After the economic recession dried up sponsorship for the second installment of the Capital Criterium last year, the District’s only professional bicycle race makes a big return this weekend.

The Cap Crit, run for the first time in 2008, will bring a strong field of professional racers to downtown D.C. on Sunday, and will serve to further promote the city’s bid to host the opening stages of the 2012 Giro d’Italia.

The race, which is being co-sponsored by the Washington Convention and Sports Authority, will take place on a short course downtown, with the start/finish line on Pennsylvania Avenue between 12th and 13th Streets NW. A number of amateur and kids races will take place in the morning, and a celebrity ride at 12:30 p.m. — including Mayor Adrian Fenty — will raise money for charity and promote the District’s Giro bid.

At 1:15 p.m., the pro race will get started, pitting local teams like Battley Harley Davidson, Haymarket Bicycles/HomeVisit, and CycleLife against national squads such as Jamis/Sutter Home, Kelly Benefit Strategies, and Mountain Khakis.

If you’ve never been to one of these races, check it out. The course is spectacular and extremely spectator-friendly, and the pro race is sure to be extremely fast. And if there’s enough excitement generated for the Capital Crit, we may still have a chance to see the Giro in the District in 2012.