‘It’s super-exhilarating and fun’: The Cascade Cycling Classic Criterium returns to downtown Bend after seven years

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A long-time Bend tradition has returned - the Cascade Cycling Classic Criterium. After seven long years, the criterium was back Saturday, rolling and racing through downtown Bend.

"We're happy with the turnout," said Molly Cogswell-Kelley, the race director and promoter. "I mean, it's been seven years since we've done it, so we're hoping we'll continue the tradition and just build and build from there."

The nonprofit Horner Cycling Foundation hosted the event. 

"It's about a mile circuit, so people are racing as many laps as they can in a certain amount of time," Cogswell-Kelly said. "It's super-exhilarating and fun."

 The races started and ended at Wall Street and Minnesota Avenue.  About 250 people were registered for the event, with each race having about 30 people in it. 

The Horner Cycling Foundation was founded last year due to the absence of a junior development road cycling program in Central Oregon.

"All of our programs are free, and everything that we do for kids is free," Cogswell-Kelly said.

Horner Cycling Foundation's goal is to create better relationships between road riders and rural community members.