Sports

Temecula Valley Grand Prix on Course for Saturday

The race, a qualifier for the SoCal Cup series, is being held Saturday and is the first of its kind for the City of Temecula.

Setup was underway Friday for the Temecula Valley Grand Prix, a professional cycling event happening Saturday along a new stretch of Butterfield Stage Road in Temecula. The event is the first of its kind for the city.

At least 400 cyclists from southwest Riverside County and beyond have already registered to compete in the race that is serving as a qualifier in the SoCal Cup series, allowing riders to pick up points, according to Ernie Sanchez, race organizer and co-owner of Murrieta-based Stage 2 Cyclery.

“Race promoters needed something to fill a void in the schedule and said ‘Would Temecula be interested?’ So we put this together in 32 days,” said Sanchez, who also organizes the annual Tour de Murrieta.

Stage 2 Cyclery and the City of Temecula stepped up as the main sponsors of the event, he said.

Saturday’s course consists of 1.6-mile laps on which participants will be competing for the fastest times. Between 7:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m, cyclists will leave in groups from the starting line at the corner of Murrieta Hot Springs and Butterfield Stage roads.

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Among locals competing will be Michael Cleveland, a Temecula resident. Cleveland is currently leading the SoCal cup series, Sanchez said.

In order to host the event, the Temecula City Council approved some road closures. On Saturday, Murrieta Hot Springs Road will be closed at Pourroy Road, and Butterfield Stage Road will be closed at Calle Chapos, where the closure will extend to Walcott Lane.

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Sanchez is expecting traffic impacts to be minimal.

Public spectators are invited, but should note parking will be at Murrieta Hot Springs and Pourroy roads.

Many vendors will also be on hand, Sanchez said, from Murrieta and Temecula as well as outside the area.

As the event highlights nearby Temecula Wine Country, Sanchez said Wilson Creek Winery has offered to donate champagne for the winners' toasts.

The hope, Sanchez said, is that race participants will take in Wine Country, Pechanga Resort & Casino and other area locales while they are in town.

For more information about the race and related activities, click here.


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