With bike lanes galore and sunny skies nearly all year around, South Tempe and West Chandler are ideally suited for cycling.
Organizers of the Sun Devil Criterium Bike Race are hoping that cyclists will show up in droves for the Feb. 7 race. Proceeds benefit the Tempe Sister Cities program.
A criterium, often called a crit, is a race around a closed circuit and, as such, they tend to be more spectator friendly. Rather than camping out at various points along a trek, spectators get to see the riders pass multiple times. The Sun Devil Criterium’s course is around the iconic Grady Gammage Auditorium on the Tempe campus of Arizona State University.
The event consists of 15 separate events with races for men, women, pros, teens and “Masters” (read: over age 35 and 45 for men and over age 35 and 50 for women). Races vary in length from 20 to 60 minutes.
Prizes vary and consist of cash, merchandise, trophies and points. Food trucks, music, announcers and a Starbucks truck, as well as a fitness and wellness expo, are included in the fun. There’s even a community beach-cruiser relay race that children and families can enjoy.
Tempe has 10 Sister Cities across the globe, connecting students and their families in a web of friendship, understanding and cultural appreciation. The Sun Devil Criterium Bike Race is an effort to raise funds for the program.
For information on race times, eligibility and to register, visit asucycling.org.
