Tybee Island will host the Coastal Empire Cycle Fest Criterium cycling event starting at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, at Fannies on the Beach, 1613 Strand Ave.
The event is part of Speed Week, a series of seven races in seven Southeastern cities that begin in Athens and end in Sandy Springs.  
The event includes professional men and women’s races, amateur races, and an Amtryke Freedom Ride. The race will run from the afternoon until into the evening, with the professional men and women racing under the lights.  The website for Speed Week is http://usacrits.com/speed-week/.
USA CRITS Speed Week runs April 27- May 5.
Nationally-ranked athletes will take to the streets to contest Speed Week,  which includes the largest purse for racers in the United States with $125,000 in prize money.
A criterium is a unique form of cycling that stresses high-speed racing with the large scale appeal of art and music festivals which has made Criterium racing the most enduring form of bicycle racing in North America.
To register for the event, go to www.bikereg.com/Net/18821
SCHEDULE
Masters 35+/45+ — 4 p.m.
Men’s Cat 4/5 — 4:45 p.m.
Men’s Cat 2/3 — 5:20 p.m.
Women’s Pro/1/2 inv 3 — 6:05 p.m.
Amytryke/Ambucs Races — 7:10 p.m.
Men’s Pro/1 inv 2 — 7:30 p.m.
COURSE AND DISTANCES:
Women’s Pro — 40 laps
Men’s Pro — 65 laps
Proceeds from the event will be split between AMBUCS and American Diabetes Association.  
AMBUCS is a non-profit service organization dedicated to creating mobility and independence for people with disabilities. Amtrykes allow children with special needs to ride modified bikes/trykes.
Professional cycling team, Team Novo Nordisk, will have riders participating in the event. The team was founded in 2004 as Team Type 1 that helped promote type 1 diabetes awareness in cycling.  All of the team’s riders have type 1. Novo Nordisk produces diabetes care equipment and medications in particular.
Sponsorships are available for the event at several levels, including the “Event Sponsor” level at $500 which will enable a company to put its name and logo on the back of the event shirt and will include two VIP hospitality passes at the race venue.
“We are really honored to be able to bring this thrilling and colorful sporting event to beautiful Tybee Island,” said Anne Bolyea, who is the event organizer and main sponsor. “The interest in cycling has exploded in this area and this event will attract many cycling enthusiasts, as well as the general public.”
For more information about the Coastal Empire Cycle Fest event on Tybee Island, call Anne at 828-265-7591 or email whittonanne2001@gmail.com, or  email Chantel Morten at cmorton@cityoftybee.com  or call 912-786-4573.