Wilmington Renaissance Corporation (WRC), the City of Wilmington and their many partners once again bring professional cycling to the streets of Downtown Wilmington with the Wilmington Grand Prix. In six years, the event has grown from a regional bicycle race to one of the premier cycling events in the country.

The 2012 Grand Prix is set for May 18-20 with three days of festivities. Saturday’s Men’s and Women’s Professional Criterium Races will be the seventh stop on USA Cycling’s National Criterium Calendar. The NCC features 17 states and 19 races, making it the premier criterium calendar in the country. (The complete calendar can be found at the end of this story.).

“We’re very impressed with the development of the Wilmington Grand Prix,” said USA Cycling Managing Director of National Events, Micah Rice. “The organizers have worked very hard to facilitate strong corporate and community support which has helped it become one of the target stops on the nation’s premier cycling calendar.”

The action opens on Friday, May 18, with the return of the Monkey Hill Time Trial, a 3.2-mile race against the clock through Wilmington’s Brandywine Park, a course made famous by the Tour DuPont. The action continues on Saturday with a series of men’s and women’s pro-am criterium races along a one-mile course in Downtown Wilmington.

Sunday will feature the Governor’s Ride, a 15-mile cycle tour of Brandywine Valley cultural attractions. Governor Jack Markell will lead a recreational bike ride through attractions such as the Delaware Art Museum, Hagley Museum, Winterthur Museum and Country Estate, Delaware Museum of Natural History and Rockford Park. The ride will finish with a party in the sculpture garden at the Delaware Art Museum.

New this year is the Wilmington Grand Prix Gran Fondo, a 100-kilometer course traversing 11 cultural attractions featuring two timed climbs and a hilly terrain. The course will be challenging and fun with unprecedented access to ride through Dupont estates and attractions.

“The Wilmington Grand Prix has arrived as one of the premier NRC races on the East Coast,” says Joe Jefferson, a veteran pro cycling race announcer. “I look forward to announcing at this event because I know the crowds will be big and enthusiastic.”

Last year’s Grand Prix drew more than 470 racers representing 32 states and 11 countries. This year’s field will be competing for more than $25,000 in prize money and valuable points on the NCC.

Friday’s Time Trial begins at 4 p.m. with riders leaving every 30 seconds in an amateur to professional progression and 200 racers are expected to compete. The course begins at the top of Monkey Hill at 18th & Harrison and winds through Brandywine Park, Lovering Avenue, crosses the Market Street Bridge and concludes with a challenging climb up the cobblestones of N. Van Buren Street.

Saturday’s activities begin at noon with the 3nd annual Parade to Fight Hunger, a parade featuring marching bands, vintage bicycles, drill teams and more than 40 organizations that actively support the Food Bank of Delaware. The racing action begins at approximately 11:30 a.m., with men’s and women’s racing in a variety of professional and amateur categories. A series of youth races will also be held.

“This event is not only a thrilling sporting event, but an amazing way to showcase our downtown,” said Mayor James Baker. “More than 20,000 people come to cheer on the cyclists as well as experience the street festival atmosphere. That means 20,000 people are exposed to the number of retail merchants, restaurants and arts an cultural venues we have in our city.”

In addition to the racing action, the Grand Prix Street Festival returns, offering free family entertainment from the 5th Street to Rodney Square. Activities include live music, sidewalk sales, course-side cafes and variety of family games and activities including moon bounces, rock climbing, bungee jumping, fitness challenges, bike expos and more. Last year, more than 20,000 people attended the Grand Prix.

“We are so excited to see this event grow to an even more exciting cycling event as well as a chance for families to enjoy the city in such a unique way,” said Carrie Gray, managing director of WRC. “Our goal is to deliver on an amazing sporting spectacle while creating a great experience for the spectators and showcasing the progress that happens every day in downtown Wilmington.”

NATIONAL CRITERIUM CALENDAR (NCC)