Late last September, local cycling enthusiasts were treated to a first for the District — a professional bike race in downtown Washington. The ING Direct Capital Criterium saw domestic and international pros line up to tackle a technical eight-turn course with a dramatic finish on Pennsylvania Avenue, an event so successful that it was added to the 34-race National Racing Calender for 2009. In late July, though, local promoter D.C. Velo announced that due…

With the U.S. Capitol in the background and Pennsylvania Avenue freshly repaved, some of the country’s best cyclists battled it out in yesterday’s ING Direct Capital Criterium. But while the main attraction was the presence of a number of professional racers — including Garmin-Chipotle rider Christian Vande Velde, who placed fifth in the Tour de France — the event capped off what has been a strong year in local racing for area riders and teams….

With the weather cooling down, gas prices remaining high and the District still reveling in having been named the most improved bicycling city in the country, there’s plenty of two-wheel action going on through the month of September. On September 21, downtown D.C. will see some of the country’s best professional cyclists battle it out in the ING Direct Capital Criterium. Sure, most of us won’t get to ride the 1 km course, but watching…