By Abby Walton
It may not be the Tour de France, but cyclists around Zionsville are gearing up for the 18th annual Grand Prix bike race. Taco Sports sponsors this race for cyclists of all ages and skill levels.
“We just want people to come out and have a great time,” said Tym Tyler, the race director for Taco Sports.
From 1 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 18, cyclists will race on a closed looping course.
“The race will start and finish on Main Street,” Tyler said.
What’s unique about this race is that it takes place right in the center of town.
“We usually get a lot of people who’ll stop by after church to watch the race,” Tyler said.
The race is divided into different heats depending on your skill level. Tyler said the first race will be for kid’s age’s 3 to 12. Then, there will be a beginner’s race, followed by a women’s race and finally, the last race of the day will be for the professional cyclist.
“Each level means more laps around the course,” Tyler said.
For example, he said the beginner’s race is about 12 miles long which equates to about 20 laps.
For people interested in taking part in the races, Tyler said kids and beginners can sign up the day of the event by filling out a release form and registration. The cost to enter is $35 which includes a one day racing license and insurance fee. Also, Tyler said cyclists, including kids, must bring helmets to ride.
“Even though we’re having fun, we still place a major focus on safety,” Tyler said.
Taco Sport is an amateur cyclesport organization that sponsors cycling, running and triathlon events all across the Midwest. Tyler said the Zionsville Chamber of Commerce contacted him 18 years ago to bring a race to the downtown area.
“At the time, we had a series of races all around Indiana, but now, Zionsville is our only race left in the state,” Tyler said.
The race has continued year after year because of community support.
“We always have around 250 racers and then even more people show up to watch,” Tyler said.
Even if you’re not up for racing around the road course, Tyler said he’d like to encourage the community to stop by and cheer on their fellow cyclists.
“It’s just a really fun day,” he said. If you’d like to participate in the race and you’re a more advanced cyclist, you can sign up before race day by going to www.tacosports.org. Also, if you’d like more information about the Zionsville Grand Prix, you can contact Tyler at [email protected].