June 9, 2006 – For the 34th consecutive year, Preston St. (or Via Marconi) will be the site of the Italian Festival Criterium on Sunday, June 18, 2006. In the heart of Ottawa’s Italian district and on the last day of the Festival, the restaurant patios along Preston street are filled with spectators and the dedicated tifosi ( who are taping the world cup soccer for later viewing).

A new street added last year saw a spontaneous block party with pot banging, cheering, and copious use of sidewalk chalk on the street. Returning this year will be the scale to weigh the winning rider. At the other end of the scale will be his weight in beer. Last year saw Darko Ficko use his leg leverage to snatch 1st place and then use his body leverage to tip the scale in his favor. If he wins , will he make all the groupies happy and give it away again? This is a 100km criterium or 60 laps of a 1.65 km. rectangle. Cash prizes to 15th place plus 30 prime prizes will make the race fast and aggressive.