The Leonardtown Criterium is Back!

The first bike arrived in Leonardtown via steamship over 131 years ago in 1879, and in 2010, the bikes are back!  The 13th Leonardtown Criterium bicycle race will be held on Sunday, May 16 from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.  Sponsored by Patuxent Velo, the official Southern Maryland cycling club, this high-energy bicycle race features five racing categories and will send professional cyclists on a 0.7 mile course through Leonardtown.

Racers have the option of entering the Junior Division or the Masters Division, which are divided into Men’s and Women’s categories. Kids are invited to participate in the Street Sprints event, which is free and open to kids under 10 years of age.

Registration is now available on http://www.bikereg.com/, but racers can also register by completing and mailing the registration form found on the Patuxent Velo website at http://bit.ly/ch1gbI, or in person on race day starting at 7:30 a.m. Registration closes 15 minutes prior to the beginning of each event. All riders must have a USAC racing license. One-day license applications will be available at the registration desk on race day for Cat 5 Men or Cat 4 Women only.

Spectators are invited to come out and cheer from the sidelines along the Leonardtown Square as the cyclists race past!  Many Leonardtown businesses will be open during the event and some will be offering specials. For more information on all there is to see and do in Leonardtown, visit the St. Mary’s County Division of Tourism website, http://www.visitstmarysmd.com/.

For more information on the Leonardtown Criterium, contact Hans Welch at 240-925-4806 or visit http://www.paxvelo.com/.

Photo by Tom Roland.