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Palm Harbor gears up for festival of bike races

By NICOLE J. HUTCHESON
Published February 19, 2007

PALM HARBOR - It's not the Tour de France, but it may be the closest thing Palm Harbor gets to the exhilarating cycling competition.

The second annual Gearlink Cup Festival, a daylong series of races for professional and amateur cyclists, is slated to hit the downtown streets March 10.

Last year's festival was held in Tampa and drew nearly 500 cyclists, said race director Mirek Magdziak.

The cycling organization, based in Clearwater, approached the Old Palm Harbor Main Street Association last month about bringing the event to the area.

"We were looking for a Pinellas County location," said Magdziak, who has raced professionally in his native Poland and in the United States. "We got a warm welcome and they helped us a lot. We're looking for a long-term partner to have events."

Old Palm Harbor Main Street president Lesley Klein said, "It's definitely a new experience; it will bring a lot of people to downtown."

In addition to the race, Magdziak, along with his business partner and coach, Jared Zimlin, run a racing team. Their goal is to identify local talent and train them to compete. This year, some of the Gearlink racers will compete nationally, Zimlin said.

"We get the riders from the local community - all beginners - and we teach them how to ride better, how to race, they learn the skills," Magdziak said. "So we have strong roots, background, and it's a natural progression."

In the Palm Harbor race, cyclists will complete a Criterium course, which is much like you'd see in NASCAR. Cyclists will complete laps around a half-mile course at full speed. There will be 10 categories broken up by age, from children to 55-and-older racers. The signature event will take place at 7:30 p.m.

Participants must pay to enter each category and have a U.S. Cycling Federation license - a one-day license can be purchased at the event. Prizes will be given for winners in each category, from trophies to up to $5,000 in cash.

Organizers still have one hurdle to clear: securing approval from Pinellas County to close streets.

Business owners along Florida Avenue are gearing up for the anticipated influx of people for the race. In the last year, the area has undergone a $2.5-million facelift, with repaved streets and improved landscaping. The race is exactly the type of event community officials hoped to attract with the improvements.

If all goes well, Klein, who owns Oak Trail Books on Florida Avenue, said she hopes the cycling race will become an annual Palm Harbor signature event.

"St. Pete has its Indy race," Klein said. "We're not St. Pete, but this is an event that could bring visitors to the area."

Nicole J. Hutcheson can be reached at nhutcheson@sptimes.com or 727445-4162.

If you go

Gearlink Cup Festival Bike Races

When: March 10

Where: Downtown Palm Harbor

Course: A proposed clockwise circuit with the start and finish line at Florida Avenue and 12th Street. Racers would turn right on Omaha Circle, then right on Georgia Avenue, left on 12th Street. The race heads south to Illinois Avenue, hangs a quick right, then a right again as the racers dive onto 11th Street heading north toward the final turn onto Florida Avenue.

Proposed street closures: Between noon and 10 p.m. the following streets would close: Florida Avenue, 12th Street, 11th Street, Michigan Avenue, Wisconsin Avenue and parts of Omaha Circle.

To learn more: Visit www.gearlinkcup.com or call (727) 447-4007.

[Last modified February 18, 2007, 21:42:14]