The rain closed a number of Memorial Day parades throughout the state, but the Tour of Somerville is held rain or shine.
SOMERVILLE -- The rain cancelled a number of Memorial Day parades throughout the state, but the Tour of Somerville is held rain or shine.
So on Monday, despite the dark threat in the skies, hundreds of cyclists suited up for the ride.
The town got a good soaking earlier in the day, but the weather cleared by early afternoon and the road, where dozens of cyclists competed throughout the weekend, dried.
Nick Huber of Boston won in the Men Cat 4/5 Race. He said it stopped raining for him to compete, but the wet conditions made it difficult for making turns.
"It also made it where you couldn't take many risks," Huber said.
This year's route changes required a longer sprint to the finish line, said Wyatt Cote, 16, who competed in the Juniors race.
"It was fun, but it was difficult," Cote said.
Children cheered on their family members racing from the sidewalk, behind the string police put up to keep spectators back.
Parade goes on despite the rain (PHOTOS)
Holding slices of pizza, jumping up and down or clapping, kids screamed as the cyclists zoomed by, whipping their hair in the wind.
The adults matched their enthusiasm, snapping pictures and videos of their loved ones and standing on folding chairs to get a better view.
Still, some said the ability to easily walk on the sidewalk or get to the bathroom without standing in line suggested the size of the crowd isn't what it used to be.
Laurie Werner, who was working in a nearby thrift store, said it was "poorly attended" compared to when she was going to the races in the 1980s and 90s.
"The weather's gotta be reason number one," she said. "But I think people don't go outside like they used to."
The tour, in its 74th iteration, was live streamed for the first time this year.
The races ranged in distance from 15 miles for the junior races to 50 miles for the professional men's.
The cyclists came from New Jersey, Canada, Australia, Norway and Jamaica.
Eve Campeau, 51, of Bedminster, had before competed in the race but returned Monday as a spectator.
"For me, it's a local tradition," Campeau said. "And it's just as exciting as it was before."
The race ended with a win in the professional men's race by Noah Granigan, who was the grandson of announcer Joe Saling.
Saling, got emotional on stage as he talked with his grandson, declaring it his "best interview."
Laura Van Gilder won the professional women's race.
Sara Jerde may be reached at sjerde@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SaraJerde.