The Univest Grand Prix race returns this weekend, beginning with a team time trial in downtown Allentown Friday, a circuit race beginning and ending in Souderton on Saturday and a criterium in Doylestown on Sunday.
On Saturday morning in Souderton, recreational riders have the opportunity to ride the same course that the pros will ride later in the day. The timed, 62-mile and 37-mile Univest Cyclosportif rides begin at 8 a.m.
Online pre-registration for the Cyclosportif closed Wednesday, but same day registration, at a cost of $55 each, will be held from 5:45-7:30 a.m. in Souderton, near the start.
Pre-registered riders receive a commemorative T-shirt, lunch in a hospitality tent and raffle tickets for cycling-related prizes. Event organizers make no guarantee that riders registering on Saturday will receive that swag. All riders will receive a time, based on a timing chip, and a ranking for their finish in the ride.
Bobby Julich, the 1998 third-place Tour de France finisher, will lead this year’s sportif ride.
And, everyone will have the opportunity to see the professionals complete their race. The domestic and international racers will do the 62-mile loop before returning to Souderton for several circuits around the town.
Weather for Saturday promises to be better than last year, when the pros competed in an afternoon-long torrential downpour.
