Galion will welcome bicyclists and runners to town this Saturday for the Galion CritFest. The event features a criterium, or a bicycle race with numerous short laps but high speeds. A 5K run/walk and 10K run are also part of the event.

Cycling Sports Center organized and will host the event on June 11. The Mayor’s Office and the police chief assisted in planning the logistics for the event. The Street Department will help flag traffic while event organizers paint directional arrows for the courses, and will also set up street barricades on the day of the event for intersection closures.

Roads will be open along the 5k and 10k courses, but several portions of streets and intersections will be closed beginning at noon for the bicycle races.

The section of Harding Way from South Boston Street to Liberty Street will be closed. The detour route for eastbound traffic will be Jefferson Street to Church Street to North East Street. Reverse for westbound traffic. The Church Street overpass will be re-open to traffic by Saturday.

Portions of the following residential streets will be temporarily closed:

South Liberty Street – from Harding Way East to East Atwood Street

East Atwood Street – from Liberty Street to South Market Street

South Market Street – from West Atwood Street to East Walnut Street

West Walnut Street – from South Market Street to South Boston Street

South Boston Street – from West Walnut Street to Harding Way West

Event organizers are working with businesses located within the course to ensure customers have access during the event. The registration area will be set up in the Time Warner Cable parking lot and races will begin and end to the east of the Public Square. Participants and spectators will be encouraged to visit Uptowne restaurants for food and drink needs. Merchandise vendors (no food) will be set up on Market Street.

Fifty participants have registered as of June 6. People may sign up at www.galioncritfest.com or by registering at the event. For more information about CritFest, call Cycling Sports Center at 419-462-2543 or email [email protected].

The CritFest schedule is:

8:00 am -10:45 am – 5K run

8:15 am -10:45 am -10K run

11:00 am -11:30 am – Free kids’ bicycle races for ages 6-14

12:15 pm – 6:00 pm – USA Cycling sanctioned races

6:30 pm – 7:45 pm – Women’s professional/semi-professional race

8:00 pm – 9:30 pm – Men’s professional/semi-professional race