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MOLLY MOORHEADThe gold medalist will zip through Dade City and Zephyrhills this weekend. Don't blink or you'll miss him.
A man with golden credentials will compete in this weekend's Dade Battle of Brilliance bicycle races in Dade City and Zephyrhills.
Marty Nothstein, who won a gold medal in the match sprint event in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, will compete both Saturday night and Sunday.
Nothstein, 33, is also the current U.S. national champion in two events. He plans to compete in this summer's Olympic Games in Greece.
His presence, organizers say, is a big boost to the stature of the race, now in its fifth year.
"It's very big for us to have an Olympic gold medalist, and potentially another medalist for this summer's Games in Athens," said race director Tim Molyneaux.
Nothstein no doubt stiffens the competition.
"It definitely increases the level for the local pros," Molyneaux said. "It does raise the bar significantly. But it's good. Our local guys look forward to testing themselves against the big dogs, so to speak."
Organizer Jill Ricardo said last year's event drew about 450 racers. More than 500 are expected this year, including 75 to 100 professional cyclists.
Because the race has been expanded to two days in two cities, organizers are eager to know the local impact. A planned survey could help answer some questions, including where people are staying and how much money they're spending.
The weekend's races are known as criteriums, or short-course races of varying distances, usually 20 to 70 miles. The two courses are each about a mile long.
Saturday night's races in downtown Zephyrhills are generally for more experienced riders. They include a fast-lap exhibition race, 20-lap amateurs' race, and 30-mile professionals' race.
"Things develop a little faster," Molyneaux said. "Saturday night's kind of fast and furious."
The pros' race, which begins at 8 p.m., has a top prize of $1,000.
The longest race on Sunday, in downtown Dade City, is 100 kilometers, or about 60 miles. There are numerous categories, including races for kids on tricycles and hand-cyclers.
"Everybody can race that day," Molyneaux said.
The weekend's races are known as criteriums, or short-course races of varying distances, usually 20 to 70 miles. The two courses are each about a mile long.
The hours are 5-9 p.m. Saturday in Zephyrhills and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday in Dade City. The event benefits Toys for Tots and other local charities. Participants can register on race day.
Attendance is free for spectators, though people are asked to bring a toy to donate.
Street closings are as follows:
In Dade City, Meridian Avenue will be closed from Fourth Street to Old Lakeland Highway. Seventh Street (U.S. 301) will be closed between McMinn and Pineapple avenues. Fifth and Sixth streets will be closed between Pineapple and Church avenues. Closures will be in effect from 6:30 a.m. Sunday until about 5 p.m.
In Zephyrhills, Fifth Avenue will be closed from 11th Street to Seventh Street. Two blocks of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue will be closed: between 10th and 11th streets and between Seventh and Eighth streets. And Seventh and Eighth streets will be closed between Fifth and Martin Luther King Jr. avenues. The roads will be closed from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.