Downtown to Be Site of Bicycle Races, Run

Primed for a fast and frenzied race, as many as 100 cyclists Sunday will speed around a rectangular course through the streets of downtown Ventura.

“We’re hoping to bring bike racing to the community,” said Tren Morris, 31, assistant manager of Open Air Bicycles in Ventura, one of the race’s sponsors.

Known as the Ventura Classic, the event will become annual if Sunday’s races are successful, Morris said.

The first race, designed for licensed competitors 35 and older, begins at 8 a.m. It will take cyclists on a 30-lap jaunt bounded by Main, Ash, Poli, and California streets.

The second race starts at 10 a.m. It will feature professionals vying for $3,000 in prize money over 50 laps.

At 9:15 a.m. a 5K run will be held, comprising about four laps of the cycling course.