Officials gear up for bicycle racing’s Tour of the Valley

By John Bassetti | June 12, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

Tour of the Valley

When: July 10 (morning) — time trial in Berlin Center/Ellsworth Township. July 10 (afternoon) — Criterium in Canfield (Village Green) July 11 — Road race in Columbiana (33 mile course/66 miles for pros) July 12 — Criterium, one-mile loop downtown

The Prize: Total purse of $12,500

Entry information

Entry fee: $110 or $35 per race/$20 time trial.

Registration: Truesport.com

Information: quinlanerin@gmail.c…

By John Bassetti

YOUNGSTOWN — If you missed the Tour de France, now’s your chance to watch the Tour of the Valley.

Bring a lawn chair for a front-row seat along several road courses when the bicycle racing event is staged July 10-12.

Talk about a stimulus.

The inaugural race, billed as Ohio’s largest bicycle event of its kind, is designed to bring spectators and fill hotels and restaurants.

The Tour of the Valley is expected to bring about 300 pro and elite amateur riders to the roads of Mahoning and Columbiana counties.

Event organizers and political leaders were on hand Thursday morning for a press conference on Federal Plaza where one of the July weekend’s four events will commence.

Mahoning County commissioners David Ludt, Anthony Traficanti and John McNally IV were present under the tent in front of Buffalo Wild Wings to promote the midsummer spectacle.

Ludt noted that all riders will be licensed.

“They’re not just your run-of-the-mill riders,” he said of participants who will come from as far away as New York, Kentucky, Georgia and Texas.

“These are pros [for the most part], so we need to bring a crowd and fill restaurants and hotels,” Ludt said.

Traficanti also asked for a generous turnout for the event that will also be contested in Canfield, Ellsworth Township and throughout Columbiana County.

Traficanti joked that he’s the new prototype for bike racers, who will need to be fitted in a sheer, lightweight suit “extra tight along with a bike that will hold 300-plus pounds.”

Kidding aside, he said he’d be in better shape if he cycled, but he also marveled at technological advances that produce sleek cycling equipment.

Traficanti praised Phil Moore of the Mahoning County Convention & Visitors Bureau, which coordinates such events and works with the county commissioners.

“This will bring people to hotels and restaurants,” Traficanti said. “Everyone gets a chance to see what the Mahoning Valley has to offer.”

With financial impetus from the visitors bureau, Carbon Racing is another key player as the organizer, and Buffalo Wild Wings is a sponsor.

McNally also urged community support next month for the event.

“I think it’s going to be great for downtown Youngstown. I hope it’s a bright, sunny weekend.”