Khurram Saeed

ksaeed@lohud.com

For the fourth straight year, thousands of cyclists will race through Rockland on Sunday as part of a regional cycling event.

The Campagnolo Gran Fondo New York features more than 5,000 cyclists from some 70 nations, as they make their way from the George Washington Bridge to Bear Mountain State Park and back to Fort Lee, New Jersey. Riders will pass through all five towns in the county, resulting in temporary road closures.

"There are times during the event when people are going to be delayed," said Chris Jensen, Rockland County's fire and emergency services program coordinator.

Delays lasting 10 to 15 minutes are most likely to occur in the morning when cyclists are clustered together as they make their way north into Piermont. The first group is expected to arrive in the village by 7:40 a.m. Piermont Avenue and River Road will be closed in both directions until about 9 a.m.

In fact, there will be full or partial road closures through Nyack, Haverstraw village and Stony Point until the race route reconnects with Route 9W.

Jensen encouraged people to avoid 9W in the morning if possible. The last cyclist is expected to be through Stony Point shortly after 10 a.m.

Police officers will direct traffic at many intersections, event co-organizer Uli Fluhme said.

"There are 200 police officers paid by Gran Fondo working on the event," Fluhme said of the one-of-a-kind race in the region.

Detailed route information is available at the race's website: http://granfondony.com.

Fluhme said a gran fondo is akin to a marathon for cyclists, and a popular group ride tradition in the Italian cycling world.

Cyclists have come from across the country and the world — Brazil, Canada, Germany, Russia, Jamaica, Israel, and Poland — to take part in the 100-mile race. Some are opting for the a 50-mile non-competitive ride to Bear Mountain.

In past years, Rockland residents have lined the route to offer their support, Fluhme said.

From Bear Mountain, racers will return to Route 9W and take local scenic streets through Stony Point, including Mott Farm Road, beginning as early 9:10 a.m. and as late as 12:45 p.m.

The last batch of riders are expected to leave the county by 4 p.m.

Twitter: @ksaeed1