Indianapolis Cycling Club   NUVO / Cultural Trail Cycling Team

INDIANAPOLIS – Carrying on the reputation as “amateur sports capital of the world,” the Indianapolis Cultural Trail/NUVO Cycling Team is planning a downtown Indianapolis race in the heart of the Mass Ave Cultural District on Saturday, August 16 from 7:30 a.m. to Noon. Race planners hope that the Indianapolis Cultural Trail Mass Ave Criterium, presented by NUVO and The Indianapolis Foundation, will be an annual event, inviting local families and visitors to enjoy exciting amateur cycling racing, a bicycle safety rodeo, and European-like festival experience. The race promises to bring elite cycling up close and personal as riders from the Midwest compete for $5,000 in prizes at speeds up to 35 mph. The course, set to start/finish at 660 Massachusetts Ave. near the Firefighters Union Hall, will close Massachusetts Ave., College Ave., and North St., for the duration of the race. Pedestrians and cars will be allowed to cross these streets mid-race. Seven races will be held in the following categories and times: Men 4/5* -------- 7:30 a.m. BGI Men 3/4 ----- 8:20 a.m. MAS 30+ --------- 9:10 a.m. Men 35+ 3/4/5 --- 9:55 a.m. Women Open ------ 9:55 a.m. Kids’ Races** --- 10:40 a.m. (Free for children age 12 and under) Men 1/2/3 ------- 11:00 a.m. *class/ranking ** Kids’ Race – Participants must bring their own bicycle. Helmets provided as necessary. Children will race in heats by age group. All participants must register prior to race at Athenaeum, 401 E. Michigan St. A “Criterium” race is a mass-start race typically held on a course of four or more corners under one mile in length. Competitors race for a designated time and at the end of that time they have three to five laps to finish. If a cyclist has a flat tire of suffers a crash, he or she can re-enter the race without penalty, unless the incident occurs during the final laps and the cyclist would be disqualified. “Indianapolis has a strong tradition of cycling witnessed by the Major Taylor Velodrome and numerous state and national champions on the road and the track. It is fitting that Indianapolis is the host for the state's premier criterium,” said Kevin McKinney, editor and publisher of NUVO newsweekly, who also rides with the Indianapolis Cultural Trail/NUVO Cycling Team. “Mass Ave is very excited about hosting this inaugural race,” said David Andrichik, owner Chatterbox Jazz Club, 435 Massachusetts Ave. “Our merchants regularly work together on these special events that benefit our cultural district and compliment our regularly scheduled quarterly celebrations. For example, in support of the IndyFringe Theatre Festival in August, many are offering ten percent off purchases.” A bicycle safety rodeo for children and families beginning at 9:00 a.m., next to the Survive Alive and the Firefighters Union Hall, will teach bicycling safety and maintenance and distribute free children’s helmets while supplies last. Race registration, a bicycling information fair, awards ceremony and post-race party will be held in the Athenaeum, 401 E. Michigan St., from Noon to 4:00 p.m. The YMCA in the Athenaeum will also offer free showers for racing cyclists. The Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick is sponsoring the event through a grant from The Indianapolis Foundation, a CICF affiliate. “We are very excited to be a part of this event that, like the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, promotes cycling, health, and our Cultural Districts,” said Brian Payne, president of Central Indiana Community Foundation and The Indianapolis Foundation. The northeast corridor of Indianapolis Cultural Trail begins construction this fall and will connect the first completed corridor along Alabama St. to the Monon Trail through the Mass Ave Cultural District. After the race, competitors and spectators are invited to a post-race party in the Rathskeller Biergarten with live music, brats, beer and other beverages. For those who wish to cycle to the event, a Pedal and Park facility will be located in the Dean Johnson Design parking lot, 646 Massachusetts Ave. The Central Indiana Bicycling Association is also planning a group ride to the event. Visit www.ciba-ride.org for more details. All IndyGo Fixed Route buses are equipped with bike racks. Each bus can carry two bikes at a time. Visit www.IndyGo.net/riding_tips for more information. Free parking will be available at the English Foundation Building, 615 N. Alabama St., and at the Athenaeum, 401 E. Michigan St. For more information or to register, visit www.bengasports.com or call 765.620.8358.