White Plains Criterium Bike Race Expands to Include Lifestyle/Leisure Expo
The White Plains Downtown Criterium will take place Sunday, June 8 from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. along a half-mile circuit that includes, Mamaroneck Avenue, Quarropas Street, Martine Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in White Plains.
A special highlight of the 2014 race is the inclusion of the New York State Championships, which will draw racers and spectators from across the region.
Court Street between Martine Avenue and Main Street will be the location of the first Lifestyle and Leisure Expo, presented by the City of White Plains and the White Plains Business Improvement District (BID), opening at 9 a.m. to provide racers and spectators with something to do between races.
The start/finish line for each race is at the intersection of the two streets, where awards will be presented after the completion of each race.
Free water and Dannon yogurt will be available along with screenings offered by health care and alternative health practitioners. ML Strength will have trainers on hand to help racers stretch and work out before and after their races.
Table tops with products and a vendor section featuring jewelry and Dafco primitive art will provide additional interest.
Brittany Brandwein, Director of Events and Business Promotions at the White Plains BID, said they are still working on bringing in more local business participation at the Expo.
“The total number of miles covered by all the races is 1,191,” Brandwein said. “That’s a lot of bicycles running the loop at high speeds. It’s going to be a great time and we are happy to be a part of it this year.”
The White Plains Criterium is a classic criterium course comprised of a .5 mile loop with four corners and sloping streets through downtown White Plains. A Criterium, also known as a “crit”, is a high speed, action-packed bike race held on a race course closed to traffic. Individuals and teams race around the course in a pack returning to the starting point every two to three minutes, making the race a terrific spectator sport. Colorful, non-stop action is the rule as riders negotiate tight turns at high speed jockeying for position for the final sprint to the finish.
The New York State Bicycle Racing Association chose White Plains, which continues to gain popularity and recognition for its cycling races, for the state championships. “It’s an honor for the City of White Plains as well as for Westchester County,” said Joe Markey the race promoter.
This year’s major sponsors include KeyBank, Captain Lawrence Brewing Co., Bicycle World of Mt Kisco, Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, and Prospero Wines. All excess proceeds from the race are given to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence/Westchester, Inc. based in downtown White Plains.
In a statement announcing the event Joan Bonsignore, Executive Director of NCADD/Westchester said: “Proceeds from the Criterium will enable us to grow our new Elementary School Program. 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.
