Top Cyclists Will Race Through Beverly Hills on Sunday

Some of the world’s top bicycle racers will compete in the Subaru-Beverly Hills Cycling Invitational, a criterium (or street racing) for men and women presented in downtown Beverly Hills on Sunday by the Los Angeles Times.

The event, one of 14 races in seven cities, is part of the Subaru Cycling Classic Series. The 20-mile, 50-lap women’s race will start at noon, and the 30-mile, 75-mile men’s race at 1:30 p.m. over a half-mile course along Rodeo Drive, Brighton Way, Beverly Drive and little Santa Monica Boulevard.

Riders who will compete for a total purse of $30,000 and twice the usual number of series points include current point leaders Roberto Gaggioli of Italy and Betsy Davis of Hermosa Beach.

Others include Rebecca Twigg, a silver medalist in the 1984 Olympic Games, and Bunky Bankaitis , regarded as a top contender for a spot on the U.S. women’s team for the 1988 Olympics. Top teams include 7-Eleven and Tissot.

The invitational is sponsored by Subaru Western Region, Irvine, and Subaru of America, Cherry Hill, N.J. The last two events in the series will be held Aug. 28 in Seattle and Oct. 16 in Coconut Grove, Fla., a Miami suburb.