Jack Zakrajsek
Collegiate racers speed by during the Mavericks Classic Women s Criterium at Central Mesa University in late March.
The Pueblo Classic bicycle race this weekend is expected to draw some 600 collegiate and pro competitors. The long-distance Steel City Road Race is on Saturday just outside of town. On Sunday, competitors will zoom around the historic Union Avenue district during the Pueblo Chilly Criterium.
Race organizer and emcee Steve Liebel said they can hit speeds above 35 miles per hour.
“You can feel the wind coming off of them. It s NASCAR on bicycles. They re drafting off of each other, inches away from each other in this huge group,” he said. “It s just exhilarating to watch them really turn it over.”