Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The city of LaGrange will take part in the first-ever LaGrange Cycling Classic next weekend.

The competitive biking event features hundreds of professional and amateur bicyclists.

This inaugural cycling criterium is a part of the USA CRITS Speed Week Series, which encases an intense, competitive race on a closed-loop, multi-lap circuit criterium along the streets of downtown LaGrange.

Including LaGrange, eight cities participate in the event. The event is usually held in spring but was moved to August due to COVID. The plan is to revert back to its spring schedule if COVID calms down, said Bill Hunnicutt, executive director of the Downtown LaGrange Development Authority.

LaGrange was included in the event by chance, Hunnicutt said.

“When the event shifted from April to August, one of the cities…and I got the call to put us in, and more importantly, leave us in t going forward,” Hunnicut said.

Hunnicut said he hopes the event will bring an economical spark for the participating businesses in LaGrange.

“What we want it to grow into is a full-on family-friendly and fun festival-type atmosphere,” Hunnicutt said.

“This is an opportunity for LaGrange to plug into an already successful series. We want to make sure that the racers and the race people have a great experience.”

Downtown LaGrange Development Authority will be hosting this event in the streets of downtown LaGrange. 

In preparation, the city will close several roads in downtown beginning  Friday morning.

Broome Street from Bull Street to Main Street will be closed to traffic beginning at 8 a.m. Friday, Aug. 27

Main Street from Byron Hurst Street/East Depot Street to South Lafayette Square (Vernon Street), Bull Street from South Lafayette Square (Vernon Street) to Byron Hurst Street and Byron Hurst Street from Bull Street to Main Street will be closed to traffic and parking beginning 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27.

South Lafayette Square (Vernon Street) from Bull Street to Main Street and East Lafayette Square & West Lafayette Square will be closed to traffic and parking beginning 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27.

Businesses and downtown sidewalks will remain open for the flow of pedestrians and spectators during the event set up and for the duration of the event.

The streets will open back up to traffic and parking at around 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27.

Motorists are encouraged to use Broad Street as an alternate route.

For more information on this event, go to www.lagrangecyclingclassic.com.

This event is free and open to the public.

Register online at www.bikereg.com. Online registration closes on Aug. 24, 2021, at 11:59 p.m.

A $10 late fee will be charged for day-of entries each time you register. On-site registration and number pick-up will open 1.5 hours before the first race is scheduled to start and will close 30 minutes before each race begins.

Each racer must have a valid 2021 USAC or international racing license. One-day licenses are available for $10 for races open to category 5 men and category 5 women. Experienced racers (Cat 4+ Men, Cat 3+ women) may only pre-purchase a one-day license through their USAC account.