dewalt tools : El Cajon bicycle Grand Prix race set for Sunday

If you plan to be in downtown El Cajon on Sunday, prepare to see a blur of bicyclists whizzing by.

The fifth annual El Cajon Grand Prix bike race will begin at 7 a.m. Sunday, with the last race scheduled at 4:30 p.m. The race is expected to draw more than 1,500 racers and close to 3,000 spectators, said Tammy House, race director and participant.

“The atmosphere is exciting,” she said. “There's a lot of crowd participation.”

Traffic will be closed on Main Street between Avocado and Sunshine avenues and on surrounding streets.

Participants must have a “race license,” which can be obtained the day of the race, House said. The race is a “criterium competition,” in which racers are timed while lapping around a street course that is usually under 1 mile.

Many of the participants will be professional racers.

“The racing is very fast,” House said. “People reach speeds of 37 to 40 miles per hour.”

This year's course has more turns, she said, so racers can expect a more challenging ride.

A children's race will begin at 11:30 a.m. for cyclists ages 4 to 10. Every child will receive a T-shirt and medal. Signups for that race start at 10 a.m. at Prescott Promenade in downtown El Cajon.

The event is presented by the city of El Cajon, Big Ring Racing and DeWalt Tools.

By Sharon A. Heilbrunn