Tour of St. Louis

The Tour of St. Louis is the first big bicycle race of year — and what a way to start. Three races over two days will test cyclists' mettle and give spectators a wide range of watching options. Race one is the Wildwood Centaur Time Trial, which starts at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, March 23, at 114 North Eatherton Road, Wildwood. The eleven-mile, out-and-back course is flat and winding, and the road will be open to traffic with police monitoring the race course. The second race is the Carondelicious Circuit Race, and it starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 23, at 3900 Holly Hills Boulevard. It's a 1.3-mile-long course with an uphill finish. The Mike Murray Classic Criterium closes out the weekend at 9 a.m. Sunday, March 24. This is a fast, flat circuit in Forest Park that will take cyclists past the Missouri History Museum and the Muny, with the start/end point in the lower Muny parking lot. Admission for spectators is free. For more information, visit www.bigshark.com.