Discover Walla Walla

The 13th annual Tour of Walla Walla bicycle race is approaching, and event organizers are in high gear planning mode. Four stages will be contested over three days from April 17 to 19.

The race has become a major community event. Five hundred lycra-clad racers and their entourages converge on Walla Walla from all over the northwest. Though riders come from all over the U.S. and even the world, the majority are from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana or British Columbia.

The downtown "criterium" is a popular spectator event. The riders circle around a one-mile loop multiple times for a set amount of time. It's fast and furious, requiring superb bike handling skills in a tight fluid pack. This year the crit as racers call it will be Saturday night under lights, lending added excitement for racers and spectators alike.

Participants are divided into groups by experience, ability and gender. Race distances vary by group.

The weekend begins Friday afternoon with a "road race" on roads north of Waitsburg. The expert men ride 62 miles, including 5,000 feet of total elevation gain. Then on Saturday morning is the "time trial," which some people call the test of truth. Riders start individually to complete the nine-mile course as fast as possible. No drafting is allowed. Saturday evening is the criterium, and Sunday is another road race, where the expert men tackle 95 miles with 6,000 feet of elevation gain.

Winners are determined by total accumulated time over the four stages. The best rider will be a good "all-arounder," adept at hilly road races, twisty criteriums and wind-exposed time trials.

The criterium starts at 5:30 PM with a free kids race, followed by the stage race contestants. The first group starts at 6:00. The expert men start at 9:35. For a full schedule, call Allegro Cyclery at 509 525-4949.
Where else can you see finely muscled bodies in tight lycra?