Criterium Takes Over Downtown White Plains
It was the perfect day for a race as hundreds of professional and amateur cyclists descended on White Plains Sunday morning to participate in the Second Annual KeyBank White Plains Downtown Criterium.
A Criterium, also known as a “crit,” is a high speed, action-packed bike race held on a race course closed to automobile traffic. Individuals and teams race around the course in a pack returning to the starting point every two to three minutes.
Along the course in White Plains spotters whistled to alert pedestrians when the racers were coming up the street to make the way clear for the speeding bicycles.
The course took cyclists past the White Plains Public Library, up Martine Avenue, along Mamaroneck Avenue for one block to Quarropas and back around.
Competitors came from all over the Tri-State area and represented varying strength and endurance levels. Some contestants came from as far as North Carolina and California.
The races began at 7 a.m. and ran to 2 p.m. in the afternoon.
Cheering on the White Plains teams: In the Men’s Category 3/4 Open, Alvaro Betancur with the Cafeteros Cycling Club, placed 48; in the Men’s Pro Category 1/2/3 Open, Pascual Caputi placed 29th; Johnie Way of the Major Taylor Iron Riders Development Team placed 12th in the Men’s Category 4 Open; Volker Neumann placed 12th, Roberto Ripari placed 17th, Matt Weiss placed 18th and Trey Buttriss placed 32nd in the Men’s Category 5 Open; Alvaro Betancur placed 28th in the Men’s Masters.
There was a Women’s Pro Category 1/2/3/4 Open, but no competitors from White Plains participated.
The review stand and finish line were at Court Street on Martine Avenue
Event sponsors include KeyBank, Captain Lawrence Brewing Company, Bicycle World of Mt. Kisco and Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits.
All excess proceeds benefitted the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency/Westchester (NCADD/Westchester) headquartered in White Plains.
“Proceeds from the Criterium will enable us to grow our new Elementary School Program,” said Joan Bonsignore, Executive Director of NCADD/Westchester. “Every family is affected by substance abuse and addictions. Life skills teaching programs such as ours, have received the highest rating from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. By supporting the Council you are partnering with us and helping to improve the quality of life for thousands of Westchester families.
Visit www.ncaddwestester.org for more information.
