Pittsburg bringing pro cycling to East Contra Costa

Pittsburg bringing pro cycling to East Contra Costa

Posted Date: 5/2/2011

By Rick Radin
Contra Costa Times

Posted: 04/28/2011 07:13:40 PM PDT

Updated: 04/29/2011 01:57:54 PM PDT

Pittsburg is adding to its array of events to draw crowds to its refurbished downtown with a bicycle race May 7 that will include some of pro cycling's big names.
The Pittsburg Twilight Criterium will include about 600 cyclists in men's and women's races around a ¾-mile course.
Among the top competitors will be Oakland resident Fred Rodriguez, a three-time national cycling champion, and Coryn Rivera, who is dominating the U.S. women's cycling circuit, said Ryan Chamberlain, of Project Sport in San Francisco, the event promoter.
Both races will have a total purse of $10,000 in cash and equipment, Chamberlain said.
"We have experience working with cities to get foot traffic to the downtown area," he said. "They were looking for something that could draw the public down there."
Pittsburg restaurants and other businesses will be "opening up their doors and coming out into the street" for the event, said Alexandra Endress of the sponsoring Pittsburg Arts and Community Foundation.
The cycling races will run along Third, Railroad, Eighth and Black Diamond streets from 2 to 9 p.m.
Sponsors have incorporated a health and fitness component into the event.
InShape Fitness will be providing 30-minute-long fitness classes, including spinning, Pilates and yoga.
Rounding out the all-day event will be a 5k run on the cycling course ($20 entry fee), a 3-point shootout tournament, and numerous activities for kids, Endress said.
A health and wellness village will include healthful cooking demonstrations with free food samples, and free blood pressure, body fat, glucose and cholesterol screenings.
"This was Councilwoman Nancy Parent's vision," Endress said. "She thought it would be a great way to highlight sport, fitness and health."
The day will kick off at 9 a.m. with the first farmers market of the season.
The city hopes to make the race an annual downtown event, Chamberlain said, joining the fall Seafood Festival and a series of weekly car shows during the summer.
Parking and shuttle service will be available from City Hall and the Pittsburg-Bay Point BART station.
Contact Rick Radin at 925-779-7166.

If YOU GO
What: Pittsburg Twilight Criterium and Fitfest 2011
When: 9 a.m.-9:30 p.m. May 7
Where: Eighth to Third streets, along Railroad