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This year’s edition of the Ottawa Italian Festival ended Sunday with a two-wheeled blast of speed from the cyclists in the 50th annual round of Preston Street Bicycle Races.
Organized by Bike Race Ottawa, the day featured fixie (single-gear bike) races in the morning, a women’s elite race at noon and youth races in the afternoon. Races took place on a four-corner loop encompassing Preston, Adeline, Rochester and Aberdeen streets. For spectators, the corners were the best spots to catch the most action.
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One racing highlight was the performance of Canada’s former Olympian, Alison Jackson, a world-class athlete. She was the celebrity cyclist of the day on Sunday, winning the women’s elite race and charming the crowd with her engaging personality.
Between the bike races, the Italian vehicle parade that drew big crowds on Saturday, plus the throngs who took in the food and culture offered by businesses along Preston Street, many of which expanded their patios for the occasion, organizers estimated the turnout to be around 100,000 people for the festival’s grand-finale, street-party weekend.
“We’re back to regular numbers,” said Lydia Di Francesco, chair of the festival, noting how the weather worked in their favour this year. “Last year was a little rainy and windy, and we had the (wildfire) smoke the week before so there was a lot going on. We’ve had a lot more attendance this year.”
The first week of the festival featured cultural experiences such as a historical walking tour of Ottawa’s Little Italy neighbourhood, masterclasses in wine, pasta and coffee, and a partnership with the National Gallery of Canada to explore the Italian artworks in the collection.
The weekend street party saw the closure of Preston Street, the main thoroughfare of Little Italy, from Carling Avenue to Somerset Street West.
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