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By MIKE LYNCH

Enterprise Sports Writer

SARANAC LAKE - The Harrietstown Town Hall, Ayres Realty, Blue Moon Cafe, Blue Line Sports- the buildings were nothing more than a blur and a backdrop Sunday in the first Saranac Lake criterium bike race organized by Team Placid Planet.

More than a 100 cyclists, racing in separate categories throughout the day, competed on a loop through downtown Saranac Lake. The .55-mile course took cylists down Main Street to Dorsey Street to LaPan Highway and back to Main Street.

The race was the second in two days hosted by Team Placid Planet. On Saturday, they hosted the Wilmington-Whiteface Road Race, which took racers on a longer, more scenic course through Essex County. More than 200 cyclists competed in that race.

The Wilmington-Whiteface race was more of a marathon while the criterium is more of a sprint, one that can be intimidating for some racers. The wall across the street from Morgan's 11 was padded with thick blue mats. Bails of hay were placed in front of telephone poles.

"It's a lot more fun because when your in an urban environment, your mind plays games on you," Saranac Lake cyclist Dan Reilly said. "You're not in the middle of nowhere trying to keep up with five other guys. You are doing long miles up steep hills. Here, it's just action."

Reilly took third in the men's category, a 13-mile race that had locals win the top three spots. Saranac Lake resident Matt Cook took first in 30 minutes and 20 seconds and Lake Placid Resident Rob Pickels finished second in 30:26. Reilly finished in 31:02.

"I just kind of hung back for the first half of the race, stayed in the back of the pack a little bit," Cook said. "A couple of the guys in the pack were wanting us to lead, and then I went forward and tried to breakaway. I stayed away from everyone from there."

Toward the end of the race, Pickels tried to make up the lost ground but was unable to catch up to Cook.

"I went by myself trying to reel him back in, and I just didn't have enough time and he held on strong," Pickels said. "I was hoping he was going to slow, and I could pull him quicker but he's a good athlete. He definitely deserved to win."

Overall, the organizers seemed pleased with the event. The weather cooperated for the most part. There was one brief downpour prior to the pro race at the end of the day. Otherwise, it was sunny and dry.

Race co-director Hal Schmidt hopes to build on this year's event and continue to hold the race for years to come.

"We'll grow next year just like we grew the road race over in Wilmington," Schmidt said. "We will be back. We think this is going to be a great event for many years to come."