St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church rang its bells to announce each prime.
Boudreau, who rode in last year's Gran Prix and will race again this year, said, "It's a pretty cool experience. One thing I told people who aren't familiar with racing, this kind of course is very technical and there are a lot of corners and turns that you need to take at speed."
The race has been designated a state championship by USA Cycling, which will draw in the area's most elite riders like Beverly resident Tim Johnson riding for UnitedHealthcare-Maxxis, Shawn Milne for Team Type 1 and last year's Elite Men division winner Benjamin Zawicki for Richmond Pro Cycling. Former Canadian national champion Lynne Bessette, Johnson's wife, is also expected to return to this year's Gran Prix for the women's race. Last year, Bessette came in second.
With all of these top competitors coming to Beverly, spectators are guaranteed to see a fast-paced, exciting evening of bike racing.
"Most people who see this race walk away and say, 'Wow, I didn't know people could do that on a bike,'" Boudreau said.
IF YOU GO
What: Fidelity Investments Gran Prix of Beverly
When: Tomorrow. Kids' registration, 4:30 to 5:15 p.m.; kids' races, 5:30 to 6 p.m.; amateur men, 4:30 p.m.; women's state championship race, 5:20 p.m.; elite men's state championship race, 6:35 p.m.
Where: Kids' races, Beverly Common; adult races, start/finish on Cabot Street
Street closures and detours: Starting at 3 p.m.
Closures
Dane at Hale
Ocean at Hale
Ocean at Lovett
Hale at Atlantic
Briscoe at Hale
Federal at Chapman
Pond at Cabot
Knowlton at Dane
Winter at Essex
Dane at Essex
Butman at Dane
Essex at Charnock
Rantoul at Federal
Hale at Lothrop
Detours
Bancroft and Hale
Federal at Cabot
Bow at Cabot
Bow at Chapman
Pond at Chapman
Butman at Charnock
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