That is when criterium racing will return to Kings Parade, with cyclists to put their legs to the test as they race around a 560 metre circuit.

Not since December 2010 when Bathurst hosted the opening round of the NSW Cycling Grand Prix series has the CBD been shut to traffic for the exciting style of racing.

The event forms part of the Blayney to Bathurst cycling weekend, with the A division women and division one and two men’s races having been moved from the previous location at Mount Panorama to the Kings Parade circuit.

It is move Bathurst Regional Council made to help promote the event, which began in its current format in 2004. It incorporates a family event, criteriums, the NSW Hill Climb Championships and both the long (110 kilometres) and short course (70km) Blayney to Bathurst races.

“One of our suggestions to council was to have the crit back here in the CBD. From a club’s point of view, we are rapt to get it back in here,” Bathurst Cycling Club president Mark Simons said.

“We want to make the most of the CBD because it is such a good venue. It is a testing course for the riders, so they are only having the top three grades here – the rest are still up the Mount.

“The course at the Mount is not as technical as this one, so for the top level men and women, it will give them the chance to showcase their skill.”

While no Bathurst riders were included on the provisional start list for the elite women’s race, there will be members of the club in the men’s division one and two criteriums.

Josh Corcoran, Will Hodges, Craig Hutton and Brad Rayner will ride in the top division and Jono Cutler in division two.

They will face rivals from clubs across NSW as well as riders from Victoria, Queensland and Canberra. It means the pace should be on from the opening lap to the final sprint for glory.

“The top level riders will be doing up to 50 kilometres an hour average around the course, and the last lap will be absolutely full gas. It is going to be super spectacular to watch,” Simons said.

“The course has changed a little bit from when we had it here five or six years ago. The main intersection out front of the Knickerbocker which has the picket fence down the middle of it, that wasn’t there before.

“The corner that is going to be the real tricky one is the Annie’s [Ice Cream Parlour] corner. Just coming out of there, the biggest danger we’ve got is that lamp post right in the middle of the road there.

“They’ll come out of that corner so quick, but I guess the good thing about it is that the level of riders who will race here are all experienced crit riders.

“The the back straight down Church Lane, they are going to use the whole width of the road, so there are going to be some good passing opportunities.

“It’s certainly going to be exciting.”

Racing in Kings Parade on Saturday will commence at 4pm and is expected to finish by 8pm, while the lower grades race from 9am at Mount Panorama.