The only pro cycling event held in DC proper, the City Bikes RFK Criterium has shifted from the dog days of August to a Memorial Day weekend event. From the official site:
A full day of bike racing returns to Washington DC with the 6th annual City Bikes RFK Criterium, Sunday May 25th 2008. The fastest women on bikes will once again grace the smoothe, silky, and torturously hot RFK Stadium Grand Prix Race Course. This year, Hub Racing adds a men’s professional category to join its already established women’s pro bike race and multiple amateur categories.
I think the switch to this weekend is a good idea (it is *ridiculously* hot out on that parking lot in August), but that means I’ll be missing this after managing to make it for the last three years. Looking at the confirmed rider list, It also looks like the new date might be putting a bit of a dent in the women’s pro showing, which is a shame. At one point, I’m pretty sure that this race had the biggest prize purse in the US for a women’s pro crit. The women’s race here has, by far, been some of the most exciting racing I’ve seen, and I’m sure that it will be worth a trip if you’re around DC this weekend. More details here.