Burlingame Criterium: An elite race

The race's biggest alumnus, Levi Leipheimer, is riding in the 2005 Tour de France as the lead rider for Gerolsteiner. His finished ninth in last year's Tour de France.

"There are more registered racers now," said Bill Fallis, founder and now athletic director for Peninsula Velo. "It's getting bigger. It's one of the five races that are earmarked as 'special races' in Northern California - (which means) we get special support from sponsors."

The origins of the Burlingame Criterium started in the late 1970s and was strictly a women's race. The event was shut down after 1978 because original promoter Tom Simpson couldn't handle running the race and his clothing business.

During the mid '80s, the race and circuit moved from location to location. Some races were held near the Burlingame Recreation Center and Washington School. One year, the race ran through residential areas of Burlingame.

The race re-emerged in its present form in 1987 when Gene Condon and Dan Kevick - of Condon & Sons Lumber and Burlingame Cyclery, respectively - got all the necessary permits and paperwork and re-launched the event.

In the first few years, the race was comprised mostly of local riders. Nearly two decades later, there are eight different races for men, women and children of all ages and abilities - from novice racers to pros.

The racers ride along a seven-tenths of a mile course through downtown Burlingame. The start-finish line is at the intersection of Burlingame and Lorton avenues. Riders head south down Lorton, turn right on Howard and another right onto Park Road. The racers head north on Park before hanging a left on Burlingame Avenue and a quick right onto Primrose Road. It loops around Bellevue Avenue before the sprint for home. The race's duration is determined by time rather a certain number of laps. Since the streets need to be reopened by 3 p.m., the race is on a tight schedule.

A criterium is just one of four disciplines run for bike races. The other three are: road races (like the Tour de France), off-road racing and track racing. A criterium is usually a relatively flat, four-corner race that lasts from an hour to an hour-and-a-half.

The top finishers in each race of the Burlingame Criterium are not getting rich, but they are honing their racing skills. A total of $3,100 in money and prizes are up for grabs. Only four categories - men's Elite 3, men's Master 35+ 1,2,3, women's 1,2,3 and men's pro 1,2 - will receive half their prizes in cash and the other in merchandise. The other three division finishers split up to $500 in merchandise only.

All participants need a racing license that can be obtained from U.S. Cycling Federation for $35 or can pick up a one-day license for $10 the day of the race.

"(One of the biggest changes has been) the quality and number of adult riders," Fallis said. "We used to get 350 (riders). Now we get about 700 who all have racing permits."

The Criterium is more than just a bike race. It's also a chance to raise money for cancer research and a variety of other cancer-related charities. Last year, Peninsula Velo donated $60,000 to child cancer research.